LED How-to, help needed!

[gerald_weigel]

I'm looking at building a custom case for my dad. My dad has been a helicopter pilot for the last twenty-odd years, so the design I'm working on is based off of the UH-1 (the Huey) I know a guy that does sheet metal work, and I've got most of the why-fors and what-nots worked out, but one thing eludes me. All aircraft have lights on them, small, red and sometimes blue. I'd like to use LEDs because the colors are right and the size is pretty close. Not being electrically inclined, I don't have any idea how to hook LEDs up. I don't want to hook them to any hardware (except for a switch). I tried a google search, but was overwhelmed by the results, and nothing was quite what I was looking for.

Where can I find a few good resources on "LEDs for dummies"?

I'd have it done by someone that already knows, but then I won't learn how it's done, or have the satisfaction of doing it myself.

[smstrackkid14]

well there are some like led wiht 2 pin connectors, others require sottering skills. i cant help you on a resoure tho. your best bet is to get to a computer or book store and read up.

[kantlivelong]

its easy... one side is positive and one is negitive.. when wanting to link them all together put 1 leds + side on another leds - side and keep linking it like a circle until the circut is completed..

thats all i can really tell ya :P

if you got enough leds use a 4pin molex female and rewire it for all the leds and a switch :P
if you wanna test before doin that, use a 9v battery..

thats what i can say from what i read..

Hope that helps

[RedFury]

www.metku.net

He has an entire article spelling out what you need to do to wire your own LED's and integrate them into a computer system. Very useful!

[Idigguns]

The two wires extending below the LED epoxy enclosure, or the "bulb" indicate how the LED should be connected into a
circuit. The negative side of an LED lead is indicated in two ways: 1) by the flat side of the bulb, and 2) by the shorter
of the two wires extending from the LED. The negative lead should be connected to the negative terminal of a battery. LED's
operate at relative low voltages between about 1 and 4 volts, and draw currents between about 10 and 40 milliamperes.
Voltages and currents substantially above these values can melt a LED chip.

Most white, blue, and green LEDs will require more than 3.0 volts for operation. Most red, yellow, and orange LEDs will
require 3.0 volts, or less, for operation.

Typical 5mm LEDs require up to 20 to 30 ma for proper operation.

3 MM LEDs
Useful when space is of a premium. Can be used for simple and easy drop in mods to most small flashlights. Typical
brightness levels are 1000mcd.

5 MM LEDs
Standard size bi-pin epoxy LEDs. These are what most people think of when they hear the acronym LED. Typical brightness
level are 5000+mcd.

10 MM LEDs
Usually the same internal chip used in 5mm LEDs, placed into a larger 10mm epoxy package to get a brighter, but smaller
beam pattern. Typical brightness level are 7000+mcd.

LUXEON LEDs
The brightest and most powerful LEDs made. These can be 100 times brighter than regular LEDs. Available in white and
several colors. Typical brightness levels are 200,000+mcd.

[Idigguns]

Oops, I just found something else...