Question about wiring household outlet to 5v LEDs.

[InlineFive]

Is it possible while keeping the transformer in a somewhat compact (cheap) package? I want to wire a bunch of 5-v LEDs up to this thing.

Thank you!

-Por

 

[So]

Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: So
Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line?

-Por

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So
Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line?

-Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this.

Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC.

Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack.

- M4H

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

Confused. Do I need an adapter?

 

[element]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

 

[Bassyhead]

the series wiring should work but wouldnt you need current limiting, too?

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

Can someone decode that? My brain hurts...

-Por

 

[element]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead
the series wiring should work but wouldnt you need current limiting, too?

Ya think? Yeah like current limiting is your only problem. hint: they don't have a 5v voltage drop each.

Before the OP hurts himself and/or others, yes you need a transformer. One of those wall warts that run at about 5v should be fine. And don't forget the polarity lest you toast all your leds. And hook them up in parallel.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Alright everybody- AC and DC are very different. Wiring many in series will NOT work. as household voltage is AC, and LEDs want DC. If you try to run a DC appliance on AC, you will most likely see lots of blue or red smoke. Don't do it. Yes, you need an adapter. Pick one up from radio shack or some old equipment. You can put dozens of LEDs on one adapter (in parallel) in most cases, depending on how much amperage the adapter is rated for.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

Good, I'm glad that I'm not an idiot, DIODES are what they use to rectify AC into DC, one diode is a half wave rectifier, IIRC, so the lights would be off half the time, but since that happens at a rate of 120 times/sec, you wouldn't be able to tell that.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

Good, I'm glad that I'm not an idiot, DIODES are what they use to rectify AC into DC, one diode is a half wave rectifier, IIRC, so the lights would be off half the time, but since that happens at a rate of 120 times/sec, you wouldn't be able to tell that.

And if I am worng then the best thing to do is wire them all in parallet to the +5V line of a PC power supply or some other 5V DC source (like a full wave rectifier).

 

[element]

If you sit on it, would that be called a rectumfire?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So
Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line?

-Por

You'd wire them all in series, 5 * 24 = 120, so they each dissipate 5 volts, NOTE, if you were to wire 1 LED in parallel w/ all 24 that one would try to dissipate 120V and would burn out, so I would wire each seires of 24 in parallel, you can fudge it a little up or down, but if you go below 20, each one dissipates ~6V which is probably getting high on what they're supposed to handle.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: element®
If you sit on it, would that be called a rectumfire?

Only if your ass is filled with alcohol.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Alright everybody- AC and DC are very different. Wiring many in series will NOT work. as household voltage is AC, and LEDs want DC. If you try to run a DC appliance on AC, you will most likely see lots of blue or red smoke. Don't do it. Yes, you need an adapter. Pick one up from radio shack or some old equipment. You can put dozens of LEDs on one adapter (in parallel) in most cases, depending on how much amperage the adapter is rated for.

You're right, in general, but because these are diodes, I think he's okay. Not 100% sure though.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead
the series wiring should work but wouldnt you need current limiting, too?

No, the diodes should provide their own internal resistance.

 

[So]

Oh, but ***NOTE**** you will have exposed wire....if you touch the bare LED lead wires You will be a darwin award inductee.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

Good, I'm glad that I'm not an idiot, DIODES are what they use to rectify AC into DC, one diode is a half wave rectifier, IIRC, so the lights would be off half the time, but since that happens at a rate of 120 times/sec, you wouldn't be able to tell that.

half wave rectifier will only be on 60 times a second.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: So Wire 24 of them in series, they'll each dissipate 5volts.

So how would you wire that so that it didn't burn out the first LED on the line? -Por

Please tell me you know more about basic electrics than this. Household current is 120V AC. You want 5V DC. Either use a cheap PC power supply, or go to Radio Shack. - M4H

Unfortunately I don't know more then this. So you're basically telling me that If I wire 24 of these things to 120v (be it one prong or two) it will use all the electricity so that they don't burn themselves out?

-Por

Um, AC and DC don't mix dude. Don't try to read into it.

But they are DIODES! They rectify the AC.

Good, I'm glad that I'm not an idiot, DIODES are what they use to rectify AC into DC, one diode is a half wave rectifier, IIRC, so the lights would be off half the time, but since that happens at a rate of 120 times/sec, you wouldn't be able to tell that.

half wave rectifier will only be on 60 times a second.

I meant it would switch 120 times/sec -- making 60 times /sec on.

 

[InlineFive]

So basically I need to go to a hardware store and get a diode or an AC-to-DC adapter?

-Por

 

[So]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
So basically I need to go to a hardware store and get a diode or an AC-to-DC adapter?

-Por

Yes, but remember, an LED is a LIGHT EMITTING DIODE, so I don't think you'll need any other diodes.

 

[Analog]

You don't need DC to run LEDs. They will run perfectly fine in AC, they just flicker very fast (like a flourescent tube).

Wiring 24 in series would be fine, but remember, as soon as one dies, the whole string dies with it (i.e. dies open circuit).

If these 5V LEDs have internal dropping resistors (5V types usually do, since the forward voltage drop for GaAs LEDs is about 2.2VDC), then current limiting would not be required.

I still would not recommend doing it this way, as the OP indicated he is a novice in wiring, and he would be playing with potentially lethal voltages.

Get a 6.3V filament transformer from RS, and do it that way. HTH