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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: nakeworks on July 22, 2011, 05:57:35 pm

Title: Wiring/Electrical question
Post by: nakeworks on July 22, 2011, 05:57:35 pm
 :dunno:

Maybe this is an easy fix but I know little about electricity and wiring...here goes.

I am wiring my 5v ultralux buttons from Ultimarc.  I recently got a completely separate power supply from an old dell computer.  I hooked the positive end into the red wire (per instructions) and the negative end to the black of a 4-pin molex connector.  The light turns on just fine.  When I hook a second into the circuit (positive to negative to positive etc) it works just fine.  When I hook a third one up, nothing.  Fourth one, nothing.  I have rechecked the wiring and  verified that all the lights work individually and as pairs but nothing when a third or fourth is added in.  Am I missing something obvious?  Could my wires not be "holding" the current well enough?  The computer power supply is not powering anything else.  Thanks for the help in advance.  You guys and gals are great.   :notworthy:
Title: Re: Wiring/Electrical question
Post by: Nephasth on July 22, 2011, 06:00:57 pm
(positive to negative to positive etc)

 ??? - Do you mean in series?

Put all positive leads to the red wire, and all grounds to the black (wired in parallel).
Title: Re: Wiring/Electrical question
Post by: nick3092 on July 23, 2011, 12:38:49 am
For graphical purposes....

Code: [Select]

+++++++++++++++++++++++  +5v
   |   |   |   |   |
   O   O   O   O   O  LED
   |   |   |   |   |
-----------------------  -5v
Title: Re: Wiring/Electrical question
Post by: SuprSprint on July 23, 2011, 08:46:36 am
Put all positive leads to the red wire, and all grounds to the black (wired in parallel).

+1 either your #3 led is bad, or you wired it backwards. 

Also, do your LED's require a stepdown resistor?  An LED is a diode, and without a load or stepdown, they can draw quit a bit of power, perhaps more than your supply can provide.  Normally in a situation like your describe you will see gradual dimming along the chain, but not always.