new LED flashlight at wal mart

[L.E.D.]

"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]

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]

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. ???????

 

[L.E.D.]

thanx for ur input lux luthor.

 

[Badbeams3]

I`m confused too. Like the two of you I thought a red would quit soon after 3 volts. Hmm...Craig, you there? Help!