More noob questions

[Skinnerman02]

Okay, before anyone says something about noobs needing to check the rest of the forums, I've been lurking around boards for years and have only recently decided to build a hilt. I have some 20-25 bookmarks to various answers, and, after looking for the past few days, I can't find an answer to my question. So here it is: I've ordered a Seoul P4 kit from TCSS with the white LED. Today I tried wiring the thing (with absolutely no knowledge of electronics), and found the LED is VERY dim. I have a quad-AAA battery holder and 3.3 Ohm 5 watt resistor wired in. To my knowledge, I haven't done anything wrong in the wiring. I've also left the LED in the bag, save for an initial inspection, since I've got it. I haven't soldered anything together, other than the wires to the LED. I'm also using 22 gauge copper wire. Is there something wrong? Are the P4s not terribly bright? I have the resistor attached to the negative lead and the switch on the positive lead. Everything is wired according to the models and diagrams I've seen.

[Silver Serpent]

Sounds like either your batteries are low, or you possibly hooked up the LED backwards. Try some fresh batteries first, and also make sure ALL your solder joints are good and solid. One poor solder joint (especially on the LED itself) can make for bad current flow.

[Skinnerman02]

So I ripped the whole thing apart, took out the batteries, and reassembled it. Don't know what the deal was, but it works fine now.

[Silver Serpent]

Glad to hear you got it fixed. Dim sabers aren't much fun.

[Takanis]

Ya, nice to hear its working now. Sometimes electronics are just finicky like that.

[Skottsaber]

Sometimes electronics are just finicky like that.

*smacks hands*
Have I taught you nothing!?!

Electronics does exactly what you tell it to do

[Skinnerman02]

Unfortunately, the instructions I give my circuits come from ineptitude. Luckily, I was able to get the thing to work without electrocuting myself or setting anything on fire. That's quite the accomplishment for me.