darkenreaper57 said:EDIT: What if I wanted to keep the IC even cooler? What would you say the maximum resistance I should use would be to keep all of the LEDs lit? Better yet, how would I calculate this myself (I am curious to know)?It's on the datasheet. Then you need to do some simple arithmatic.
A fan would also help cool it.
Your supply is 10.3VI am thinking of using two 150 1/2W resistors in parallel. It would mean that they would need to dissipate about .81W total (.4W or so each) which is under .5W. Would this work, or am I stressing the resistors too much in doing so, or am I limiting the voltage too much?
The LEDs are probably 2V.
The LM3914 is set for 10.4mA at its outputs.
With 104mA, a resistance of 75 ohms dissipates 0.81W as you say. But then only 2.5V is available to the LM3914 outputs which isn't enough for them to regulate the current properly? (It is probably pretty close. I didn't calculate it) :lol: :lol: