Resistor calculator for LEDs

Series Photo
Nick writes -

"Here's great site that tells you the quantity and size of components you need depending on the number of led's you are planning on using, and what kind of series you are planning on putting them in; it even has an option to build the circuit layout for you based on what you need." - Link.

Related:


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: matthew_kleinmann on December 5, 2006 at 4:33 AM

If you want to drive LED's and be really barinless about it (outside of the target current through them) use an LM317 voltage regulator as a constent current source. They come in nice little TO-92 packages and only require one resistor to set the current.

The advantage of this type of drive is you are using a true constent current source, so the current through the LED will stay more or less the same id you change the supply voltage and/or change the LED to adifferent color or number of LED's.

So, in a nutshell, set one of these babies up to give you 15 to 20 ma and you can hit it with 6V from 4 button cells to 36V from a 24V unregulated wall wart and the LED will not see a difference. You can also swap out a white LED for a red LED, and the current through them will still be the same. In fact, you can string up red, white and blue LED's in series and they will all have the same current going through them (assuming your supply voltage is high enough)


Posted by: c0redump on December 5, 2006 at 5:14 AM

I ha da look at the site, and spotted their circuit for LEDs in parallel. Now, that'll most likely work, but it's a poor design. If you connect LEDs in parallel, with a single series resistor, the LED(s) with the lowest voltage drop(s) will take more current than the LED(s) with the higher voltage drop(s). So, your LEDs will vary in brightness, depending on voltage drop, which can be quite widely variable. A better design would be to use individual series resistors.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television




Check out more videos from MAKE.

MZ_Jameco-RobotBuild_RR.gif
MZ_DIYMovieMaking-RR.gif
Maker SHED

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter



    MAKE Archives

    Make: Money

    Make: Science Room
    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online editors and authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Editor-in-Chief


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | Web | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John BaichtalJohn Baichtal
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Pinhole Panoramic Camera A sturdy, panoramic design pinhole camera that uses 120 film. Thanks go to Ross Orr for the original article in MAKE Volume 09. To download The Pinhole Panoramic Camera video video click here and subscribe in iTunes. Check out... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

    Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.


     



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog