oldsaltman
New member
If he had that information we could have solved the problem already.
Help Running moonlights on batteries.
- Thread starter saltwater4life1
- Start date
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
So if we're going off the information from the batteries (LR44) we know that they are 150 mAh. Then I would say that if running in parallel (4 LED's) you need a 600 mA adapter at 4.5 volts.
Now I don't want to get in an agreement about mAh is totally different than mA. Because I know they're are. We're talking apples and oranges here (batteries (stored amperage) and adapters (constant amperage) my rationale is that if the LED was able to withstand 150 mAh then it can withstand 150 mA (each) without burning them out.
And again if you decide to run them in series than you would want an 18V 150mA adapter.
If in parallel you want a 4.5V 600mA adapter.
Now I don't want to get in an agreement about mAh is totally different than mA. Because I know they're are. We're talking apples and oranges here (batteries (stored amperage) and adapters (constant amperage) my rationale is that if the LED was able to withstand 150 mAh then it can withstand 150 mA (each) without burning them out.
And again if you decide to run them in series than you would want an 18V 150mA adapter.
If in parallel you want a 4.5V 600mA adapter.
saltwater4life1
Member
Hmm... wonder if i can find the brand and see if i can email or something and ask what wattage they are..
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Do you have a multimeter? or an ohms meter?
saltwater4life1
Member
Yeah we have some multimeters...
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
well I guess that should have been the first question 2 days ago
check the ohms between the 2 leads and we can exact the amount of amps you need.
remember to hook the probes up the right way
check the ohms between the 2 leads and we can exact the amount of amps you need.
remember to hook the probes up the right way
saltwater4life1
Member
I'm not sure what you mean. I had hooked up the led to a battery then i ran the + to + and - to - on the multimeter but i don't see the setting your saying... This is the meter i was using.
Icefire
Seasoned reefer
So many reply and NOTHING usefull.
Number 1 law with LED, you need to regulate the CURRENT! leds are a short circtuit (basicly). if you take a 9v battery and put 2-3 leds in series, chance are you just busted at least one led.
Most high power 5mm leds need 3.6V to work, 20mA.
So if you want 6 leds per example, you need to make 2 paralelle string of 3 leds in series and power it from a 12Vdc power supply.
12v - (3x3.6v)= 1.2 volts to dissipate @ 20mA = 60 Ohms resistor in serie for each 3 Leds string.
Now most power supply aren't regulated and will output 15 volts if they aren't loaded to the max. so now you would need a resistor of 210 Ohms per string.
If you want to test the Leds, put your meter on the Diode (turn it 180 degree from the picture) and try both polarity you should have a 0.7 or near reading. you mesure the led directly with the meter.
The power supply you need only need 40mA if you put them like this. so a basic 200mA is way enought.
Also, a LEd have no ohms, it's a voltage drop.
If you need something else, just ask.
Number 1 law with LED, you need to regulate the CURRENT! leds are a short circtuit (basicly). if you take a 9v battery and put 2-3 leds in series, chance are you just busted at least one led.
Most high power 5mm leds need 3.6V to work, 20mA.
So if you want 6 leds per example, you need to make 2 paralelle string of 3 leds in series and power it from a 12Vdc power supply.
12v - (3x3.6v)= 1.2 volts to dissipate @ 20mA = 60 Ohms resistor in serie for each 3 Leds string.
Now most power supply aren't regulated and will output 15 volts if they aren't loaded to the max. so now you would need a resistor of 210 Ohms per string.
If you want to test the Leds, put your meter on the Diode (turn it 180 degree from the picture) and try both polarity you should have a 0.7 or near reading. you mesure the led directly with the meter.
The power supply you need only need 40mA if you put them like this. so a basic 200mA is way enought.
Also, a LEd have no ohms, it's a voltage drop.
If you need something else, just ask.
oldsaltman
New member
Icefire,
"nothing useful"?
So what your saying is that what I told him is wrong?
I think he had a plan that would work, and now you want him to change all that!
"nothing useful"?
So what your saying is that what I told him is wrong?
I think he had a plan that would work, and now you want him to change all that!
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Voltage drop measures the particular load on a string of "different" components, all the LED's are the same. If you’re using 18 v on 1 LED the voltage drop will be 18v. 2 LED's in series will be 9.... and so on... hence the reason for 4.5 v "regulated" adapter for 4 LED's
if all the loads were different than a voltage drop reading would work
We are over complicating this. All we want to do is illuminate 4 LEDs with a power adapter.
if all the loads were different than a voltage drop reading would work
We are over complicating this. All we want to do is illuminate 4 LEDs with a power adapter.
saltwater4life1
Member
I'm so confused now... So the way you guys said with the adapter (with as much amp as i can get) and just get a plug for a cleaner look will work?
oldsaltman
New member
YES!
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
+1 for oldsaltman
However, a resistor in series will work as well, but not necessary
However, a resistor in series will work as well, but not necessary
saltwater4life1
Member
Well would i need resistors if i did parallel wiring? As that is how i plan on doing it...
oldsaltman
New member
It is not necessary.
Icefire
Seasoned reefer
You guys are funny, LED NEED to be regulated in CURRENT.
They don't magicly ask for 20mA by themself, they have no internal resistance.
put one led on a 4.5V adapter and you will fry it, because 200mA+ will flow thru it as a Diode (led) is like a switch but with a 3.6v drop (for the high power, 1.2 volts for regular red/green leds).
You absolutly need a resistor. (reason I said nothing usefull said, no one talked about regulating leds or resistor and that is NEEDED).
Now, tell me what you want to do, number of leds and if you have any powersupply that you could use at home (old cellular charger, etc) I would need the voltage and the capacity in mA.
to be sure for the voltage, mesure it with a multimeter as it's probably unregulated (20% higher)
They don't magicly ask for 20mA by themself, they have no internal resistance.
put one led on a 4.5V adapter and you will fry it, because 200mA+ will flow thru it as a Diode (led) is like a switch but with a 3.6v drop (for the high power, 1.2 volts for regular red/green leds).
You absolutly need a resistor. (reason I said nothing usefull said, no one talked about regulating leds or resistor and that is NEEDED).
Now, tell me what you want to do, number of leds and if you have any powersupply that you could use at home (old cellular charger, etc) I would need the voltage and the capacity in mA.
to be sure for the voltage, mesure it with a multimeter as it's probably unregulated (20% higher)
oldsaltman
New member
So 4.5 volts will fry them? How were they working off 4.5 volts to start with?
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Like this..
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
one big resistor or 4 smaller ones. or you can make 2 strings each of 2 diodes and 1 resistor on each string (series parallel)
the voltage regulator is 4.5VDC with 1600mA
the voltage regulator is 4.5VDC with 1600mA
