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View Full Version : CF8 Wiring diagram check please



Svee
05-14-2017, 02:04 AM
Hi all. Can I request one of you clever people to cast your eyes over my diagram please. My soldering skills are passable but I know VERY little when it comes to electronics and this is my first ever venture into something like this. I haven't included any accent LEDs as I'm not sure what I'm doing with those just yet.
Have I got it right so far? Do I get a gold star? lol
15431

My Tri Cree LEDs voltages are...
Amber forward v = 3.3v
Red/Orange forward v = 2.57v
White (flash on clash) forward v = 3.15v

The momentary switch LED runs 2v @ 20ma

I've already discovered that my CF8 board gets damn hot VERY quickly. I don't know if I have a short somewhere but I don't think I have. Upon asking on the UK Lightsaber group on Facebook I've discovered that the Aspire 18650 batteries I was using are unprotected so I was building a pipe bomb basically lol. I've now switched those for two 3.7v TrustFire 18650 3000mAh PCB Protected batteries from here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-TrustFire-18650-3000-mAh-Rechargeable-Protected/dp/B01MFFIU6I/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics-accessories&srs=1662092031&ie=UTF8&qid=1494627384&sr=1-3

Does the gauge of wire used have an effect at all? Reason I ask is that the wire I've used to attach my battery clip is a little on the thick side (Came out of an old PC).

A big thank you in advance for any advice etc. This forum is an amazing source of help and knowledge... Although my wife wouldn't say that, I've been ignoring her for days now whilst reading about saber stuff lol :D

NanoRex
05-14-2017, 06:23 AM
Are you using your batteries in a 3.7V parallel configuration with the CF hack or in a 7.4V series configuration? If you're using 7.4V, your resistor values are way off, and even if you're using a 3.7V pack they're pretty iffy. Try calculating the values yourself using Ohm's law rather than using a resistor calculator or what someone else says.

As far as wire gauge goes, wire too large -> really messy wiring, and wire too small -> overheating. You should be fine using around 26 awg wire, and if you have a bit that's too thick it's not really a big deal as long as you can solder it nicely.

Svee
05-14-2017, 09:30 AM
thanks for the reply NanoRex. I'm using 7.4v in series config. I'll go look up Ohm's law, thank you. I used an online resistor calculator before :D

Svee
05-14-2017, 10:11 AM
lol yep my resistors were waaaay off haha. Heres v2. Hopefully i've got it right this time :D
15452

Switch LED
Source v=7.4
Forward v=2.1
MA=20
= 270 Ohm's, 1/4w

Tri Cree
Amber
Source v=7.4
Forward v=3.3
MA=1000
= 4.7 Ohm's, 4.7w

Red/Orange
Source v=7.4
Forward v=2.57
MA=1000
= 5.6 Ohm's, 5.6w

White
Source v=7.4
Forward v=3.15
MA=1000
= 4.7 Ohm's, 4.7w

Jay-gon Jinn
05-14-2017, 12:53 PM
Always better to do the math yourself, calculators round up, sometimes more than is necessary.

NanoRex
05-14-2017, 12:59 PM
The power-on indicator pad you're using is a regulated 3.3V pad (not 7.4V), so you'll want to use that as your source voltage for your switch LED :)