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Powering additional LED's

Discussion in 'Cinestar 8' started by Chris Babiana, Feb 2, 2013.

  1. Chris Babiana

    Chris Babiana Member

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    Quick question.
    I purchased a few 12 LED Clusters (red and white) for orientation on my CS8...power requirements: 4.8~6v (JR connector) and two additional LED strips...power requirements: 4~12.6v (JST connector)
    Can I power the 12 LED clusters through the radians or another 5v output on the copter? And as far as the strips are concerned, what would be an ideal power supply...flight board?
    I did purchase a small 850mAh 2C 7.4v battery, I'm assuming that I'd need a 5v resistor like thins one if I were to use it for the clusters? http://www.quadrocopter.com/DCDC-Converter-for-Flight-Controller-ME_p_59.html

    I just don't want to see any white "puffs", so I figured I'd ask.
    Thanks!
     

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  2. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Can you check the specs for the LEDs to see if they already have resistors? Many do these days.
    Then it's just a case of providing the correct voltage, so you can use a 5v Regulator -- normally you need the battery to be at least 1.4 volts greater than the voltage you want to come out of the regulator, as I recall.
    Whether you can use the ARCH DC/DC converter is determined by the amount of current the LEDs will need. It will provide 1 Amp at 5 volts.

    Andy.
     
  3. Chris Babiana

    Chris Babiana Member

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  4. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Check out the comments on that link you sent Chris.
    130 mA @ 5V (s_mack on 10/26/2012)
    And it apparently has resistors on the board....(see BUNDY's comment on 5/19/2012).

    :)

    Andy.
     
  5. Chris Babiana

    Chris Babiana Member

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    Yep...that answers it...I should have read the comments!
    Thanks again!
     
  6. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
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    Chris those '181' things are resistors.
     
  7. Chris Babiana

    Chris Babiana Member

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    LOL...Yeeeaahhhh...a lot of this stuff is new to me. And now I know!
    :rolleyes:
     
  8. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    It was all new to all of us once. Don't hesitate to keep asking or searching on the web.
    For example, when Gary wrote 181 above, I wondered what those were.
    So I did a Google search
    surface mount component markings​

    Et voila: http://www.marsport.org.uk/smd/mainframe.htm
    Look up 181. :)
    Edit: Sorry....did mean to actually make you do it: They're Zener diodes. Resistors are marked differently as shown here in Figure 22 (lots of scrolling to get there): http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/rarely_asked_questions/moreInfo_raq_resistors.html

    That said, take what you find on the Internet with a grain of salt -- cross check to see if those 181's really are zeners. If in doubt ask Gary or Brad on this forum. I'm often wrong, but because I write with an English accent I therefore sound smarter than I really am. (Huh?)


    Andy.
     
  9. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
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    Andy you are spending way to much time in the dark editing bay. We have to get you back to the light....

    Your Figure 22 above says

    Figure 22
    Surface-mount resistor marking.

    The numbering is first two digits followed by a third digit which is the number of zeros. So a 181 is 18 plus a 0. If it were 182 then it would be 1800 ohms.

    You can see them on the LED strips, like the ones from QC. Those are 331's so 330 ohms.

    For everything useful about LED's and the forumla for the size of the resistors required see http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/index.htm.

    And soldering these little things is a pain in the Arse. Wait until you build a PCB Extension Board...
     
  10. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    See Chris, I told you to check with Gary.... :)
    Andy
     
  11. Chris Babiana

    Chris Babiana Member

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    Like living versions of Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia....you two guys make my head spin (incredibly helpful)! I learn something new every time I read this forum...which is daily!:)
     
  12. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    One word: Google.
    :)

    Andy.
     

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