led questions

R

redls1bird

Guest
hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.
 
"redls1bird" <dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid> wrote in message
news:StCdnZSH7IZNBJjeRVn_vQ@giganews.com...
hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.

For standard LED's you only want about 3 volts and about 20 milliamps so you
Click to expand...
need to connect a resistor in series with the LED for a voltage drop of 11
volts since automotive voltage us about 14 volts(13.8) when the vehicle is
running. Using Ohms Law, R = V/I so R = 11/20e-3 which is 550 ohms. A 470
ohm resistor would be a good enough standard value since the LED will take
more than 20 milliamps. I know someone who usually uses 470 ohms for
automotive purposes. I used 220 ohms for my six volt motorbike.
You need 470 ohms for each LED you use. Connect the LED's in parallel with
one another.

Rod
 
redls1bird wrote:
hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Click to expand...
One and only one rule*: design the circuit to limit the current
through the LED to some particular value. The simplest way is
with a 1/2 watt (or larger) series resistor:

+Vcc-----[R]---[LED]---Gnd

Use the formula Resistance = (Vsupply - Vled)/Current
If LEDS are used in series: Vled = Vled(1) + Vled(2) + ... Vled(n)

* = until and unless you have a specific reason or reasons not to.

If you don't have specs on your LEDs, use these numbers for Vled:
Red LED ~1.8 volts; white (or blue, blueish white) LED ~ 3.4 volts.
and limit the current to about 20 mA (or less). (Other color
LEDS will range between these Vled values)

If you have the specs for the LED, you can use them to chose
the current limit, and you'll know Vled for each LED. Otherwise,
20 mA is generally a good value for the limit, and LEDS will light
*well* below 20 mA.

In a car, a nominal voltage of 14 for Vsupply can be used to
compute the size resistor you need. With a red LED, that computes
to 610 ohms, and I would recommend using 680 ohms (a standard value)
for a little extra safety margin. With a white LED, it computes
to 530 ohms. I'd recommend going up to at least 560 ohms, but you
could use the 680 ohm resistor and still get over 15 mA through
the LED. Probably won't see much change in brightness, either.

Do NOT wire LEDS in parallel. For multiple LEDS,
use series like this, and re-compute R:

Vcc---[R]---[LED1]---[LED2]---[LED3]---Ground

In the case above, for red LEDs, it computes to 430 ohms.
A 470 ohm standard resistor would be fine. With white
LEDs, R computes to 190 ohms, and a standard 220 ohm
resistor would be good.

If you want to use a parallel circuit, do this, and
use the 680 ohm resistor mentioned earlier:

Vcc---+---[R]---[LED1]---+---Ground
| |
+---[R]---[LED2]---+
| |
+---[R]---[LED3]---+
~ ~
+---[R]---[LEDn]---+

That's not the end of the story. The electrical "environment"
in a car is hostile. There's all kinds of electrical transients,
and it may be prudent to protect the LED's with a 15 volt TVS
diode from Vcc to ground. In addition, the ambient temperature
may be high, and you may want to limit the current to less
than the ~20 mA (or the specs, if you have them) to
compensate for high ambient temperature.

Ed
 
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Click to expand...
Rodney said:
"Connect the LED's in parallel with one another."

ehsjr said:
"Do NOT wire LEDS in parallel."

Right now you might be a little confused, and who can blame you!
Actually, what you want for automotive lighting is a combination,
series-parallel circuit. Take ehsjr's example:

"Vcc---[R]---[LED1]---[LED2]---[LED3]---Ground"

Shake it up a bit:

+12VDC---[R1]---[LED1.1]---[LED1.2]---[LED1.3]---Ground
|----[R2]---[LED2.1]---[LED2.2]---[LED2.3]-----|
|----[R3]---[LED3.1]---[LED3.2]---[LED3.3]-----|
|----[R4]---[LED4.1]---[LED4.2]---[LED4.3]-----|

Realize that the +12VDC is variable between about +11.5 and +14.5,
calculate your resistance based on optimal diode current at max auto
supply voltage (don't forget to use the current *and* voltage specs of
the LED that you choose in your calculations). You can now build the
series-parallel circuit, adding legs to your heart's content. For
this application, the auto's supply current is practically unlimited,
unless you want to try to emulate aircraft landing lights or summat.
 
