Hi tthere. I'm still pretty new to electronics, starting out by learning some simple computer mods. I've been building a computer from sheet aluminum, based on a sweet looking pyramid-shaped CD Player I saw at Radioshack.
Older 3d Model: **broken link removed**
Actual thing (so far): **broken link removed**
Anyway, I'm wiring up some 3mm 3v LEDs, and I'm trying to figure out the resistance needed. I keep coming accross the formula R = (5 - V) / I, where V is the voltage that I want the LEDs to have, 5 is the amount I'm feeding it (from my computer's power supply), and I would be the LED's mA (.02A per LED).
The problem I'm having is that I think I'm doing something wrong with calculating the total amount of resistance I'll need. For an example, I'm going to have 4 LEDs hooked up in parallel, and I want them to have 1v each. I tried multiplying the amperage by 4 (.08 instead of .02), giving me the formula;
R = (5v - 1v) / .08
...but the LEDs appear to be at full brightness. (In case I'm just picking the wrong resistor, I'm using a 47 ohm, yellow-purple-brown-gold resistor, the closest to 50 ohms that I have).
Please give me any insight you have as to what I'm doing wrong, whether it's in calculating the resistance or just using the wrong components. Thanks in advance.
Older 3d Model: **broken link removed**
Actual thing (so far): **broken link removed**
Anyway, I'm wiring up some 3mm 3v LEDs, and I'm trying to figure out the resistance needed. I keep coming accross the formula R = (5 - V) / I, where V is the voltage that I want the LEDs to have, 5 is the amount I'm feeding it (from my computer's power supply), and I would be the LED's mA (.02A per LED).
The problem I'm having is that I think I'm doing something wrong with calculating the total amount of resistance I'll need. For an example, I'm going to have 4 LEDs hooked up in parallel, and I want them to have 1v each. I tried multiplying the amperage by 4 (.08 instead of .02), giving me the formula;
R = (5v - 1v) / .08
...but the LEDs appear to be at full brightness. (In case I'm just picking the wrong resistor, I'm using a 47 ohm, yellow-purple-brown-gold resistor, the closest to 50 ohms that I have).
Please give me any insight you have as to what I'm doing wrong, whether it's in calculating the resistance or just using the wrong components. Thanks in advance.