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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Marky_1979 on January 21, 2006, 06:59:46 pm

Title: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: Marky_1979 on January 21, 2006, 06:59:46 pm

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.

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: Tahnok on January 21, 2006, 07:04:12 pm

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

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

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: ras2a on January 21, 2006, 09:30:37 pm

Quote from: Marky_1979 on January 21, 2006, 06:59:46 pm

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

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: Marky_1979 on January 23, 2006, 12:21:53 pm

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

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: Marky_1979 on February 02, 2006, 08:57:11 pm

Any sign of that guide mate ?

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: forbiddenlyrics on February 02, 2006, 10:10:27 pm

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

http://www.theledlight.com/ledcircuits.html (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 (http://metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/ledcalc/index_eng)

Hope you get your LED's sorted out.

Title: Re: Im trying to set up some l.e.d's but failing ...help!!!
Post by: maxlamer on February 03, 2006, 09:51:40 am

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.