reviewum
Enlightened
Okay, I've searched and read and found some good info about overdriving these bad boys, but I still have a few questions:
1) Assuming NO heatsinking, what are expected life spans for these little guys at 40, 60, 80 mAs? Are there any charts that show current and LED lifespan? I doubt it would be a linear chart right?
2) What exactly happens (visually) when these things "die"? Should I expect a poof of smoke, or diminishing light? I'm sure it depends on the amount of current to the LED.
3) Using say 50 mA and no heatsinking, how long can I expect my LED to last? Are we talking 10 hours, 1,000, 10,000 hours...?
4) How can I tell if I'm getting diminished light from my LEDs. My eyes aren't very sensative, so I wouldn't really notice the difference over time. Am I stuck with holding the one I'm testing next to a new one?
5) I think the answer is no, but is there a multimeter way to check my LEDs for where they are in their life span? I've got a bunch of these guys that I've used for different projects and I don't know if they are still at the top of their game, or ready to be put out to pasture.
Thanks in advance!!!
(Footnote: I modified a taplight for my wife to use to feed the baby at night. I keep finding her using it when the batteries are so dead, almost no light is coming out. I ask her, "Why didn't you tell me it was dying." Her response: "I didn't even notice." I guess she's less sensative to the differences in light than I am!)
1) Assuming NO heatsinking, what are expected life spans for these little guys at 40, 60, 80 mAs? Are there any charts that show current and LED lifespan? I doubt it would be a linear chart right?
2) What exactly happens (visually) when these things "die"? Should I expect a poof of smoke, or diminishing light? I'm sure it depends on the amount of current to the LED.
3) Using say 50 mA and no heatsinking, how long can I expect my LED to last? Are we talking 10 hours, 1,000, 10,000 hours...?
4) How can I tell if I'm getting diminished light from my LEDs. My eyes aren't very sensative, so I wouldn't really notice the difference over time. Am I stuck with holding the one I'm testing next to a new one?
5) I think the answer is no, but is there a multimeter way to check my LEDs for where they are in their life span? I've got a bunch of these guys that I've used for different projects and I don't know if they are still at the top of their game, or ready to be put out to pasture.
Thanks in advance!!!
(Footnote: I modified a taplight for my wife to use to feed the baby at night. I keep finding her using it when the batteries are so dead, almost no light is coming out. I ask her, "Why didn't you tell me it was dying." Her response: "I didn't even notice." I guess she's less sensative to the differences in light than I am!)