how to test a single led star

[fessoclown]

is there an easy way to power a single Cree 3W LED star? I have a large size aluminum (2"x2" )C-Channel and I want to see how the light shines from it, to see if the light will be blocked by the channel wall and by how much.
My back up plan is to run a 1" square piece of Aluminum down the length of the C-channel but I may not have to.

That was a Longwinded question....

Can I easily power a single star with a battery?
The driver I have is a meanwell LPF... I don't want to have to wire it all up just to test...

Thanks

 

[Gorgok]

If you have a multimeter with a diode setting you can power a star with that. A pair of AA batteries will also work, just more clunky...

 

[muttley000]

If you have a multimeter with a diode setting you can power a star with that. A pair of AA batteries will also work, just more clunky...

Yep, you can get a holder with a couple wires sticking out of it for a few bucks at radio shake or equivalent.

 

[karimwassef]

You can also use the resistor measurement on the multimeter. The lower the resistance range, the more current is used and the brighter it lights up.

Just be sure to get the + and - right or it won't light.

 

[blasterman789]

For testing lots of LED stars, or trouble shooting circuits I keep a couple 10ohm Thermistors around. This way I can wire one in series and test a single LED with a driver and not blow the LED - even if the driver is rated for much higher forward voltage. Get's warm fast, but it's a quick and reliable way to do it.

Otherwise, a pair of 1.5volt batteries in series can do it safely. Note that really low forward voltage diodes like newer reds will heat up really fast.

 

[perkint]

I actually built a little tester unit using a DIL socket (I had loads), multimeter probes (99p from China) and a push to make switch. Takes an LDD of your chosen power rating and can be used for testing any LED or even a string of LEDs just by touching the +ve & -ve then pushing the button

Tim

 

[Gorgok]

When i test leds, i want to see if it lights, not get blinded... But hey, that works too... (you just have to recover eyesight between tests :dance.

 

[perkint]

When i test leds, i want to see if it lights, not get blinded... But hey, that works too... (you just have to recover eyesight between tests :dance.

Depends what you're testing it for - I have used this for testing soldering of strings as I go along, and things like that. But you're right - it does tend to allow them to give off a bit of light

Tim

 

[karimwassef]

Way too much work...

 

[fessoclown]

Thanks everyone, I actually didn't notice but the kit I bought from Aquastyles came with a pack for 2xAA batteries to test with... duh! I found it in the box shortly after posting this...

 

[perkint]

Way too much work...

Soldering 8 wires and a bit of taping? Even I didn't take much time over that! Been used more than a few times, but I really built in to test a bag of used LEDs I was given. No idea what they were, but I knew there were XML2s and some reds in the mix, so mix of fVs. And, of course, the main as on I built it was 'cos I could

Tim

 

[Gorgok]

Soldering 8 wires and a bit of taping?

Compared to flipping a switch on the multimeter that is a ton. Plus my meter whines if its backwards.

 

[perkint]

Compared to flipping a switch on the multimeter that is a ton. Plus my meter whines if its backwards.

Yeah, but mine works for testing LED strings, as well as single LEDs! Been using it tonight!

But, of course, some might not be such a ham fisted git as me when it comes to soldering

Tim