super brite led help!

[RCHyflyer]

I new at lighting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifI doing a RC model and I want to use brite LED's for my landing lights. Right now I have incandesants that run off 4.8v reciever battery. What I want to know is can I cut them out and solder in brighter leds and run them at that voltage? What bulbs do I need and where do I get them? Also what does MCD mean in LED specs?

 

[INRETECH]

MCD stands for "Milli-candles", its a unit of brightness; you can use it to gauge brightness; 1000MCD is the same as 1 candella

It depends how much brightness you need, and how much current you are willing to use - a typical 5mm LED will run on approx 3.5v and draw 20ma; producing approx 8000MCD (8 candella) - you can use multiples of these, or step up to brighter - and more power consuming LEDs

5mm,20ma,8cd
Spider,70ma
Luxeon-1w, 350ma
Luxeon-3w, 1A

Always make sure that you limit the amount of current to the LED; if you are using a 4.8v supply and the LED runs on approx 3.5v, you will need to drop 1.3v

Ohms law is good for this

R=1.3v/.020
R=65 Ohms

That should give you a good start

Mike

 

[cosco]

I have come across an article in my local electronics designs magazine about luxeon lighting system for RC models (position lights, easy to find etc.) Unfortunately, it is in Czech. I can take a picture of the wiring diagram for you, but I have to use my camera - do not have scaner.
Tel me if you are interested.

 

[cosco]

Here it goes anyway:
May be of help for somebody.

There are two pages about this design in the magazine. Basically it makes short intensive flashes. Low power consumption/high intensity light. Can be powered from 4.5 V. When more lights needed you can use multiple boards or use LS diodes in paralel config - change the R6,R7,R10,R11.

Just for sure:
R1,R2: 1M
R3,R5,R9: 100R
R4,R8: 100k
R6,R7,R10,R11 18R
C1: 1u0 (foil capacitor)
C2,C3,C4: 10n
C5: 470u/10V
C6,C7: 100n
D1: 1N4148
T1,T2: IRFD120 (1W)
IO1: 555
IO2: 4098
X3: PSH02-02W

I have not tested it but someone else did.
Enjoy!

 

[RCHyflyer]

wow thats intense I don't have a degree in electronics eng. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif All I want is more intense lighting for my landing lights. What I'm looking for is can I and is there led bulbs I can solder into a 4.8v circuit and call it a day /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have two hot and two ground lead to solder to.:)

 

[SKYWLKR]

you could proly DD a pair of white High MCD for a while.but a small rsistor will tone the current down a hair and it last a lot longer.

I bet the DD would last the life of the air plane.