esantoro Report post Posted March 22, 2009 I've ordered the following LED lights to be used to put more white light on top of my machine's needle. I'm going to try to connect them to a 12volt 300ma wall wart transformer. If it works, I will figure out how to put an on/off switch in the middle somewhere. http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index....p;productId=277 http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index....p;productId=349 http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index....p;productId=279 ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipj Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Might find this helpful they say it can be used as a task light. You have the stuff, but this might give you some ideas about resistors and heat sinks. SkipJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Might find this helpful they say it can be used as a task light. You have the stuff, but this might give you some ideas about resistors and heat sinks.SkipJ We need to bring tinkering back from the dead. I do need to learn about resistors and heatsinks and more. Skip, did you have a link in your post? Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheArtisan Report post Posted March 23, 2009 This might save you some time, Artisan sells them. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 23, 2009 This might save you some time, Artisan sells them.Kevin I have those lights from Artisan. They work well. And Artisan has been very good to me regarding those lights. I've realized you can't have too much light above the needle and am under the impression that the LEDs from LEDWholesalers are five-times brighter than regular LEDs. I'll find out when I receive these and will report back. I'll have to figure out a 12v adapter to run these LEDs. Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipj Report post Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) Oops: http://makezine.com/images/store/ProdMod_Night_Vlogger.pdf SkipJ Edited March 23, 2009 by skipj Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Thanks Skip. Cool links. Word from LEDWholesalers is that their bright LEDs don't crequire a heat sink. The Luxeons and CREEs do. That one 1watt luxeon bulb is 90 lumens. Four or six of the SMT bulbs in arrangement are equivalent to about 90 lumens. I'd like to find a source for the individual bulbs and start making my own circuit boards. Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Ed, Looking forward to hearing back from you on your latest foray into the LED world. Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted March 23, 2009 I used to use 12 volt transformers in the dollhouse world - try looking there or in the slot car stuff - I found some there too. don't know if they were 300ma or not Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipj Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Here is the source of the high power leds used in the Make magazine project: ttp://www.luxeonstar.com/endor-rebel-cool-white-emitter-160-lumens-700ma-p-180.php?zenid=e88311b1enqelpud15t3i88b67 also, the original site with more details on construction: http://prodmod.com/2008/10/26/bright-160-l...t-for-under-30/ SkipJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipj Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Ed, This page addresses resistor selection. Hope it is helpful. http://prodmod.com/2008/01/06/prodmod-led-...t-battery-test/ SkipJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Any 12v dc adapter with a minimum of 100ma will work. I'll look around for old wall warts and cut and splice as needed. I'll call Artisan, but does anyone know if the LEDs Artisan sells run off a 12v power supply? Also, The gooseneck halogen lamps Artisan sells have a magnetic transformer and can take an MR11 LED bulb. I've ordered one of these and will report its effectiveness. From what I've read, nearly all devices with magnetic transformers can power LEDs. Most, if not all, electronic transformers pose a problem. I knew the knowledge gained fiddling with transformers would pay off in some additional way down the road. Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 26, 2009 (edited) Some people have a difficult time dealing windfalls of enormous wealth that would allow them never to have to work again for a paycheck. I nominate myself as someone who deserves a lifetime of free time. Give me some bare wires, a soldering iron, some current, and a few calories a day and I am as happy as one can be. I just got my electric toys today. It's too soon for a full report but things look good. While these lights are brighter than most of what's currently available, I was hoping they'd be a bit brighter. But perhaps brighter LEDs will create a heat issue. ed Edited March 26, 2009 by esantoro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted March 29, 2009 Ed, I can see this happening: ...MESSAGE INTERCEPT.... -FLASH PRIORITY- -TO DHS, CIA, NSA, FBI -ASTRONAUTS ABOARD ISS HAVE REPORTED STRANGE LUMINOCITY FROM UNEXPLAINED -SOURCE. DESCRIBED AS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT REGION AT GROUND LEVEL. -NORAD CONFIRMS: NO MISSLE LAUNCH BLOOM, NO RADAR TRACK -SCIENTISTS AT NASA AND JPL TO RETASK SATELLITES TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING SOURCE END MESSAGE When they knock on the door, just tell them you have no idea what they're talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites