Author Topic: 4LED + 1 lights  (Read 10539 times)

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Offline Norm

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4LED + 1 lights
« on: April 26, 2012, 04:07:05 pm »
I noticed that DollarTree had new type of LED lights so I got 3 of them
to test out the 4 LEDs  are in a diffusion lens and light up a 12ft. radius
quite nicely. .....but with 3 AAA batteries alkaline run time would be expensive
and short lived.
I could never understand how if these would run a light for say a half-hour
why NiCads C size  3 of them wouldn't run this light for at least an hour
and 8 sets of 3 in a string wouldn't run the light for 8 hrs. ?
995-0
Norm.

Offline kensue49

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2012, 07:10:21 pm »
I have one also. I would be interested in what you discover.
Kenneth

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2012, 07:15:27 am »
Kenneth,
  First I just figured out that they run about 3 or 4 , 6hr.nights on AAA alkaline
batteries.
  So next thing is to figure how long the 4LEDs will run on 3 C-size NiCads in series.
I'll keep you posted.
  A fun thing will also be a stepper motor with a wind up weight to
power the 4LEDS if I'm not satisfied with the NiCads performance on them.
  OK I'm off to go on the 1st step  ...How easy it is for me to get inspired....on just
one reply!

  Norm.

Offline tomw

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2012, 09:11:02 am »
  A fun thing will also be a stepper motor with a wind up weight to
power the 4LEDS if I'm not satisfied with the NiCads performance on them.
  OK I'm off to go on the 1st step  ...How easy it is for me to get inspired....on just
one reply!

  Norm.

Norm;

PM me your address and I will send you a 36 volt TDM from my stash of stuff.  It has a loose magnet but the bearings seem fine. Probably work fine for one of your projects.



Do NOT mistake me for any kind of "expert".

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Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2012, 11:20:25 pm »
I have one also. I would be interested in what you discover.
Kenneth
Tested one of the lights on just alkaline .....new total voltage
4.5, 0.12 Ma.   on for 3 hr. total voltage 4.1, 0.10 Ma.
gave it about 8 hrs. rest been on for about 45 minutes and the
voltage is now 3.51  .....checked another one that only 3.0 voltage
and is a definite drop in lumens, so I'm guessing about 6hrs. is the
tops for 4LEDs.
This was just a test for the alkaline.....next AA NiCads.
Norm.

Offline rossw

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2012, 03:57:50 am »
Tested one of the lights on just alkaline .....new total voltage
4.5, 0.12 Ma.   on for 3 hr. total voltage 4.1, 0.10 Ma.

I'd be VERY surprised.

0.12 milliamps?  I'd expect a slight glow from a single LED, but not much more.

Are you sure you didn't mean 0.12 AMPS  (120 mA)??

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2012, 10:05:27 pm »
yes Ross, I did mean 0.12 Amps thanks....it ran 8 more hrs.
still pretty bright....so maybe the larger C size cells will work
after all.....I'm going to try them next......
Norm.

Offline ghurd

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2012, 11:10:40 pm »

Tested one of the lights on just alkaline .....new total voltage
4.5, 0.12 Ma.   on for 3 hr. total voltage 4.1, 0.10 Ma.
gave it about 8 hrs. rest been on for about 45 minutes and the
voltage is now 3.51  .....checked another one that only 3.0 voltage
and is a definite drop in lumens, so I'm guessing about 6hrs. is the
tops for 4LEDs.
This was just a test for the alkaline.....next AA NiCads.
Norm.

30mA per LED is a lot for the type of LED I expect is in those.

Might consider adding a series 100 ohm resistor?
(between the battery and the rest of it)
The lumens will not be a lot less, but the hours will be a lot more!

"4.5, 0.12 Ma.   on for 3 hr. total voltage 4.1, 0.10 Ma."
What brand of battery?
That's impressive for AAAs, and better than the Energizer charts.
See 'Constant Current Performance' at 100mA.
http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/E92.pdf

G-

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2012, 04:13:31 pm »
Ghurd,
   Sunbeam from DollarTree was 8 for $1, but couldn't find the 8 in a pkg.
so I had to get the same ones only 4 in a pkg. instead of 8 ...same price.
Go figure ?
    The same brand in AA works in my digital camera as long as you are
just previewing even takes a couple of still pics unless you try to run the
cam corder part ......beep ! and shut down !
     Got a couple of 6 NiCads 3 in a series 2 string parallel    2.6 amp/hrs,
theoroetically.
      Kinda these 4LED because they light up the room about as much as 9 LEDs
running on those NiCad 12 volt, 2.6 amp/hr. batteries .
would even be worth trying 3 D size alkaline cells and real small trickle charge
with a small solar cell ?
Norm.

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2012, 10:34:31 pm »
Won't be much light from the 4LED + 1 lights tonight.
Tried the big NiCad batt. and only lasted about 5 hrs.
got up this morning and was down to 2.3 volts and out.
Norm.

Offline Norm

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Re: Update on 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2012, 09:46:01 pm »
Using 3 D size alkaline batteries in place of the 3 AAA's
ran across 10 D size ....so the 3 lights that I got will be
powered by the D size batteries tonight....
have a thought that I can recharge them since they won't
be discharged much about 100 mA. charge in 10 hrs. to each
shouldn't hurt them much ?
Norm.

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2012, 12:57:26 pm »
1027-01028-1

Removed springs and such inside battery compartment
in place of the AAA's is now the connect type like on a 9 volt
wires connected to the 4 LEDs ....slot on side of battery
compartment the connectors are inside wires come thru a slot
in the side and soldered to the battery terminals, about a 10
min. job for me to glue the batterys together and solder connecting
tabs on batteries.
No resistor on this one the other one with 101 ohm resistor too dim
 with very little drain on battery .
With out the resistor....too high of a drain.... need a happy medium
50 ohm ? 
  The 4 position slide switch,
1...off
2 other LED on
3 blinking red and blue LED on
4 the 4 LEDs on

could be
1 ...OFF
2 ...4 LEDS on with 100 ohm
3....4 LEDs on with 50   ohm
4....4 LEDs on no resistors.

Thinking about turning it over and putting enough solar cells to restore 100%
as I calculate it only uses about 10 or 15 % it should work out
rather well even on non-rechargable ? batteries.

Guys...or Gals....any comments ?
Norm.

Offline kensue49

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2012, 05:03:37 pm »
Like the switch arrangement you propose.
I think 56 ohm is a standard size. You could parallel two of the 56 ohm to cut the resistance in half, I think or series them to make the 112 ohm. It's been awhile since I have played with resistors so I could have that backwards.
I have been thinking about charging with solar cells since you started.
Also I thought about a dollar store three cell flashlight, C or D size to hold the batteries or a homemade pvc battery holder with junk flashlight parts.

Keep it up Norm, I check your progress everyday.

Offline Norm

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2012, 09:22:51 pm »
I like these glued together batteries and the wires or tabs solder
directly onto the battery terminals so easily .....why don't they
have tin coated containers and terminals on NiCads like this ?
Instead of having to weld on tin tabs that cost a $couple of thousand
for a machine to weld tabs onto ?
These alkaline batteries seem to work out real well .
Googling up ....seems like the biggest thing about charging
alkaline is to charge before they get down too low and not to charge
at a very fast rate.
    Well back to googling .....
Norm.

Offline ghurd

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Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2012, 07:59:55 am »
Norm,
I'll get some 56 ohm 1/4W in the mail today.
RatShak doesn't have 56 ohm in the stores.
G-