new LED flashlight at wal mart

L.E.D.

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
984
Location
Arizona
"rainbow" flashlight. takes 3aaa batts. has a sturdy push button switch. uses either an orange, green, or red LED. pretty bright! current readings are pretty high, though:

orange: 80 mA
green: 60 mA
red: 70 mA

they must be using a voltage drop or something for the circuit path to the red, because 70 mA at 4.5 volts would KILL a red LED right away, wouldn't it????
 

Lux Luthor

Flashlight Enthusiast
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Nov 10, 2000
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Location
Connecticut
The orange and red LEDs must be resistored down to around 3V (2 cells). Otherwise they would blow. The green will take around 4V (3 cells). In fact, red through yellow will take 2 cells, green through blue (including white) takes around 3 cells.

I have a 3AAA headlamp from Walmart that has both white and red LEDs in it. The red circuit is resistored down more heavily.
 

Lux Luthor

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 10, 2000
Messages
1,944
Location
Connecticut
Hmmm. Now I'm not sure about this. I have yet another headlamp with a red LED in it that is driving it at 4.5 volts. ???????
 

Badbeams3

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 28, 2000
Messages
4,389
I`m confused too. Like the two of you I thought a red would quit soon after 3 volts. Hmm...Craig, you there? Help!
 
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