Led Brightness
11-02-2005, 09:18 PM
#1
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I'm looking to finally add some LEDs to my door handles and under the dash to illuminate the floorboards. I can wire them up no prob, but I have no clue how bright I should go. I found a nice deal on some 15000mcd Blue 5mm and I'm told that's bright, but how bright? Would 4 or 5 illuminate my floorboard if attached under the dash?
P.S. After a long time, it's great to be back!
P.S. After a long time, it's great to be back!
11-02-2005, 10:05 PM
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Good GOD! 15kMCD!
Crazy
The ones I used were only 2500MCD for the window switches and thems is BRIGHT!
15kMCD is more for like Neon undercar effect, or perhaps in the interior under your dash.
It's a bit overkill for window switches, IMHO
Crazy
The ones I used were only 2500MCD for the window switches and thems is BRIGHT!
15kMCD is more for like Neon undercar effect, or perhaps in the interior under your dash.
It's a bit overkill for window switches, IMHO
11-02-2005, 10:32 PM
#8
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The main thing you need to look at when selecting an LED is VOLTAGE!!! max voltage for a standard LED will be 3-5 volts. *generally* speaking, max voltage can be exceeded by about 20%. so about 6 volts. you want a cluster of 3 LEDs, at 5 Volts each. *Generally*, the higher the voltage will be the higher the light output. Your car runs at aproximately 13-14.5V. 3 5Vmax LEDs will work well. 3 3Vmax LEDs might blow.
You can hook up a potentiometer inline to drop voltage and act as a dimmer.
If you do it right, you can even put in a 15Vz Zener diode in there to make sure it never spikes past 15V (possible when dealing with sterios). Like a surge protector. LEDs CAN GET EXPENSIVE. Zener diodes are only 1-2 bucks at radio shack even.
I can get with you about it. I hooked up 4 clusters of 3 and 1 of 2 LEDs in my car rigged to my sterio to dance with the lights. It's a regulated system and the LEDs are mounted in a control box and hidden in the rear speaker grills.
My system has an ON/OFF button, Zener Regulated power, 2 levels of adjustment (different LEDS) and no matter WHAT power supply it takes from 12VDC(car) to 120VAC(wall outlet) it could be adjusted for perfection. It's hooked up to a 1200W amp right now.
Just ask me and i'll explain in more detail for you what needs to happen for a bullet proof system with LEDs. Also, use mouser, NOT RADIOSHACK. Mouser.com has prices 1/3 of radio shack's
You can hook up a potentiometer inline to drop voltage and act as a dimmer.
If you do it right, you can even put in a 15Vz Zener diode in there to make sure it never spikes past 15V (possible when dealing with sterios). Like a surge protector. LEDs CAN GET EXPENSIVE. Zener diodes are only 1-2 bucks at radio shack even.
I can get with you about it. I hooked up 4 clusters of 3 and 1 of 2 LEDs in my car rigged to my sterio to dance with the lights. It's a regulated system and the LEDs are mounted in a control box and hidden in the rear speaker grills.
My system has an ON/OFF button, Zener Regulated power, 2 levels of adjustment (different LEDS) and no matter WHAT power supply it takes from 12VDC(car) to 120VAC(wall outlet) it could be adjusted for perfection. It's hooked up to a 1200W amp right now.
Just ask me and i'll explain in more detail for you what needs to happen for a bullet proof system with LEDs. Also, use mouser, NOT RADIOSHACK. Mouser.com has prices 1/3 of radio shack's