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Click to expand...
Here's a few links that will help.
The first link is nice, as it will show you the circuit schematic.

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_info.htm

http://www.dannyg.com/examples/res2/resistor.htm
 
system wrote:
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.

Here's a few links that will help.
The first link is nice, as it will show you the circuit schematic.

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_info.htm

http://www.dannyg.com/examples/res2/resistor.htm
Click to expand...

Great links, thanks!

JazzMan
--
**********************************************************
Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net.
Curse those darned bulk e-mailers!
**********************************************************
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry
**********************************************************
 
Ed's is one of the best I've seen for beginners.

The only thing I would add is to make sure that you calculate the power the
resistor will have to dissipate (Current * Current * Resistance) and select a
resistor with a power rating at least that large. Good practice is to use a
resistor with 2X the required rating.

Good luck.

--
James T. White
 
"Kitchen Man" <nannerbac@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:j3tcg1t8lae7s5ju2crlf20ekpsd03dp87@4ax.com...
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.

Rodney said:
"Connect the LED's in parallel with one another."

ehsjr said:
"Do NOT wire LEDS in parallel."

Right now you might be a little confused, and who can blame you!
Actually, what you want for automotive lighting is a combination,
series-parallel circuit. Take ehsjr's example:

"Vcc---[R]---[LED1]---[LED2]---[LED3]---Ground"

Shake it up a bit:

+12VDC---[R1]---[LED1.1]---[LED1.2]---[LED1.3]---Ground
|----[R2]---[LED2.1]---[LED2.2]---[LED2.3]-----|
|----[R3]---[LED3.1]---[LED3.2]---[LED3.3]-----|
|----[R4]---[LED4.1]---[LED4.2]---[LED4.3]-----|

Realize that the +12VDC is variable between about +11.5 and +14.5,
calculate your resistance based on optimal diode current at max auto
supply voltage (don't forget to use the current *and* voltage specs of
the LED that you choose in your calculations). You can now build the
series-parallel circuit, adding legs to your heart's content. For
this application, the auto's supply current is practically unlimited,
unless you want to try to emulate aircraft landing lights or summat.

I can't argue with you, it just would depend on the application. I used a
Click to expand...
white LED to replace a high beam indicator on my motorbike and it works
fine. It does happen to be in parallel with the other lights. Just had to
solder a 220 ohm resistor to it. If I use LED's for the other lights I'll
do the same. I realise you could hook up multiple LED's in series with a
single resistor but if one LED fails you will have trouble knowing which one
is dead when the whole string goes out. Just like Christmas lights eh?
LED's don't go out too often but they can. They may be less reliable in
automotive apps.
 
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 23:14:00 -0700, "Rodney" <rdavies@okanagan.net>
wrote:

It does happen to be in parallel with the other lights. Just had to
solder a 220 ohm resistor to it.
Click to expand...
Right, I think that's the source of the confusion in the discussion.
You are wiring resistor-LED-pair series circuits in parallel with
other devices using the same source, and I think the ehj-someone is
implying that non-current limited LED's should not be paralleled.

In pictures:

+V--[R]--[LED]--Rtn
|---[circuit]---|

and not:

+V--[R]---[LED]--Rtn
|-[LED]---|
|-[LED]---|

which would probably be ok *if* R is chosen for the current used by
the parallel group, and the LED's are closely matched for voltage
drop.
 
On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 00:57:22 GMT, system <testing@VERIZON.NET> wrote:

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.

Here's a few links that will help.
The first link is nice, as it will show you the circuit schematic.

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
Click to expand...
That one is really quite nifty. Thanks.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_info.htm

http://www.dannyg.com/examples/res2/resistor.htm
Click to expand...
 
On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:59:49 -0700, Kitchen Man
<nannerbac@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 23:14:00 -0700, "Rodney" <rdavies@okanagan.net
wrote:

It does happen to be in parallel with the other lights. Just had to
solder a 220 ohm resistor to it.

