Doh. Why did I just recommend that he wire the LEDs up in parallel to a single resistor? Best solution would be to have the LED and resistor lined up in a series configuration. +ve----Resistor----LED----LED------ -ve This gives a lower power draw from the source and would be slightly cheaper to run. Second best would be. Code: +ve----Resistor----LED------ -ve \---Resistor-----LED----- -ve And yes 3x 470ohms in parallel would give more or less the correct resistance and as there are three resistors to dissipate the heat they'd be cooler.
Think of electricity as water, wires are thick pipes, and the resistors are thin pipes. The larger the value of the resistor, the harder it is for water to flow/the thinner the pipe. Put three pipes side by side, and you have 3 x area = 3 x the flow rate. So when you solder 3 x 470 ohm resistors in parallel, you get 470/3 = 157 ohms.
so the smaller the ohm, the higher the resistance? (you need to excuse me...the last time i did anything math wise for electronics was high school science)
Nope, ohms = resistance, big ohms = big resistance. It's just in the water analogy, a larger resistance, or more ohms, is like a thinner/more restrictive pipe. On a side note... if you put the resistors one after the other, as in three in a row, then you've got 3 resistors in series. If you did this with 3 x 470 ohm, then you'd have 1410 ohms resistance.
At a guess I'd say it looks something like this, less the switch of course. Code: +ve---------LED------- -ve \---LED------- -ve As this stands the full current will pass unhindered through the LEDs and blow them, unless you limit it somehow.
ok, so in conclusion, i could add a 100 - 150 ohm resistor onto a 5V positive line running from USB and all should be fine for the 2 white LEDS. if i were to add another blue LED then the use of a 40 ohm resistor will be good. sound about right?
Righto. Run the two whites in series. They should light bright enough on 5V, if they're not then you need to run them in parallel with a 100 Ohm resistor on each LED. If you want to run a blue LED too then you'll need to run that in parallel to the whites with a 100 Ohm resistor. They can not be run in series with the whites, and don't use the 40 Ohm resistor to run it unless you want another 5 minute light show. Standard LEDs do not like 40mA.
We've settled on running the two leds in parallel, connected to 5v, with a single 100 ohm resistor. Snake eyes knows there is a chance the leds will light up unevenly, but even if that happens, both leds are still completely safe with the single 100 ohm resistor. The idea with the 40 ohm resistor, was to run all 3 of the ~3.3v leds with a single 40 ohm resistor, and yes, snake eyes is aware that one led could possibly take the bulk of the power... what can I say, he lives on the edge
It'll work. Or it'll short it out. Honestly throw in a small resistor. Or just let it run and see if it gets brighter.
LED's are like women, if you just go in with full power, you're gonna blow it, but if you resist too much, then nothing much is going to happen.
ha ha ha... interesting analagy there mvagusta Phenoptix: I think for now im going to stick with the 2 that are already in there (same setup...will just need to replace the LEDs) if I DO add in another blue LED, well, im not actually too sure how I would add it into the system as i dont want to modify whats already there too much. For the blue LED, i would be drilling a small hole on the front of the figurien's chest so that i can make the panel on the front of his upper chest look like it lights up. the blue light there doesnt need to be bright AT ALL so a big resistor in that section wont be a big issue. Again Im still not 100% sure how the system is running, main reason I dont wana screw with it too much. I will try put the system together tonight, if not...then tomorrow night. btw...do you actually have a MV Agusta??
Wow, a bumped thread with 3 pages of discussion about overvolting an LED by point five volts... did I miss something? I'm being sarcastic by the way
Nope, don't have an mvagusta, just an old fzr250... I was going to upgrade to something nice, and an mvagusta was on the top of the list for a while, but then my priorities changed LED update I reckon pop in a compact 50w 12v halogen in there, hook him up to a beefy 12v line, and enjoy the show
fzr250 is a good bike, atleast its 2 wheels I own a Z1000 errr, going to try do the whole thing tonight, things got a bit hectic so haven't had a good sit down time yet... lol, and watch the fig melt, or be blinded by the pure awesomeness of the bright light...lol
the best way would be to run a 50 ohm resistor and both leds in series, and if you want the 3rd one add it paralle to the pevius circuit with its own 150ohm resistor. (+)--50ohm----LED----LED-----(-) | | -150ohm--LED------------ that way you insure the same current flows trough the 2 LEDs and current controlls LEDs brightnes. 2 LEDs of the same type, due to the manuf proces still have differend current/Voltage specs, so putting them in parallel equates the voltige on both LEDs but because of the different spec one would pass 20mA at 2v the other 10ma at 2V and thus you would get different brightness from each., although you could get lucky and get a led with same specs.. other then the possibly different brightness you are safe to conect them in parallel with a singke resistor in the power line, it limits the max current and there wont be any landslide effect whatsoever, as long as you use a 150ohm resistor, a 100 ohms wont pop them but could shorten the life spen if their specs are too different.
*Offtopic* Odd I find it that most women are more responsive to the Full power assault, you either get smacked or kissed
