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Thread: AV Switch LED Question

  1. #1

    Question AV Switch LED Question

    Is it possible to burn out the LED with 1 AA battery? I wanted to test my new AV switches and tried with 1 AA battery (I watched the video from Madcow and thought they were rated for 3 volts.). I figured that I would have a dim light. What I got was no light from one and about a second of light from the other. Did I really screw up? I didn't think 1 AA could push too much ohms. Please, what did I do wrong so I don't do it again.

  2. #2

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    A single AA alkaline? Or a single AA sized li-ion?

    A single alkaline isn't going to blow out an LED. In fact, it's not really enough to light up your LED at all. One alkaline cell is only 1.5v, and even a red LED needs 2+ volts to light it up. If you were using one alkaline cell, you didn't get light because you didn't give enough power.

    A single li-ion cell is 3.7v, and could potentially blow out a red LED.
    We all have to start somewhere. The journey is all the more impressive by our humble beginnings.

    http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz for the lazy man's resistor calculator!
    http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com...e-to-Ohm-s-Law for getting resistor values the right way!

  3. #3

    Default

    I was using a single alkaline. Is two alkaline in series too much? Madcow used two in the video without the resistor. These are yellow light AV switches.

  4. #4

    Default

    Those have a forward voltage of 2.0v, so 3v would be dangerous for them. If you have a multimeter with a diode test function, that should get the LED to light up a little bit. Otherwise, I'd put a resistor on your test pack before checking the switch LED.

    It *might* survive brief testing with a 3v pack, but you're risking a $12 part (plus shipping) if you try it. I tend to advise caution with such things. I don't recall what color LED Madcow used in the video, but I'm assuming it was a blue or green, which have higher forward voltages than 3v and wouldn't be harmed by the 2xAA pack.
    We all have to start somewhere. The journey is all the more impressive by our humble beginnings.

    http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz for the lazy man's resistor calculator!
    http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com...e-to-Ohm-s-Law for getting resistor values the right way!

  5. #5

    Default

    Yeah, I think I learned a hard lesson. I tried with 2 alkaline thinking they were 1.5 volts like the battery says. About a second of light, then a little puff of smoke. That sucked. Live and learn.

  6. #6

    Default

    They are 1.5 volts. Wiring them in series will give you 3 volts...

  7. #7

    Default

    The good news is that the switch itself will still function. It just won't light up. You can still play with your saber until you get a replacement switch.
    We all have to start somewhere. The journey is all the more impressive by our humble beginnings.

    http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz for the lazy man's resistor calculator!
    http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com...e-to-Ohm-s-Law for getting resistor values the right way!

  8. #8

    Default

    Thanks for the info. Not how I'd prefer the results, but thanks again.

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