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View Full Version : Question about overdriving a led.



Hasid Lafre
06-03-2007, 06:45 PM
First off is it possable and what are the pros and cons of doing so?

xwingband
06-03-2007, 06:53 PM
Yup, quite possible.

If you have enough heatsinking it will be fine. The enemy is that it heats up. That lowers the forward voltage... and starts an endless cycle that ends in magic smoke.

You lose life of the LED. 50% overdriven is 50% off of it's life.

Hasid Lafre
06-03-2007, 07:01 PM
I see. thanks Xwing.

pockets
06-03-2007, 08:16 PM
note alot of LEDs have 100,000 hour life span :wink:

Novastar
06-05-2007, 02:58 PM
Correct.

I seriously doubt that anyone will ever see the "problems" in overdriving an LED.

Corbin overdrives the Lux V in his Killer Penny... and no one will ever see the "bad" things about that in this lifetime. Even if he left the saber on 24/7 for the next 5 to 10 years.

The only worry you have on over-driving is if you go TOO far with current. And that is tough, especially if you're using an LED that is LOOKING for 1.5A or whatever.

vortextwist
06-12-2007, 01:07 PM
don't want to make a new topic, so.
what is the name of that thermal glue stuff. I don't have room for the nylon screws, need a little extra to hold the led in place.

pockets
06-12-2007, 01:10 PM
there's like 900 brands of thermal adhesive, look at any computer parts store or something like that. i use arctic silver 5 on my PCs, but i'm not sure how adhesive it is.

vortextwist
06-12-2007, 01:11 PM
yea I guess I could

Madcow
06-12-2007, 03:46 PM
don't want to make a new topic, so.
what is the name of that thermal glue stuff. I don't have room for the nylon screws, need a little extra to hold the led in place.

Arctic Alumina... I got mine on ebay.

MC

vortextwist
06-12-2007, 06:40 PM
Sweet! thanks MC

luke s
06-25-2007, 08:09 AM
Sweet! thanks MC

regarding the overdriving an led. I am considering this for my custom saber. Heat has been my main concern any ideas on how much heat sink and other issues with overdriving. Also what does overdriving due to the overall runtime?

xwingband
06-25-2007, 09:02 AM
Heat is usually not too much of a problem. Usually the whole saber helps as a heatsink and there is more than enough metal there.

There is nothing to really worry about with runtime. If you drive a V to 1Amp as opposed to .7A it would go like this (highly idealized depending on the battery pack):

for a 2.4A pack that's 3hrs at .7A ... 2.4/.7=3

same at 1A would be less than 2 1/2 hours.

If you are using li-ion then I think overdriving is more feasible. Ni-MH are more of a linear discharge curve and overdriving would probably not be worth it at all.

luke s
07-13-2007, 06:23 AM
thanks guys for the tips. It will be helpful as I design my first custom.

And thanks to Xwingband. I appreciate the advice.

I probably won't get to post much over here as I am now a Mod at FX-sabers. Can spend too much time away from the family. But I hope to stop by from time to time. You guys seem to get a bit more technical over here and that is great for a DIYer, thanks.

Hasid Lafre
07-13-2007, 06:27 AM
Its what where here for.