Lightning LED from the mains

[thecritic]

In order to save power of my inverter during the hour of Load-shedding, I want to make some led lights.
I want to glow a single LED from the 220 V 50Hz mains.
( I have already lighted this LED from 12V DC by using 560Ω in series and it has been glowing fine continiously for a week. During work, 3.01V appears across the LED, so I guess, its a 3V led.)

I tried a simple circuit with a 1N4007 diode, a 33KΩ Resistor and the LED in series to glow from the mains. The LED Glows, but not in full brightness. Even then my 1/2 Watt Resistor burns out by heating after some time. I won't go for higher power resistor since I want this light to be in the order of 0.1 watts. So, how would I able to glow the lED without wasting significant amount of enery as heat?

 

[iflymyhelishigh]

I'm surprised that the LED itself didn't burn out from 220 V -.-

 

[Mike_2545]

Research Capacitive Reactance

 

[RCinFLA]

Capacitance ballast for LED is common. It does require a safety surge protection in case contact is quickly bounced such that charged ballast cap and new AC main voltage peaks don't blow LED.

You can buy a cheap LED night light and take it apart to see how it works.

 

[audioguru]

I'm surprised that the LED itself didn't burn out from 220 V -.-

The 33k resistor limited the current to 220V/33k= 6.7mA which is nowhere close to burning out the LED.
But the power dissipated by the resistor is 0.73W.

 

[kchriste]

So, how would I able to glow the lED without wasting significant amount of enery as heat?

Check out this page:
LED flashers, Line powered LEDs, LED Traffic lights

 

[tcmtech]

There are a number of threads here relating to making your own line powered LED systems. They are well worth doing a quick search!

 

[thecritic]

Check out this page:
LED flashers, Line powered LEDs, LED Traffic lights[/QUOTE
Thanks. Seems like it will work.
But wouldn't a 220v capacitor be too expensive for this cheap purpose? And Would it deliver a shock even after removing it
from the mains?

 

[sarfarazkec]

you must have a heat sink attached with led which is made by aluminium.
this is an important part of led lighting

 

[tcmtech]

The higher voltage AC or non polar mylar and poly capacitors are cheap. Free if you know what your looking for in old computer monitors or other electronics!

 

[kchriste]

But wouldn't a 220v capacitor be too expensive for this cheap purpose?

Much cheaper than a higher wattage resistor and it's heat dissipation issues. It is what they use in the, cheap made in China, night lights that you buy.

And Would it deliver a shock even after removing it from the mains?

That is a possibility with that circuit. A 1MΩ resistor in parallel with the cap would solve that "potential" issue.