View Full Version : LED light help
AndrewMack
04-22-2007, 7:11 AM
I was thinking about purchasing these LED bulbs from ebay, But im a little confused as how to wire them. They dont look like they have any wires coming off the bulbs. Can someone take a look at this link and tell me how they work...http://cgi.ebay.com/50-NEW-3mm-SuperBright-Blue-LED-13-000mcd-Free-Shipping_W0QQitemZ120005134569QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6 6948QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
legendaryfrog
04-22-2007, 8:06 AM
Making larger led arrays can be fairly dificult (I've made a few), so I'd recommend using christmas lights.
DarkSoul
04-22-2007, 8:48 AM
They have metal leads that you solder wires to.
take heed of the information provided on that page, it tells you the solder temp and contact time to achieve solder.
They do also sell pre wired LEDs at that store, and if you dont buy the prewired LEDs they include the resistors needed to run the LEDs at 12V (i bought a bunch of LEDs from these guys recently)
The bulbs I believe are actually 3.6V, so if you dont use the resistors, and hook them up to 12V, you will burn them out.
Depending on what your doing too, you might want to look into there ultra bright 10mm, 60,000mcd bulbs.
If you want to build an array check out this site.
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
mgamer: he probably isnt building a 50 LED array... that place is just very cheap, its the place I made a post about in DIY.
I need 2 blue LEDs, so I bought a 50p of blue LEDs, as well as a 50 pack of UV LEDs lol.
AndrewMack
04-22-2007, 10:56 AM
actually im going to build a massive set, 4 LED on both of my 55s, and 2 on my 29 and link them together to one timer.
DarkSoul
04-22-2007, 11:16 AM
ahh, well I hope that link helps, but long story short, I do believe the LED leads come pre-soldered, in the sense that you just need to tin your wire, and solder it to the lead without needing to apply any additional solder. not 100% on that one though.
Those LEDs do have leads though, they are long metal prongs that stick out of the plastic.
There will also be one long one, and one short one. this denotes postive and negative.... but i can never remember which is which :D