Led string for paper lanterns

[jimbobUK]

Hi all,

I'd really appreciate some advice on this…

For my wedding I want to have a lots of illuminated paper lanterns (3 strings of 10 probably). If possible I would like to do these using LEDs, I thought it would easy but I getting more confused.

Would you guys recommend?

1) a battery in each lantern - I don’t like this because of the hassle of turning each on/ off and the waste of lots of batteries.
2) Suspending the lanterns from a wire and using it to power the LEDs (from a DC power supply at the end)

The second option would be nicer I think - but the issue seems to be running LEDs in parallel is unpredictable -and LEDs in series add up to a voltage over that of most power supplies.

Has anybody else done anything similar?

Also which LEDs have a nice glow for this kind of use?

jimbobuk

 

[Joe.Smith]

Hi jimbobUK,

The second one is definitely nicer, though you the problem of the voltage drop with installing LEDs in series can indeed be a problem.
How long would each string be?
What I would do is buy two power supplies and install them on the two ends of the room, connecting them with 3 x 5 LEDs. If you place them one metre away from each other than with a 1mm diameter cable ... it should be fine. Anyway, if you want to avoid voltage drop all you have to do is install them on thicker wires.
Are you planning to install single LEDs or G4 lights? I have purchased this one recently here, and they work very well for me. http://www.ledcentre.uk.com/253-led-g4.html
Congrats to the wedding, by the way :twothumbs
Joe

 

[Foxx510]

If you decide to go the battery route, you could use something like this http://www.paperlanternstore.com/subrcu12ledh.html

 

[jimbobUK]

Thanks for the replies. :)

I really want to avoid the seperate units in each lantern - each of those 12 led units has 6 CR2032s - so thats 180 batteries for 30 lanterns - crazy!

I think I'm going to take Joes advice and use a couple of series strings - I was thinking of running 2 x 2 core wires together - with each wire running 5 leds in series....

Any advice on which LEDs would look best and give out a good glow?

Cheers

Jimbobuk

 

[alpg88]

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Lighting/litlpo_PoweringLEDs.html

 

[Launch Mini]

Why not WHITE LED Christmas lights?

 

[broadgage]

Presuming that small LEDs are being considered, then I would use an external DC power supply of say 5 or 6 volts, and connect each LED with a suitable dropper resistor, in paralel to this 5 or 6 volt supply.
10 LEDs each drawing say 20ma is only 200ma in total, and therefore voltage drop in the wire is unlikely to be a problem unless very long.

If line power is not convieniently available, then a single large 6 volt battery could be used. A large 6 volt lantern battery would give dozens of hours service.

If each lantern is to contain a number of LEDs, then use a higher voltage external DC supply such as 12 or 24 volts.
Connect the LEDs in each lantern in series, for example 3 blue or 4 red ones on 12 volts, with a suitable dropper resistor.
Connect all the lanterns in parralel to the external 12 or 24 volt supply.
The total current is still only 200ma and voltage drop therefore of no concern.

If ready made LED lamps are to be used, select ones with a built in voltage regulator, that can work over a voltage range.
Connect all the lamps in parralel to an external low voltage DC supply.
The better makes of 12 volt LED lamp will give good service from 10 volts up to 14 volts. Use of a 14 volt supply would allow up to 4 volts drop, and still give full brightness on the last one.