Re: Tent Light

Tyrannus · Feb 26, 2002

Re: Tent Light

Hello all,

This is my first post. I would like to thank you all for your information. It really helped me make my LS DB coversion. I need your help again though.

I have seen the bonfire LED tent light but I don't like the way that it is made. I want to make an array of my own but the only problem is that I don't know what resistor I should use to drop the voltage.

I would like to make an array of 5 yellow LED's that are all 2.2 volts. I plan on running them on 2 AA batteries (Alkaline). What resistor should I use? Also what would be the best set up so that the light disperses evenly around the tent?

Thanks folks!

lambda · Feb 26, 2002

I would guess in the 10 to 15 ohm range, but LEDs are strange creatures of varing forward voltage drops, so testing the current draw with a meter is recommended. You need to slightly overdrive them when the batteries are fresh, so they still give good light when the batteries drop a little.

As for how to position them, that depends on what kind of case they would go in....

Tyrannus · Feb 26, 2002

well the case is really an afterthough. What would be optimal?

Thanks for the resister information!

TrevorNasko · Feb 26, 2002

hey there
go to
[email protected]
or click on the icon below his posts-he has a very helpful site and happens to own a bonfire
that being said i suggest ya stick a ls sans its optics
feel free to email me - i will go to great legths to help a newbe and moding is what i do best btw if ya put your phone# in the email ill be able to call and walk ya through stuff. dont worry im very trustworthy

TrevorNasko · Feb 26, 2002

hey there
go to
[email protected]
or click on the icon below his posts-he has a very helpful site and happens to own a bonfire
that being said i suggest ya stick a ls sans its optics
feel free to email me - i will go to great legths to help a newbe and moding is what i do best btw if ya put your phone# in the email ill be able to call and walk ya through stuff. dont worry im very trustworthy

Tyrannus · Feb 26, 2002

Thanks for the help, but won't the regualar LED's last longer than an LS?

dat2zip · Feb 26, 2002

Just a thought, If you want diffused light, just sandpaper the top of the LED. Works great. I do all the time for my night lights.

It's too bad I can't get defective lens ones for cheaper!

Quickbeam · Feb 27, 2002

Actually it's http://thelightsite.tripod.com

Check the Tips & Tricks page. At the top is a link to a "no calculation" graph of resistance values for Nichia white LEDs and at the bottom of the page is a resistance calculation tutorial.

Enjoy!

machspass · Feb 27, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by dat2zip:
Just a thought, If you want diffused light, just sandpaper the top of the LED. Works great. I do all the time for my night lights!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wow, that's good advice! I was wanting to do a mod on a flood type area light. I was going to arrange the LEDs in a pattern to give as close to omni-directional light as possible, but those things are just so bright and harsh to look at. So, I wanted to diffuse the light somehow. I was thinking that if I couldn't get diffused plastic, I could use fine sandpaper on the inside of the flashlight lens. I never thought about sanding the LED! I can see that would work well, since these high brightness LEDs have such a narrow beam width. Do you sand only the top, or do you sand the sides too?

Also, what kind of night lights do you make with these LEDs?

bikeNomad · Feb 27, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by dat2zip:
Just a thought, If you want diffused light, just sandpaper the top of the LED. Works great. I do all the time for my night lights.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Why not just buy LEDs in the 140° packages? There are some nice leaded ones (flat top) as well as SMD ones (easy to mount on a home-built PC board, or stick them to almost anything).

dat2zip · Feb 27, 2002

The reason I suggested sanding and BTW sand the whole LED since some light comes out the side.

If you do a lot of mods, then you will probably be better off with one LED type since the only good way to get any discount is buy fairly large qty (100 from Nichia). So, I bought 100 5mm whites. I then grind, sand them for different applications. Others I use staight up. I have a LED clock I stuck 40 of them in and now I have to go back and disassemble it to sand all of them for diffused output. I'm only driving 2mA through them and they are still tooo bright.

Yes, I agree. If you are only going to build one. Then buying the rectangular shape with wide beam might be useful. I still think sanding gives the best diffused light.

machspass · Feb 27, 2002

I have also considered the wide angle types, but none of the ones I have found have anywhere near the intensity of the high brightness narrow beam ones. Yes, I know that some of the reason they are so bright is because of their directivity, but hey, it's worth a try to see what diffusing the lens by sanding it will do.

jeff1500 · Feb 27, 2002

I sanded a red one flat and then polished it with toothpaste. The beam went from sharp to very wide and diffuse.

TrevorNasko · Mar 1, 2002

i havent forgoten you i just cant use your e address its not correct or something but please email me your phone# so i can call id love to talk

vcal · Mar 1, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by jeff1500:
I sanded a red one flat and then polished it with toothpaste. The beam went from sharp to very wide and diffuse.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Another technique that I think darell suggested, (if you have some of the "WriteRight" by Fellowes) is to cut out a very small piece and affix it directly onto the LED itself. I used it on a very "ringy" turq. Infinity beam, and it works great-without much loss of light output..

dat2zip · Mar 1, 2002

drill a hole in a pencil eraser of 5mm. Drill down just far enough so that the the LED when inserted hits the bottom of the hole. Make a puddle of comet cleanser and water to make a paste. Put some in the eraser hole and jam in the led. Twist it around a bit to frost the complete LED in a flash. Substiture comet cleanser with any abrasive household pot or sink cleaner.

Now you know how I'm going to frost 40 of them already loaded on my LED clock.

machspass · Mar 3, 2002

dat2zip,

You never told me what kind of night lights you make? Are they automatic (ie. turns on at dusk and off at dawn)? Are they battery powered, or run on AC line current?

dat2zip · Mar 4, 2002

The ones I make are the standard bathroom style night lights. The base I modify has an on/off switch on it. The top can be almost any variety althought I been using the GE since at Target they sell quite a few of the GE night lights and the base is the same for all of them. I like the crystal top with fresnel lens like grooves in it.

See my web page for some I've modified.
dat2zip web page

I'm in the process of trying to get all the regulatory and molding setup to make a go at a real product. I've been holding off advertising and selling. But, for CPF members I could offer something.

machspass · Mar 4, 2002

dat2zip,

Thanks for the info. The night lights look great. I have been thinking about something like this for a friend of mine. He has an AC indicator lamp that is on almost continuously and burns out often with a bulb. I suggested coming up with a way to use LEDs instead, but I'm not sure how to drop such a large supply voltage without components getting hot. I was thinking about some sort of chopper using a triac, but I haven't worked with them extensively. What did you do to greatly reduce the high voltage in an efficient way? Could you give me suggestions or details about the circuit?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Darell · Mar 4, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by mr.glow:
Another technique that I think darell suggested, (if you have some of the "WriteRight" by Fellowes) is to cut out a very small piece and affix it directly onto the LED itself. I used it on a very "ringy" turq. Infinity beam, and it works great-without much loss of light output..

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yup! Easiest mod I've EVER done. And no chance of screwing up the LED either.

Re: Tent Light

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