How-to: Wire LEDs

[blue devil]

Hey guys i took a few hours and made a how to for wiring LEDs as I have seen a ton of questions about them. If you have any questions please post up. Hope this helps you guys with the questions
-Jerry

[blue devil]

also if you want to get creative to can wire a set in both parallel and in a series at the same time. (series go inside of each parallel strand...)

[FreStylMotoX01]

very nicely done. about time we got something like this on the site, especially after all the questions about LED's. Though you might add at the top why your putting resistors in, because alot of people skip this step and risk screwing up their expensive leds, again good job

[ohm4life]

nice write up....

[blue devil]

"resistors are used to limit current through resistance which protects the LEDs from burning up and creating a longer life span."

I know its brief but it gets the point across. Basically most, but not all, LEDs require resistors to lower the current and its amperage flow through the LED. If the current and the amps are too great then it will just burn up like a fuse. Basically thats the idea without getting too technical. Like I said, some do not require Resistors because they are made with the intention of running off a 12v source.

[Firetire]

ok, in a series of LEDs, what type of capacitors and where do they need to be put for the LEDs to come on in sequence?

I mean 1 then 2 then 3 then 4 with like 1/10th second inbetween pulses when using 240 ohm resistors?

[blue devil]

Havent done much work with capacitors and resistors together to get what you want. I take it you want sequenced turn signals or something?

Figuring out your answer is a little too indepth for me to go right now as i am already studying for finals and dont have the time right now haha hopefully someone can come in an answer the question but i think you would have more luck posting on a electronics forum

Also the capacitor is going to depend on the resistor you use and the rating of the LED... its not just one common one...

[Firetire]

Originally Posted by blue devil

Havent done much work with capacitors and resistors together to get what you want. I take it you want sequenced turn signals or something?

Figuring out your answer is a little too indepth for me to go right now as i am already studying for finals and dont have the time right now haha hopefully someone can come in an answer the question but i think you would have more luck posting on a electronics forum

Also the capacitor is going to depend on the resistor you use and the rating of the LED... its not just one common one...

I know that, I was just speaking hypothetically with the resistors. I took Engineering 101 and we built a robot but damnit, there was only 1 LED on the whole thing

But, yes, I am trying to make a sequenced turn signal. I think it would be pretty neat. If anyone can help, please do.

[Rich04]

Hey, I'm trying to my a corner light running light/turn signal combo....do I need a relay to make that work. If so, how can I wire it up??

[blue devil]

is this for the rear LED passenger peg lights? if so then You need a lead going to the red(+) and a lead going to the green(+) and obviosuly a (-) lead. From here you will splice the red(+) lead into the brake lights and the green(+)and the red(+) into the turn signals. This way when you hit the brakes the red will light up. When the blinker is on it will flash amber (red + green = yellow). When the brake and blinker is on it will light up red, flash orange, and return to red in that sequence. You wont have to do anything with the Blue(+) as blue+yellow = green and blue+red=purple and you dont need those colors...

You understand this or do you need a diagram?