Found my first LED!

Minimoog · Nov 28, 2016

I had forgotten all about this! Back before anyone ever thought about using LED'S to actually light anything up they were sold as a newfangled thing for panel lighting and experiments. I am pretty sure I got this from Tandys in the mid 80's but never really had a use for it mainly because it was green. Well I dug it out and thought I'd share. Honestly it's not very bright but better than I expected, gives a decent glow. It is unusual, like a top hat with rings around the top. Anyone remember these? Really shows how times and technology advances.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0i6d1i0r4y0mdf0/20161128_231849.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5u7exkhnhoppxqc/20161128_232523.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wid3z6jxf0zodcn/20161128_232721.jpg?dl=0

FRITZHID · Nov 28, 2016

I do remember that style of LED at RS, back then you could get tubes tested there. They had red, green and a dull amber. I believe they were ment as indicator light replacements.
They also had small 7seg display modules.
I miss those days at RS. Now they're all glorified Sprint stores.

ArmyAJ · Nov 29, 2016

Minimoog said:
I had forgotten all about this! Back before anyone ever thought about using LED'S to actually light anything up they were sold as a newfangled thing for panel lighting and experiments. I am pretty sure I got this from Tandys in the mid 80's but never really had a use for it mainly because it was green. Well I dug it out and thought I'd share. Honestly it's not very bright but better than I expected, gives a decent glow. It is unusual, like a top hat with rings around the top. Anyone remember these? Really shows how times and technology advances.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0i6d1i0r4y0mdf0/20161128_231849.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5u7exkhnhoppxqc/20161128_232523.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wid3z6jxf0zodcn/20161128_232721.jpg?dl=0

Yes I remember the first one when I was hunting with my uncle. He used this one.

bykfixer · Dec 4, 2016

Very cool MM.

My first LED light was a whopping 12 lumens of purple output.

It took 3 emitters to do it.
It was my bedside table light for years since it was so un-bright.

Still has the factory batteries.

Later I acquired a 'bright' one... 54 lumens baby.

Yup, 3 emitters that put out a massive 18 blumens apiece.

Swedpat · Dec 4, 2016

bykfixer said:
My first LED light was a whopping 12 lumens of purple output.

Funny description, gave me a good laugh! :laughing:
I understand that you forgot to mention that everyone were very impressed by the nice tint and raw output!

bykfixer · Dec 4, 2016

Swedpat said:
Funny description, gave me a good laugh! :laughing:
I understand that you forgot to mention that everyone were very impressed by the nice tint and raw output!

I used to think 'pffft, LED's are just a fad, light bulbs forever' back then. I never figured LED lights would be useful for more than a bedside table light until shortly before joining CPF.
Now a 6D Mag? That was worth getting excited about.
Then one night a coworker whips out his 300 lumen LED. My wallet has been thinner ever since. lol

But you're right, at one point 12 lumens from an LED was huge.

Swedpat · Dec 5, 2016

bykfixer said:
I used to think 'pffft, LED's are just a fad, light bulbs forever' back then. I never figured LED lights would be useful for more than a bedside table light until shortly before joining CPF.
Now a 6D Mag? That was worth getting excited about.
Then one night a coworker whips out his 300 lumen LED. My wallet has been thinner ever since. lol

But you're right, at one point 12 lumens from an LED was huge.

I think my very first LED light was a headlamp. If I recall correct it had a few LEDs(I don't know if it was 5mm LED or some predecessor). It was powered by 3, or if it was 4AA.
But I know it was dim, I guess not much brighter than my Mini Maglite. I used it for cycling in the city and some people made fun of me pointing and said: -hey, look a miner!
It was around 1998 or so and I don't think people react like that today, because it's much more common with headlamps today.

Found my first LED!

Minimoog

Enlightened

FRITZHID

Flashlight Enthusiast

ArmyAJ

Newly Enlightened

bykfixer

Flashaholic

Swedpat

Flashlight Enthusiast

bykfixer

Flashaholic

Swedpat

Flashlight Enthusiast

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