Right, I think that's the source of the confusion in the discussion.
You are wiring resistor-LED-pair series circuits in parallel with
other devices using the same source, and I think the ehj-someone is
implying that non-current limited LED's should not be paralleled.

In pictures:

+V--[R]--[LED]--Rtn
|---[circuit]---|

and not:

+V--[R]---[LED]--Rtn
|-[LED]---|
|-[LED]---|

which would probably be ok *if* R is chosen for the current used by
the parallel group, and the LED's are closely matched for voltage
drop.
Click to expand...
---
Since LEDs have a negative tempco, the common resistor is _never_
preferred because even small changes in diode characteristics can
cause one LED to hog current, overheat and, if it fails open, cause
the others to go, one by one.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer
 
"Rodney" <rdavies@okanagan.net> wrote in message
news:11gdihdludrbj64@corp.supernews.com...
"Kitchen Man" <nannerbac@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:j3tcg1t8lae7s5ju2crlf20ekpsd03dp87@4ax.com...
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:35:28 -0500,
dakota39l@aol-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (redls1bird) wrote:

hello all. im interested in using some leds for automotive lighting
and such. i have a BASIC understanding of electronics and
electricity. i am familiar with diodes, but not leds. The very
small information i have found for auto use talks about using
resistors in parallel, but noone really goes into why. i believe its
to drop the voltage? but i wouldnt bet my next paycheck on it. can
anyone give me some basics on building led circuits? especially how
to connect multipes and determine the proper resistors to use?
Thanks for the help in advance.

Rodney said:
"Connect the LED's in parallel with one another."

ehsjr said:
"Do NOT wire LEDS in parallel."

Right now you might be a little confused, and who can blame you!
Actually, what you want for automotive lighting is a combination,
series-parallel circuit. Take ehsjr's example:

"Vcc---[R]---[LED1]---[LED2]---[LED3]---Ground"

Shake it up a bit:

+12VDC---[R1]---[LED1.1]---[LED1.2]---[LED1.3]---Ground
|----[R2]---[LED2.1]---[LED2.2]---[LED2.3]-----|
|----[R3]---[LED3.1]---[LED3.2]---[LED3.3]-----|
|----[R4]---[LED4.1]---[LED4.2]---[LED4.3]-----|

Realize that the +12VDC is variable between about +11.5 and +14.5,
calculate your resistance based on optimal diode current at max auto
supply voltage (don't forget to use the current *and* voltage specs of
the LED that you choose in your calculations). You can now build the
series-parallel circuit, adding legs to your heart's content. For
this application, the auto's supply current is practically unlimited,
unless you want to try to emulate aircraft landing lights or summat.

I can't argue with you, it just would depend on the application. I used a
white LED to replace a high beam indicator on my motorbike and it works
fine. It does happen to be in parallel with the other lights. Just had
to solder a 220 ohm resistor to it. If I use LED's for the other lights
I'll do the same. I realise you could hook up multiple LED's in series
with a single resistor but if one LED fails you will have trouble knowing
which one is dead when the whole string goes out. Just like Christmas
lights eh? LED's don't go out too often but they can. They may be less
reliable in automotive apps.
Maybe I should explain that in the old days they used to make Christmas
Click to expand...
lights in series. When one light went out you had to test every bulb to see
which one was out. Today they are making strings of LED Christmas lights
which I believe are all connected in parallel.

Rod
 
Rodney wrote:
Maybe I should explain that in the old days they used to make Christmas
lights in series. When one light went out you had to test every bulb to see
which one was out. Today they are making strings of LED Christmas lights
which I believe are all connected in parallel.

Rod
Click to expand...

No, they are not all in parallel, because LEDs don't play well
together in that configuration, and it would waste a lot of current.

--
Link to my "Computers for disabled Veterans" project website deleted
after threats were telephoned to my church.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
Rodney wrote:
Today they are making strings of LED Christmas lights
which I believe are all connected in parallel.

Rod
Click to expand...
That makes sense only if each LED has it's own separate resistor to set
the current:

| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |

where -/\/\/\/- is a resistor and -|>|- is an LED.

Mark
 
On 20 Aug 2005 17:26:30 -0700, "redbelly" <redbelly98@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Rodney wrote:
Today they are making strings of LED Christmas lights
which I believe are all connected in parallel.

Rod

That makes sense only if each LED has it's own separate resistor to set
the current:

| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |
|--/\/\/\/--|>|--|
| |

where -/\/\/\/- is a resistor and -|>|- is an LED.
Click to expand...

---
Frayed knot. ;)

1. Each resistor will have to dissipate about 2.4 watts

2. What'll happen when the mains polarity reverses and puts the
cathodes of the LEDs at 170V positive WRT the anodes?







--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer
 
On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 11:12:31 -0500, John Fields
<jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote:

and not:

+V--[R]---[LED]--Rtn
|-[LED]---|
|-[LED]---|

which would probably be ok *if* R is chosen for the current used by
the parallel group, and the LED's are closely matched for voltage
drop.

---
Since LEDs have a negative tempco, the common resistor is _never_
preferred because even small changes in diode characteristics can
cause one LED to hog current, overheat and, if it fails open, cause
the others to go, one by one.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification.
 
John Fields wrote:

---
Frayed knot. ;)

1. Each resistor will have to dissipate about 2.4 watts

2. What'll happen when the mains polarity reverses and puts the
cathodes of the LEDs at 170V positive WRT the anodes?
Click to expand...
I guess I could have added that low-voltage DC is being used, but I
thought that was obvious. :)

Mark
 
On 21 Aug 2005 05:05:13 -0700, "redbelly" <redbelly98@yahoo.com>
wrote:

John Fields wrote:

---
Frayed knot. ;)

1. Each resistor will have to dissipate about 2.4 watts

2. What'll happen when the mains polarity reverses and puts the
cathodes of the LEDs at 170V positive WRT the anodes?



I guess I could have added that low-voltage DC is being used, but I
thought that was obvious. :)
Click to expand...
---
I tend to think of a string of Christmas tree lights as working off
the mains, so to get that low-voltage DC they'd have to have a
power supply of some sort. Maybe a wall-wart? I don't know, I
haven't bought a string of lights in over ten years. Is that how
they do it?

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer
 
John Fields wrote:

---
I tend to think of a string of Christmas tree lights as working off
the mains, so to get that low-voltage DC they'd have to have a
power supply of some sort. Maybe a wall-wart? I don't know, I
haven't bought a string of lights in over ten years. Is that how
they do it?

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer
Click to expand...
I don't know either. I was originally responding to somebody who
said they THINK that Christmas lights are available as LED's wired
in parallel. My point was that IF that is the case, they would
each need a separate series resistor. And of course run off a
low voltage DC source.

When you think about it, the possible savings in efficiency are
likely offset by the inconvenience of using a wall-wart, the
power drain of the resistors, and the fact that they would only
be used for 3 or 4 weeks out of the year. But I honestly don't
know what is available.

Regards,

Mark
 
On 21 Aug 2005 09:11:50 -0700, "redbelly" <redbelly98@yahoo.com>
wrote:

John Fields wrote:

---
I tend to think of a string of Christmas tree lights as working off
the mains, so to get that low-voltage DC they'd have to have a
power supply of some sort. Maybe a wall-wart? I don't know, I
haven't bought a string of lights in over ten years. Is that how
they do it?

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

I don't know either. I was originally responding to somebody who
said they THINK that Christmas lights are available as LED's wired
in parallel. My point was that IF that is the case, they would
each need a separate series resistor. And of course run off a
low voltage DC source.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that is the case. The new ones can have a few bulbs
fail and the string still works.

Tom

When you think about it, the possible savings in efficiency are
likely offset by the inconvenience of using a wall-wart, the
power drain of the resistors, and the fact that they would only
be used for 3 or 4 weeks out of the year. But I honestly don't
know what is available.

Regards,

Mark
Click to expand...
 
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