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 Helmet LED's help

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Jal Korvo


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Helmet LED's help
« on: Apr 05, 2016, 02:41 AM »
Does anyone know what I would need to make a simple switch connected to two lights for my helmet? I have no knowledge of electronics. Please and thank you.

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Fi-8015


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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #1 on: Apr 05, 2016, 03:23 AM »
Besides the 2 LEDs and the switch you will need to get a matching resistor for your power supply.
You'll have to look for the operation voltage of the LEDs (usually between 2 and 3 V) add them (if you operate them in line) and subtract it from the voltage of your power supply. Afterwards you divide it by the current the LEDS need (usually 20mA) and you get the needed resistor. Place it in line with the LEDS.

USupply-(ULED1+ULED2)=Uresistor

R=Uresistor/ILED

I hope this helps. If you plan to operate them parallel you will need to add the currents and divide the voltage of one LED by it.

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Jerek Darr


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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #2 on: Apr 05, 2016, 06:24 AM »
Or you could just get some automotive accent LEDs (they are rated for 12 volts) and use a 9v battery.

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Amintor


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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #3 on: Apr 05, 2016, 04:16 PM »
Do you have kids or access to broken toys? I scavenge things out of broken toys all the time. LEDs and switches are usually pretty easy to find and remove.

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Jal Korvo


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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #4 on: Apr 05, 2016, 09:36 PM »
No kids. But these are all things I will look into. Thanks for the help vode.

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Choruk Kar'ta


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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #5 on: Apr 20, 2016, 12:37 PM »

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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2016, 01:12 AM »
Fi-8015 laid out the math about as easy as anyone could. 

What power source will you be using?  I'm fond of 9v batteries and 12v appliances for the ease of not having to run it through as resistor.  Running it through a resistor is not hard, if you can solder, and are comfortable with wiring.  It's pretty basic electronics.
 
Running a higher voltage electronic as Jerek suggested eliminates the need for a resistor, so you can either hard wire it directly to the battery (having to remove the battery to turn it off, or run it through a DC rated On/Off rocker switch, which is how I'm doing it in my gear. 

Are you running (or wanting to run) your LEDs through a programmable or pre-programmed circuit board?  There are a lot of kits on Amazon and other places that have all sorts of DIY electronic kits.  After I get my cooling/ exhaust fans mounted, I'm going to run external amplifiers, one to boost sound inside my helmet, and another to boost sound outside my helmet, so it's easier to hear and be heard.  I'm going to run an LED board in my chest plate, eventually, also, as time allows.

Search "Velleman" or "Elenco" on Amazon for various DIY electronic kits that you can craft into your gear.

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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2016, 10:13 AM »
If you are confused by resistance calculators and don't want to do any soldering, I endorse the recommendation above about getting automotive LEDs and installing them in your bucket.  That's what I did with mine.

After burning the hell out of my fingertips while soldering circuits for the first time in about 20 years while putting lights in my gauntlets, I went out and got a 12 volt battery pack on Amazon for about $25, then got a string of 300 LED strip lights for something like $7 and some splitters for a few bucks more.

The strip lights are meant to be cut at every third light, and the wires you get with the kit splice everything together without the need to soldering circuits.  Search for "Hitlights" on Amazon or the Google for the kit I got, or you can find comparable products at an auto parts store or Radio Shack.

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Re: Helmet LED's help
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2016, 01:27 PM »
If you are confused by resistance calculators and don't want to do any soldering, I endorse the recommendation above about getting automotive LEDs and installing them in your bucket.  That's what I did with mine.

After burning the hell out of my fingertips while soldering circuits for the first time in about 20 years while putting lights in my gauntlets, I went out and got a 12 volt battery pack on Amazon for about $25, then got a string of 300 LED strip lights for something like $7 and some splitters for a few bucks more.

The strip lights are meant to be cut at every third light, and the wires you get with the kit splice everything together without the need to soldering circuits.  Search for "Hitlights" on Amazon or the Google for the kit I got, or you can find comparable products at an auto parts store or Radio Shack.


This is defintiely an option that I would also endorse and suggest is considered. Ease of use/application regardless if 'none - intermmediate' knowledge of electronics is where someone is at.

There's lots of kits out there where "pros" have figured it out and put it together for the novice. Might be a few bucks more... but more than likely it really will only be a few bucks more. At times it really pays off to work with 'one step up' from raw. Ready for assemble and install.

But I also encourage that every at least try to work from the raw material state up. So much great resource here and help... you may spend a little more buying extra in case (and you will) mess something up. BUT... in the end you learn and you may be the one giving the advice when the next person asks how.

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