RGB accent leds

[TimeRender]

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=1853

I was wondering if anyone has used these before in a saber. I ordered five tonight to do some experiments. It seems like this could be a great way to use the blinking LED feature on Erv's board without needing to add several LEDs. It also occurred to me that these might be useful for illuminating a crystal chamber once RGB luxeons become a little more practical (i.e. when a lens becomes available for the tri-rebels). The website wasn't clear as to whether or not you could complete two or more circuits at the same time through all three cathodes thereby creating other colors without damaging the LED, but I'm going to risk burning out one or two of these to find out. Input anyone?

[xl97]

I know I'll be watching this thread.. :)

I plan on doign some accent LED's although no CF to program them or control them.. it would still be ncie to know the options are ther for future tech.. when it comes out.. woudl be nice if you could get it to double as a PLI as well.. changing the color (pot) to reflect the batt. left.

[TimeRender]

I think a single LED PLI is a brilliant idea, especially if these LEDs can display two or more colors at once. My suspicion is that they cannot, but I will let the forum know as soon as I can test them.

[xl97]

your probably right.. (but what do I know) LOL

Im not sure how you would change the pots on the RGB (or however they work) to reflect the power level... can it be done though programming or some other non-manual way?

[LeMoel]

oh it is possible



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbzeMSIpQqE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUkqxws6QMc

Im going to be making one myself

[Kant Lavar]

Win.

That is all.

[TimeRender]

Well I decided to look over on instructables to see if anyone there had done any projects with the RGB leds, and sure enough they have. It turns out you CAN illuminate any two or all three colors at the same time. I will confirm this when they arrive in the mail, but I thought I would share the news now.

[Mad Hatter]

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=1853
these might be useful for illuminating a crystal chamber

I bought those exact LEDs for that exact purpose, but now I'm going to use an RGB rebel for the crystal chamber instead. I'm using it with a CF and swappable blades (no color mixing), and running the crystal LED in parallel with the main output. (That way the crystal light fades in and shimmers with the blade.)

The problem with that setup is that you have limited current available for the LED. (100mA max for both the crystal LED and feedback motor). Supposedly, the rebels are WAY brighter at the same power level.

[TimeRender]

Well I'm primarily interested in this as an accent light to be used with the new CF v4. Because it has programmable blink control for 4 leds, it should be able to make full use of an RGB. Admittedly, any cheap small LED like this won't be very bright for a crystal chamber, but it's certainly an option. As far as running an RGB rebel parallel to the main output, how do you plan on illuminating all three rebels or controlling the color? Just curious.

[Mad Hatter]

I'm not going to mix color. I'm just using a tiny sp3t switch to choose R, G or B to match the blade that I'm using.

[TimeRender]

Very nice!

[Draconis Magnus]

oh it is possible



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbzeMSIpQqE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUkqxws6QMc

Im going to be making one myself

What did this guy use? Those LEDs that TimeRender posted in this original thread or was it an RGB star? And does anyone have a configuration on how to set it up in a saber? I want to do this for mine!

[TimeRender]

Draconis, I don't know what they used for that blade, but it definitely WASN'T what I posted. The LEDs I posted are no where near that bright, I only mentioned them as an interesting alternative to the more standard accent LEDs. Most LEDs that come in chrome bezels are only red or green, but if you buy empty bezels (available on many websites including plecterlabs) your options are much more varied. I just purchased several RGBs and a few UVs for use on my next saber.

[Draconis Magnus]

TimeRender, ok thanks... I must find out how that guy set up his sabers to change like that.. maybe I'll send a message to him on Youtube. If anyone on the boards knows, send a message to me, thanks!

[Mad Hatter]

I bought those exact LEDs for that exact purpose, but now I'm going to use an RGB rebel for the crystal chamber instead... Supposedly, the rebels are WAY brighter at the same power level.

Well... Upon further experimentation, the rebel is NOT brighter at low power levels.

I hooked up the RGB you have from unique-leds.com, and compared it to an RGB Rebel - both running at about 50mA - and the two were pretty comparable. If anything, the plain LED was a bit brighter. (But that may just be because the plain LED has a more focused beam.)

I haven't tried it at 100mA yet. I'm assuming the rebel will pull ahead. But if you are in a low current environment, the plain LED is just as good (and much less cost/hassle to mount) than the rebel. (Though the green on the rebel does have much better saturation.)

[eastern57]

http://album.blog.yam.com/Lightsaber&folder=3759206

this is a presentation on how he makes his LED sabers, it's in chinese, but the pictures help. He fabricates LED strings. It's pretty neat, I kinda want to try it someday. They're way bright and obviously, chameleonic... (totally just made up that word)...

[Draconis Magnus]

http://album.blog.yam.com/Lightsaber&folder=3759206

this is a presentation on how he makes his LED sabers, it's in chinese, but the pictures help. He fabricates LED strings. It's pretty neat, I kinda want to try it someday. They're way bright and obviously, chameleonic... (totally just made up that word)...

That's the same guy? The one in the videos?? Makoto?? So he just strung those LEDs? Cool! I gotta do that for mine.. you know which LEDs he uses? Hmmmm.. how much power would you need to string 60 of those LEDs? So he just strung a bunch of RGB LEDs like that to make the one that changes color right? oh man!

[TimeRender]

Alright, Draconis and Eastern, please don't derail this thread any more. There are plenty of other places on the forum where you can discuss RGB blades, this thread is for information about RGB accent leds.

Hatter, thanks for the information! Just as a side note, for some reason my order from unique-leds was cancelled and my money refunded, so I had to buy my test RGBs from another source. I probably won't get my package now for about another week.