Super Bright LED's

[jbelectric777]

Hey Everyone,

I ordered a lot of 200 blue super brights and just wanted to know if there is any diffrence in protecting them, meaning the resistor value. I usually use 1K for a regular 3 or 5mm, do the super brights need anything special ? more or less resistance ? or am I ok with 1000R. Thanks again in advance, Jim

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Here I Googled it for you.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

 

[jbelectric777]

Thanks Bill

 

[jbelectric777]

Bill, I wanted to add that I looked at the site you sent, didnt say much about SB's but I put a 3K ohm in line with a blue SB and it about scared the you know what outta me !!! They are really bright, I had no idea. Jim

 

[blueroomelectronics]

What's your power source? What are the LEDs V & mA ratings?

 

[jbelectric777]

9V DC from a walkie talkie charger. I have the charger paralell with a set of alligator clips. I got the same brilliance on a 9V battery, I was looking direct top center, they'll work well for the porch flashers I make for people. They use em for panick situations we also have a few elderly neighbors my parents look after, I put em in and control em with a transmitter and receiver using the Normally open on the receiver in case something happens and they cant get to a phone, older people wont buy cell phones, drives us all nuts.

 

[jbelectric777]

9/3000=3ma thats within the limits isnt it ?

 

[cowana]

It depends what the charger was really giving out - if an unregulated design, the voltage could be much higher than 9v.

But if it was 9v, the LED current would have been around 1.9mA.

Andrew

 

[audioguru]

If you have a 9V supply, a 3.5V blue LED and a 3k current-limiting resistor then there is only 9V - 3.5V= 5.5V across the resistor therefore the current is 5.5V/3k= 1.83mA.

Cheap Chinese LEDs are ordinary dim old ones in a case that focusses the beam into a narrow angle then they are very bright only if they shine directly into your eyes. A little to the side you might see nothing.
High quality modern LEDs are very bright over a wide angle so they can be seen well.