Where do you guys buy LEDs? One can get them really cheap on eBay (from China) but I'm a bit cautious about the quality - still, if only 3/4 of them actually work it's still a good price.
Ebay works for me. So far, from the hundreds I've already bought, not even one failed. I've done a few orders from the first two sellers. Good Will Sales (UK, very friendly seller): http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/goodwillsales_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ Amigo of China: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/amigoofchina_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ Sure electronics: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/sureelectronics_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ Phenoptix: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/phenoptix_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ Led Market: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/ledmarket200888_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ When you order leds, it's common to get the resistors included in the price, normally for 12V. If you need, ask them to replace the resistors for 5V, 7V or even other values (1.5V, 3V, 2.4V, etc). Good Will Sales does this. Have fun.
Allow me to refer you to this thread: http://www.3squared.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=modding&action=display&thread=81 There's a link to an eBay merchant and pictures of the outcome a bit down the thread.
If you don't mind buying abroad there's www.unique-leds.com and www.performance-pcs.com. These two have some of the rarer colour bi-colour leds.
Thanks guys. I bought some stuff from Amigo of China and am quite impressed with his service - he swapped the 12V resistors for 5V ones (supposed to be 50 in a pack but there's a couple extra, guess it's cheaper to be on the safe side than having to deal with problems afterwards) and I received my loot only 6 days later. The LEDs are not quite the same quality as those sold by Rapidonline (on some there are edges at the bottom of the LED, looks the same as when hot glass is molded and cut) but I'm quite pleased overall. All 50 LEDs work, it was really cheap and delivered quickly.
100 3mm white led's for $12?! www.ledshoppe.com i've had stuff from them in the past, had a 100 pack, i think 3/4 of them were duds/ not quite as bright as the rest, the other 90 or so were bang on
I do believe cpemma has a list of these somewhere.. Phenoptix were on said list - Great UK suppliers btw. edit: Here's that list I was thinking of: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost.php?p=927009&postcount=9
After reading this for the umphteen time I realised that by 3/4 you mean 3 or 4 and not three quarters! Good find, thanks. I was really looking after feedback for the Chinese suppliers (they are far cheaper) because I recall reading things like only 40% working for some.
I've bought from AmigoofChina off eBay a couple of times; great seller to deal with, the LEDs were 95% of the quality of those from Rapid, but the brightness was on par. I'd say ~1% have been duds.
