How to wire? 8AA 5cree

derek750

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Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
6
How should i wire a 8AA alkaline direct driving 5 cree Q5?


4AA series X 2 parallel?

5 Cree? parallel? series? some combination?

Would i need a resistor?



THANKS for any advice.:shrug:
 

hopkins

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
906
Location
California
derek- google: Ohms law , Simple LED Circuits, Calculating resistor values.
Look at these AA battery discharge curves:
http://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm


Those 5 Cree LED's when powered up properly (and heat sinked !!!)
will each measure 3.5volts across each one. And each will have
350mAmps of current flowing through it.

To drive 1 Cree you need a resistor of about 2.8ohms in this circuit
with 3 new alkaline AA batteries.
wrki94.jpg



Try 9 AA batteries in a 3 x 3 x 3 configuration for output of 4.5volts.
Buy 5 resistors, so each Cree has its own resistor, and operates independently from the others but share the battery and switch.

Simple and safe.

Warning the battery pack will be draining at 1.75amps. Beware of melting
plastic.
So you will maybe get 20 minutes at full brightness
and then it will ramp down quickly (45min?- 60min?) to dimmness.
Alkalines suck when drained so fast.


Good luck and post a picture of your light when its finished.
DIY lights are great.
 
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