Question about overdriving a led.

**Hasid Lafre** · 06-03-2007, 06:45 PM

First off is it possable and what are the pros and cons of doing so?

**xwingband** · 06-03-2007, 06:53 PM

Yup, quite possible.

If you have enough heatsinking it will be fine. The enemy is that it heats up. That lowers the forward voltage... and starts an endless cycle that ends in magic smoke.

You lose life of the LED. 50% overdriven is 50% off of it's life.

**Hasid Lafre** · 06-03-2007, 07:01 PM

I see. thanks Xwing.

**pockets** · 06-03-2007, 08:16 PM

note alot of LEDs have 100,000 hour life span

**Novastar** · 06-05-2007, 02:58 PM

Correct.

I seriously doubt that anyone will ever see the "problems" in overdriving an LED.

Corbin overdrives the Lux V in his Killer Penny... and no one will ever see the "bad" things about that in this lifetime. Even if he left the saber on 24/7 for the next 5 to 10 years.

The only worry you have on over-driving is if you go TOO far with current. And that is tough, especially if you're using an LED that is LOOKING for 1.5A or whatever.

**vortextwist** · 06-12-2007, 01:07 PM

don't want to make a new topic, so.
what is the name of that thermal glue stuff. I don't have room for the nylon screws, need a little extra to hold the led in place.

**pockets** · 06-12-2007, 01:10 PM

there's like 900 brands of thermal adhesive, look at any computer parts store or something like that. i use arctic silver 5 on my PCs, but i'm not sure how adhesive it is.

**vortextwist** · 06-12-2007, 01:11 PM

yea I guess I could

**Madcow** · 06-12-2007, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by vortextwist

don't want to make a new topic, so.
what is the name of that thermal glue stuff. I don't have room for the nylon screws, need a little extra to hold the led in place.

Arctic Alumina... I got mine on ebay.

MC