SMT LED's - The wait is over!

[Mikey D]

I finally got to play with these Surface Mount <table style=filter:glow(color=Blue)>Blue LED's</table>.  The pictures do NOT do them justice!  (Sorry, I don't have a cool wazoo Bullet Train camera.)

The board is printed, etched, cleaned, and drilled for the old fashioned wire.  The solder paste is applied (This is the difficult/unrefined part!).  The parts are placed and you solder them with a heat gun!  How easy is that?!?

This first picture is the size comparison.  Yes that is a dime.  The LED is the white square on the lower left.  On the lower right is the resistror chip that keeps the LED from blowing from too much current.

 

[Mikey D]

Another view of the circuit. I am using a 9V for test purposes. I will use a 48 ohm resistor to run them off of 12V.

 

[Mikey D]

This is with the LED lit.  Like I said, the picts do not show how bright it is.  You almost cannot look directly at it.  It lit up 1/4 of a darkened classroom!  The larger board is the first one I made.  I figure I can pack a couple of these on a board, pot them with some tough clear epoxy or polyester resin,  and tuck them in strategic locations on the busa.

My neighbor (who works at the local Hardly shop) has pods of 8 LED's on his HOG (Commercial stuff).  He said the starter kit for 4 pods is $90.00!!!  They aren't half as bright as this one LED, and are 10x the size.

What do ya ll think?

Not to bad for home brew.

 

[justintime2]

Where did you get the LED's from and how much do they cost? Looks cool!

 

[Mikey D]

Where did you get the LED's from and how much do they cost? Looks cool!

Place called Electronics Goldmine, Scottsdale AZ. Mail order only. LED's were .40 any quantity. Comparable LEDs are over $2.50!

Good luck & let me know if you try anything!

 

[Rhythm]

You just had to show me up didnt U .  Nice go'n Mike ,looks good .  I think I'll will practice on a scrap PCB before I take it to the gauge cluster like you suggested.  Hey did it require a inline resistor for the 9v hookup, what size?



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[Rhythm]

I dont see a resistor so I guess the SMT's are rated for the pwr soucre you choose.

 

[Rhythm]

That little buggar is bright.

 

[Mikey D]

I dont see a resistor so I guess the SMT's are rated for the pwr soucre you choose.

WAIT!

STOP!

You need a series resistor!  9V use a 36 ohm.  (I could only get 33 & 39, they both work but the 33 seems to make the led run a bit hot) The 39 ohm is on the smaller board and seems every bit as bright.  Should make it last longer too.

You should use a 48 ohm for a 12V system.

And BTW, no way for me to show you up!  Not with the quality of work you've been posting. (Kiss, kiss, kiss!   )

Not kidding about the work Ryth!

I'm going to try to get some 12V units on the bike soon.

 

[Rhythm]

Back at'cha MIKE D I know you just haven fun Playa , I dont claim to be the man on this topic or any other just another Playa passing on info on what I know on related topics . I'm just glad we have a few others here that like to get there hads dirty and share thier ideals when it comes to doing there own light modz. Holla back . Who wuz knocking at'cha door???

 

[Mikey D]

Actually Ryth, it was the school bell. I try to post here in the AM before the show starts.

I'm going to make up a few 12V boards today (perks of being an electronics teacher!) and see if I can tuck them in to the Busa tonight!

Will post picts.

Now remember, I'm restoring a dismanteled Busa so It has no paint yet. Just beginning the Bling, bling!

 

[Rhythm]

Bling on baby bling on! I cant wait til tonight, I hope that you can get them installed and by the way who is doing your paint /////////// the bodyshop class ? .. Hey Mike I thought you were a Mech teach?

 

[Mikey D]

Bling on baby bling on!  I cant wait til tonight, I hope that you can get them installed and by the way who is doing your paint /////////// the bodyshop class ? ..  Hey Mike I thought you were a Mech teach?

I teach Auto & electronics (and whatever else they ask me to teach).  My heart is really in the wood or welding shop.  I like making new stuff rather than fixing old shiznit!

No, unfourtunately I am not allowed to do body work here.  Seems if you leave the catalyst for bondo (MEKP) undisturbed on the shelf for 15 - 20 years it becomes unstable, crystalizes and can explode.  But you must not touch/disturb it for 15 - 20 years.  The insurance popo says NO!

Also, we don't have a spray booth, and I can understand why they won't let me paint...

No spray booth = sh!tty finish! :tounge:

Not to mentioned, poisened students.

Hope to be blinging (is that a word?) soonest!

 

[stkr00]

Very cool setup Mikey D.

You're the instructor, but I was wondering how critical the voltage is. If you're basing the incoming volts at a std 12, then wouldn't you risk being overpowered once the alternator kicks in. I know my H-D puts out 12V at idle, but cranks up to about 14V on the road. I don't remember the formula for Voltage.

E=I<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>2</span> R

Is that right? The "I2" is supposed to be current squared, but there's no superscript font.

Anywho...Looks good.
Jim

 

[Mikey D]

Very cool setup Mikey D.  

You're the instructor, but I was wondering how critical the voltage is.  If you're basing the incoming volts at a std 12, then wouldn't you risk being overpowered once the alternator kicks in.  I know my H-D puts out 12V at idle, but cranks up to about 14V on the road.  I don't remember the formula for Voltage.
             
         E=I<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>2</span> R

Is that right?  The "I2" is supposed to be current squared, but there's no superscript font.

Anywho...Looks good.
Jim

E = I X R

Volts equals current times resistance.

We used the leds at 9V with a 33 & a 39 ohm resistor. I am going to "burn in" a set of 5 LED's before mounting them on the Busa. You are very correct in that the bikes charge at around 14.1V.

Worse comes to worse, I'll get slightly larger resistors. The resistor chips are 100 for $2.00. Quite reasonable!

 

[Mikey D]

stkr00 called it!
Ran them at 14.1 volts & toasted them!
Off to get larger resistors!

Back to the drawing board!

 

[Rhythm]

Yep yep your suppose to get a higher rated resistor just for safety measure (power spikes) or in this case higher output because of a alt or ""generater"" which the Bus has. Oh well dont worry about it Mike cheap lesson learned, good lQQkn out stkr00. Back to da lab !!!!!!!!!!!! Yo holla back Mike.

 

[stkr00]

Thanks Rythm, just trying to help where I can.

Mikey D, once you get it all worked out, post some pics of the install. Glad you finally figured out the picture posting thing too.

 

[Mikey D]

Yeah Ryth, just glad I burned em with a power supply rather than the Busa.

Thanks again STK. I think I have it figured, but want to some more bench testing before the install. I can post picts one at a time with the browse method, but my path to the upload center is still not complete.

STK, just noticed your sig. I've got a '71 chevelle that is 70% restored. Can't hardly figure out what to work on!

 

[Rhythm]

.40 any quanity SMT's and resistor chips 100 for $2.00 thats what I'm talkn about.  Good lQQkn out MIke D..



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