my local electronic supplier has flashing led's w/ specs at 12vdc and a 100k res.what can i expect if i come off my z100 14 vac outs? will they flash normally?
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Originally Posted by willygee:
my local electronic supplier has flashing led's w/ specs at 12vdc and a 100k res.what can i expect if i come off my z100 14 vac outs? will they flash normally?
If you power the DC LED with an AC power source you will destroy the LED.
Only use a DC power source (that's why it says 12 vdc---Volts Direct Current).
Find a DC power source (many plug in wall transformers like a phone charger) put out DC current. Or you could use a cheap HO transformer...they put out DC. Start out at the lowest setting and increase just enough to light up the LED.
Some flashing LEDS don't like every DC power source.
I prefer to use some like these. Cut off the plug on the end and wire (+) to (+) and
(-) to (-)
Mark
Flashing LED's require filtered DC or they won't work, even assuming you have enough current limiting to save the LED. A 100K resistor is way too large for any LED unless you're powering it from the 230 volt incoming power line!
For an AC supply, you'll at a minimum a diode, a filter capacitor, and a current limiting resistor. For a 14 volt supply, I'd use a 1k 1/4W resistor, a 1N4005 diode, and a 220uf 35V filter cap.
thank you for the tips. my 100k resistor should have been 1k as i read on the package.
You'll need the diode AND the capacitor if you want flashing.
