Re: LED lighting

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Mark Hallows <markhallows@p...> wrote:
> Is there a book I can buy or a website I can go to to find out what
you are
> all talking about ?? :-)

Erm, no idea.  I learned by buying a soldering iron and bodging
things until they work (examples at
http://projects.andylaurence.co.uk).

> I thought the Kitchen looked great and would like to do something
similar,
> plus the whole delay cascade thing you mentioned

Do you mean how they slowly dimmed when turned on/off?  This was
because of the capacitors in the PSU.  The more LEDs you add, the
quicker they dim.  With 5 LEDs, it was about 1-2 seconds.  With all
mine in, it's near non-existant now.  You could always add a larger
capacitor to simulate the effect though...

> means I now want to
> waterproof them somehow and lay them alongside a path I am having
laid...

Cool!  If I could work out a way to mount them neatly, I'd like to
illuminate the garden from LEDs in the fence and shed.  The same goes
for inside the shed.

> Attach this to an IR sensor and Very cool effect I think I may
have... :-)

You mean turn the lights on when someone is sensed nearby?  Would be
quite cool (and low power).

> Would this be possible ? for a total beginner with little to no
electronics
> or welding experience but stacks of common sense and enthusiasm ????

Soldering is extremely simple.  Add heat (soldering iron), flux, two
parts and solder.  All you need to do is connect one end of the LED
to the power, the other end to a resistor, and the resistor to the
other end of the power supply.  Switch the PSU with an IR sensor.
Sorted.

> Good job Andy,  looks great.

Cheers.  Next project - power in Node0 to distribute 12vdc from there.

> I'm doing something similar withy a couple of glass display
cabinets at the
> moment.
> I bought a Luxeon Star 1W Lumiled with collimating optic from
Farnell
> (Ignore the errors in the catalogue, the lens gives a 10deg. beam
angle)
> These fantastic LEDs give plenty of light, without the optic a
single LED
> will light our dressing room !!

Great!  I'm not sure how this relates to a 20cd LED, or a 100w
tungsten bulb.  That would be an interesting comparison.

> I'm considering installing emergency/power cut lighting in key
areas with
> them.

I thought about that too, but the idea of drilling every picture rail
in the house was too exhausting to think about!

> The Farnell order code for the one I got is 432-5746

Cheers.

> I'm trying to get pricing for the new Warm White Lumileds which
should give
> a light closer to that of halogens
> see mail below

Nice.  I quite like the clean/blue light of normal LEDs myself.

Cheers,
Andy
--
http://ha.andylaurence.co.uk
http://projects.andylaurence.co.uk