Comments on: For Those Dark Club Environments: DIY LED Light http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/ The latest gear, software, and techniques for electronic music production and performance Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:52:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: ToS http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-109534 ToS Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:46:45 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-109534 There is a problem with this design, there is nothing that will hold the led light in place. There should be one thick wire runing along other that will hold the light the way you position it. There is a problem with this design, there is nothing that will hold the led light in place. There should be one thick wire runing along other that will hold the light the way you position it.

]]> By: enjoi http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-5392 enjoi Sat, 20 May 2006 08:17:06 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-5392 Just to clarify, the resistor is actually used to limit the current. with no resitor the current will not be limited and the LED will blow quite quickly. Putting a number of LEDs in series increases the voltage required to power them (~2V each), but they still need a current limiting resistor Just to clarify,
the resistor is actually used to limit the current. with no resitor the current will not be limited and the LED will blow quite quickly. Putting a number of LEDs in series increases the voltage required to power them (~2V each), but they still need a current limiting resistor

]]> By: Eric http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4635 Eric Thu, 11 May 2006 22:28:12 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4635 James - Jaymis is right: you can put a few LEDs in series to eliminate the ballast resistor without increasing the current draw. If you put too many in series though, none of them will turn on very brightly. I'd limit it to 3 at most, and it would be best to experiment to find what works best for the LEDs you have on hand - they're all going to have unique current/voltage requirements. You are right that putting a couple of LEDs in parallel without the resistor would just increase the current drawn and probably burn out both LEDs. Using a ballast resistor is the safest and most repeatable way to control the LED brightness while ensuring that you don't overload anything. Trust me - I R an electrical engineer. :) James -

Jaymis is right: you can put a few LEDs in series to eliminate the ballast resistor without increasing the current draw. If you put too many in series though, none of them will turn on very brightly. I’d limit it to 3 at most, and it would be best to experiment to find what works best for the LEDs you have on hand - they’re all going to have unique current/voltage requirements.

You are right that putting a couple of LEDs in parallel without the resistor would just increase the current drawn and probably burn out both LEDs.

Using a ballast resistor is the safest and most repeatable way to control the LED brightness while ensuring that you don’t overload anything.

Trust me - I R an electrical engineer. :)

]]> By: james http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4625 james Thu, 11 May 2006 16:23:07 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4625 Chaining multiple LED will increase current use (each draws about 20 mA). Most USB ports are only spec'd to deliver 100 mA. Resistors are used to reduce the 5V power supply down to the 2.5 to 3V requirments of an LED, so connecting a 3V LED to 5V power without a proper resistor in place will probably just destroy it. That said, quite a few companies produce LEDs with built-in resistors, although the price is higher. Chaining multiple LED will increase current use (each draws about 20 mA). Most USB ports are only spec’d to deliver 100 mA.

Resistors are used to reduce the 5V power supply down to the 2.5 to 3V requirments of an LED, so connecting a 3V LED to 5V power without a proper resistor in place will probably just destroy it.

That said, quite a few companies produce LEDs with built-in resistors, although the price is higher.

]]> By: SteamSHIFT http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4609 SteamSHIFT Thu, 11 May 2006 08:30:57 +0000 http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/05/10/for-those-dark-club-environments-diy-led-light/#comment-4609 Neat. Will have to investigate. if you used a few leds and run them through a gooseneck mic holder, you could have a pretty bright anglepoise! Neat. Will have to investigate. if you used a few leds and run them through a gooseneck mic holder, you could have a pretty bright anglepoise!

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