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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: 1UP on January 25, 2004, 02:58:35 am

Title: Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: 1UP on January 25, 2004, 02:58:35 am

Do I need to use resistors when powering 12V LEDs with 12V from the PC power supply?

I'm putting some 12V superbright LEDS into my Happ illuminated pushbuttons.  Since the LEDS are already 12V, do I need any kind of limiting resistor?

Thanks.

Title: Re:Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on January 25, 2004, 09:13:48 am

Quote from: 1UP on January 25, 2004, 02:58:35 am

Do I need to use resistors when powering 12V LEDs with 12V from the PC power supply?

I'm putting some 12V superbright LEDS into my Happ illuminated pushbuttons.  Since the LEDS are already 12V, do I need any kind of limiting resistor?

Thanks.

AFAIK, 12V LED's include an integral resistor so no additional one is required.  At least I know that's how 5V ones work.

Title: Re:Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: ErikRuud on January 25, 2004, 08:09:18 pm

As TigerHeli says, The 12volt LEDs should have a built in resistor.

Title: Re:Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: 1UP on January 25, 2004, 08:43:59 pm

Thanks, that makes things easy.

Title: Re:Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: DarkKobold on January 25, 2004, 10:57:26 pm

1UP - during my senior design class, I worked with those super bright leds, from superbrightleds.com... they don't NEED a resistor - but they sure are safer with them. I had a few burn out when we plugged them directly into the power supply. After that, we added 100 Ohm resistors into our specs. It didn't affect the brightness much, and it did stop us from wasting the bayonet bulbs.

Title: Re:Do I need resistors when powering 12V LEDs with PC12V?
Post by: micro571 on January 26, 2004, 12:38:40 am

If you want to have some fun...hook the 5V LEDs up to the 12V of the comp's power supply.  You get very unpredicatable results.  Some explode, some just fizzle out, and some go up in a big puff of smoke.  Hours of fun for pennies a pop =)