Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!

[Marky_1979]

iv got some super bright leds and have tried to set them up with the aim of illuminating my trackerball and coin door. I got a 9v battery to test them out and all worked well it lit up so then i got an old mobile phone charger of similar voltage and conected it to the leds but it seemed to blow them. What do i need to do please as this is really doing my head in.

[Tahnok]

No no no! Don't just start hooking up random voltages and currents! Your going to end up heating something (which can lead to fire). Do some research and get the proper resistors in there:

http://www.lsdiodes.com/shop/index.php?main_page=page_4

You may also want to look into an LED driver board.

[ras2a]

iv got some super bright leds and have tried to set them up with the aim of illuminating my trackerball and coin door. I got a 9v battery to test them out and all worked well it lit up so then i got an old mobile phone charger of similar voltage and conected it to the leds but it seemed to blow them. What do i need to do please as this is really doing my head in.

Yo mark, how ya diddlin chap?  You can't just go rigging up any voltage. I have (had - sob) mine running off a PC PSU with a resistor in-line to step down the voltage. I will send you details across shortly

cheers dude

[Marky_1979]

Cheers mate those details would be really helpful sounds like my method was completely wrong

PS We will all remember Arc-Eden with a little tear in our eyes i hope shes gone to a good home

[Marky_1979]

Any sign of that guide mate ?

[forbiddenlyrics]

In case you didn't get that guide or someone needs one here is a link:

http://www.theledlight.com/ledcircuits.html

and here is an online calculator for LED's:

http://metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/ledcalc/index_eng

Hope you get your LED's sorted out.

[maxlamer]

The reason that the mobile phone charger blew the leds and the battery didn't is because the battery cant put out the same amount of current as the charger can.

But the guys are right, you need to put resisters inline with the leds to bring the voltage down to what the led needs.