LEDs for LEDummies...

[VillageIlldiot]

So, I'll admit up front that I'm clueless here... I'm a woodworker who wants to add lighting accents to various furniture pieces - and I'm thinking that for what I want to do, LEDs are the way to go... Low energy, low heat and very flexible.

I'm not sure where to start, though. I have a lot of questions, but I imagine many of them will be the equivalent of "What's 5 plus blue?"

What book, or website, or other resource can you recommend to get a grip on the issues and pieces and parts needed to wire, say, 10-20 fairly bright LEDs (or groups of LEDs) to a switch and run them off 110V power (or battery power if a battery would last for a fairly long time)?

Thanks in advance for your help (and patience!).

Chris :oops:

 

[Steve K]

That's an interesting application. For someone with experience with 'tronics, it's pretty trivial, but I'm not sure where to send you for education on the basics.

If nothing else, let me assure you that it should be a pretty basic and low cost effort. I envision a "wall wart" (i.e. little transformer that plugs into the 110v outlet, and produces a low DC voltage such as 5 to 10vdc), a handful of leds, and a resistor to go with each led.

If you know what color of leds you have/want, and know what wall wart is available (I usually use whatever is left over from some old piece of electronics), it's not hard for us to calculate the value of the resistors. Most of this should be available at a Radio Shack or other electronics supplier.

regards,
Steve K.

 

[VillageIlldiot]

Thanks, Steve, for the response. I'll do some work sorting out the details and make a trip to radio shack to scout LEDs. I've been reading around the forum, so I'm understanding things a little better.... I just don't want to make a mistake with electricity/fire!

(btw, I went to Bradley years and years ago... I hope all is well for you down in Peoria!)