If you have built an R2 unit, resistors will be easy. All you need is your supply voltage, Forward Voltage and Current rating on whatever LED you intend on using and plug it into this lovely calculator:
Click Here for Resistor Calculator I would point you to Ohm's law, theories, and etc, but I hate math, and since there are programs like this that already use Ohm's law, I trust them and use them. Its easy stuff really.
Also, electrical circuits flow in a circle like water. You can place these dams (resistors) anywhere on the river, and they will stem the flow, in other words they can be in the negative or positive leg of the circuit. The important thing is to wire your LED's so that each LED has its own individual resistor. Resistors are important to LED's not only to keep from over-driving them and blowing them out, but also to help them to regulate themselves. As LEDs heat up, they kind of go into a self-killing energy eating craze unless you control them, so even if a LED doesn't necessarily need a resistor based on Ohm's law, its usually a good idea to pop some small resistor (usually .47 ohm) on the LED to keep the LED out of the death cycle. This is especially important for LEDs that you are using to illuminate the blade. The ones that run all the time when the saber is ignited. FOC diodes which just come on in brief bursts to give you flash on clash are not in as critical need for resistors, because they don't run long enough to go into the death heat spiral.
I built a MHS Nihilus hilt for a Garrison Mate. Its not totally accurate, but definitely better than what he had, and most other 501st Nihilus Cosplayers carry. I have seen some absolute junk out there (i.e. store bought sabers from the Big Saber Box Stores). Shameem was kind of inspirational to me as well on the deal. I set out and made this (video is long):
So, welcome to the TCSS site, it has been very helpful to me to read the many threads, stickies that are available here. I would also suggest watching all of Madcow's basic saber building videos on YouTube via the TCSS YouTube channel. They are worth their weight in gold, and everytime he posts another video, pretty much everyone watches them. He is a very good teacher for the basics.
DS-74759 (Tom)
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