Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: Captain fizz on April 22, 2016, 07:53:42 am

Title: Led wiring
Post by: Captain fizz on April 22, 2016, 07:53:42 am

when wiring led circuits, is it necessary to use a resister for each led or can they be wired in pairs with only one resister?


Simon

Title: Re: Led wiring
Post by: g6swj on April 22, 2016, 08:33:29 am

Simon,

Have a read of this - hopefully it explains it fairly well

http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/22291/why-exactly-cant-a-single-resistor-be-used-for-many-parallel-leds

Jonathan

Title: Re: Led wiring
Post by: Captain fizz on April 22, 2016, 08:43:16 am

Thanks Jonathon, individual resistors it is.


Simon

Title: Re: Led wiring
Post by: Stan on April 22, 2016, 09:30:49 am

P/M sent also.

Stan

Title: Re: Led wiring
Post by: Brian60 on April 22, 2016, 01:01:29 pm

However that only addresses led's in parallel. It is perfectly acceptable to link them in series with only one resistor

Title: Re: Led wiring
Post by: Umi_Ryuzuki on April 22, 2016, 06:33:25 pm

You can use one resistor for a matched pair of LED, but at some point you will have to
increase the wattage of the resistor. If there is too much amp draw, say for a 1/8 watt resistor it will burn out.
Resistors are available in several watt ratings.  So it would depend on the "maths".

 ok2

Most of the time I have a resistor at each LED.

I know others that will run them in series and add up the voltages to match the power.
But like Christmas lights if one goes bad you lose the string. A voltage spike can do that.