White LED Opinion Poll - What do you think about white LEDs?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

OddOne here, and yes, I'm going to talk about white LEDs. But this time, I'd like to see what other folks have done with theirs from the past bulk-buys I've run or the white LED lighting systems I've sold. (BTW, sorry for the shameless plug, but I only have three sets left, one 18-LED/driver and two 36-LED/driver, so if you want one or more you might want to E-mail me about it a.s.a.p.! When they're gone, it might be a while before I can build another batch, depending upon the availability of the LEDs ...) I've done some rather odd (wow, imagine that!) things with them myself, including retrofitting a few various flashlight designs to run on white LEDs, those LED modules I mentioned, and am thinking of seeing if I can build a lightbar variant for striplight applications.

I already have my own answers to these questions, but I'll ask them so that others reading can use the info from multiple sources to decide whether to buy that LED flashlight or whatever they might be eyeing while there's still time. So, what've you accomplished with white LEDs or white LED-based products you've obtained? What are your thoughts on the concept of these little jokers in lighting applications? How many LEDs are enough to do what task? Are ready-made solutions more cost-effective to you in the log run than obtaining the raw LEDs and scratch-building? If you got one of my modules or bought a ready-made LED lighting module or fixture from somewhere, what did you do with it and did/does it work well? Have you tried a product you'd actually recommend or think should be avoided, and if so what/who/where?

 

In a nutshell: If you've messsed with white LEDs and think you might have info or opinions that might benefit the Y2K awareness community in some manner, please add your thoughts! (These things might get REALLY hard to obtain by year's end, so if anyone wants to get any devices that use them it might be advantageous to do so as soon as practical.)



-- O d d O n e (mocklamer_1999@yahoo.com), October 25, 1999

Answers

I think they got a good beat and you can dance to 'em....but the wed ones are wuvwy too.....but they still can't hold a candle to them Y2K wire cutters with the ground switch for electrified fences!!!!

-- Jay Urban (Jayho99@aol.com), October 25, 1999.

Odd One,

I haven't yet come up with any finished projects. I am still experimenting with resistors and voltages (using alligator clips). They are quite brite as promised, but I think I need to use a minimum of 6 to be worth the while. I would like to use a 9 volt battery because I have plenty of those, and I would also like to rig up a reflector around them. Once I have a good plan, I'll get out the solder and make up some Christmas presents.

If you have any plans for something similar to the above, or any suggestions, e-mail if you can.

And thanks again for putting the deal together for us.

-- semper paratus (llmcl@usa.net), October 25, 1999.


They are wonderful. I have messed around with 510's and the 555 timer. Can't say I see a difference, but the batteries sure last longer. I bought them for cool flashlights as well as making high light-no heat illumination for my macroscope and for close up photography. My prototype works great. It is a ring shaped device with 3 in series and a total of 5 of these paralleled. I'll put a pot on this as well. I can finally get great detail on real close-ups. I am still finding new applications.

-- Pete (phytorx@lanset.com), October 25, 1999.

all i know is i bought the one art bell advertises and was verey disappointed, and sent it back for a completely satisfying fefund. just my two cents.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), October 25, 1999.

all i know is i bought the one art bell advertises and was very disappointed, and sent it back for a completely satisfying fefund. just my two cents.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), October 25, 1999.


The white one I saw (2AA size) was pitiful - and was priced around $25. So I made my own:

I bought a 2-pack of Garrity Tuff Lights (one 2D and one 2AA) at Aldi's for 6.99. Took out the regular bulb and inserted a 2 volt orange LED purchased from Hosfelt Electronics (item # 25-342, $3.49 ea., 1-800-524-6464). Works great. I like the orange color because it is very difficult to detect from a distance.

This LED is a super bright 10mm item that fits perfectly into the Garrity bulbholder. Drawing only 20 ma, it will last a long time, well over 100 hours. The trick is to get the leads down into the holder so that they contact + and -. I had to drill a small hole through the center of the 2AA holder. Anyone with a little know how can figure this out, it's really simple. Cost - about $ 8 per light.

-- Lee (lchesson@bigfoot.com), October 26, 1999.


I've played with them a little -- been very impressed with the brightness -- and plan on building a couple of flashlights and a lantern. I'm thinking that for the lantern, I'd like to have a ring of LEDs pointing up at a matte white cone (tip down) to act as a reflector, with some Nicads in the base, and some solar cells on top to recharge during the day.

Let me know if you put together another purchase.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), October 26, 1999.


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