Mounting a 5mm Accent LED

[Jay-gon Jinn]

Sort of...you need to resistor them to control the current, more than stepping down the voltage....led's are current sensitive, and those are rated for 30ma. maximum, not the 1000ma or so that you are most likely getting through the soundboard, and overpowering them.

[cardcollector]

Ah, So I have to take into account both mah and voltage...

That makes a lot of sense as to why they are so dim.

Thanks Jay-gonn.

[cardcollector]

I Think I should rename this thread "my stupid 5mm Accent LED questions..."

I have a chrystal chamber system designed and will be using just a 5mm accent LED with a Hasbro soundboard.

My question- How hard is it to rig up a system that will make the LED glow? You know like make it fade in and out almost giving the LED a pulsing effect.

I don't want the LED to ever completely go out though. Like a beating heart effect. Help, Please?

[Jonitus]

I Think I should rename this thread "my stupid 5mm Accent LED questions..."

I have a chrystal chamber system designed and will be using just a 5mm accent LED with a Hasbro soundboard.

My question- How hard is it to rig up a system that will make the LED glow? You know like make it fade in and out almost giving the LED a pulsing effect.

I don't want the LED to ever completely go out though. Like a beating heart effect. Help, Please?

You'll need an additional circuit to control an LED like that. I'd recommend a 555 timer circuit. You can find information about them here:

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/555timer.htm

You can find all the parts you need to make it work at someplace like RadioShack, assuming your RadioShack carries components in bins (some don't anymore).

[cardcollector]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply Jonitus.

So it looks like I will be wanting to use a bistable circut correct? Is there any programming with these, or do you have them custom programmed, or is it all manually resistored and controlled, or am I completely off?

That looks doable, and afforable for me. I'll go to radioshack and see what I can come up with... What do you mean with bins... the large area that holds all sorts of wonderful knick knacks???

[Jonitus]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply Jonitus.

So it looks like I will be wanting to use a bistable circut correct? Is there any programming with these, or do you have them custom programmed, or is it all manually resistored and controlled, or am I completely off?

That looks doable, and afforable for me. I'll go to radioshack and see what I can come up with... What do you mean with bins... the large area that holds all sorts of wonderful knick knacks???

Yeah, the knick-kancks, doohickeys, thingamabobs, and flabbersniggles.

No programming necessary on a 555. It's all internal, and the changes of the timing of the output signal depend on the other components you use.

To make it easier on yourself, I'd recommend picking up a breadboard at RadioShack and enough parts to build a few versions of the 555 so you can experiment with what works best for you. You can always transfer the circuit to a piece of PCB later when it comes time to install in a saber.

[cardcollector]

OK, thanks.

I am glad no programming is involved. Though I don't know where to start. I can do some research though and maybe the radio shack folks can help me...( I have good radio shack folks)

[strengthofrage]

You're lucky... my radio shack has NO bins and NO help If I want a decent store with bins and service I have to drive a good 20 miles.

Good luck with your project, it sounds fun

[cardcollector]

Thanks, I will post a tutorial after I get it all wired up. I found a GREAT source after googling!

[cardcollector]

I've got a <another> quick question.

I was prototyping on a breadboard and trying to run 3 100 omh resistors in parallel so I could get 33.333333333_ ohms.

However. I think I blew the LED because it was bright, dim, and 10 seconds later... OFF.

So my question is- how do you run resistors (in a beadboard and on PCBs) in parallel?