More voltage, brighter LED?

**Yama-Blu Kitsu** · 01-14-2010, 07:28 PM

I searched the forums but I couldn't find anything specifically answering this question.

I plan on making either a green or amber saber next. I'm making the inside of the hilt as spacious as possible. I'm leaning towards the green more because I know that once it's driven with a P4 its especially bright.

Here's my question, If I powered a Green P4 with a 1000ma buck puck and 6AA batteries (9vs), would it be brighter than using 4 AAAs?

I've also heard that sanding the blade with 400/600 grit sanding paper helps as well. And cellophane in the blade.

And what exactly is does "overpowering" the led refer to?

Any other suggestions on achieving maximum brightness?

**Jedi-Loreen** · 01-14-2010, 07:36 PM

It's not voltage that makes an LED brighter, it's current. Excess voltage is just going to burn out your LED.

"Overdriving" means to give an LED more current than the rating that's in the specs. It will shorten the life span by a bit, but that's pretty insignificant considering how long LEDs last.

**Yama-Blu Kitsu** · 01-14-2010, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Jedi-Loreen

It's not voltage that makes an LED brighter, it's current. Excess voltage is just going to burn out your LED.

"Overdriving" means to give an LED more current than the rating that's in the specs. It will shorten the life span by a bit, but that's pretty insignificant considering how long LEDs last.

Ok if thats the case then how do i efficiently get more current?

And I suppose once I get an answer to that question I'll also know how to overdrive too

**cannibal869** · 01-14-2010, 08:53 PM

Some have tried using more than one buckpuck to achieve higher current (mA) than 1000. Otherwise, you're kinda stuck with either getting an Ultrasound sound card or perhaps one of the LED drivers that Tim sells in the store. I'm sure there are other ways too...

Try doing a search for "seoul overdrive" and see what you get.