FreeTrack Forum

Well First of all let me say hello to the FreeTrack community,  I am new here and just found out about FreeTrack  recently, and from what I saw its weary handy not to mention FUN.
Form the moment I saw it I begin to gather all the parts,  its been 2 days and I have all of theme. But There is  a problem with the IR-LEDs I have bought SFH484-2 http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/15108-ir-emitter-5mm-880nm-sfh484-2-osram.html
And I want to use the PC power branch for HDD power the 5 V, I already made the connector, and I bought the 20 ohms 5% resistors as the Great Wizard told me   . I inputted 5v for supply 3V for Vf and 100ma = 20 Ohm.
But The Problem is that The LEDs won’t light on. I have tried:
1. Applying 5V thru the 20 Ohm resistor
2. Applying 2.7 from two fully charged Nimh batteries (1600ma)
3. Applying 3V from a 200ma button battery
4. Tried reversing the LEDs pins (in case i got it wrong the first time - I have a few LEDs to spare for experiments )

There was one strange thing in my first attempt, I measured 5V after the resistor, I am a beginner in El. but shouldn’t the resistor louvered the Voltage by 2 V to a total of 3V for the led to work. And why is it dangerous to put the LEDs without the resistor? I tout that the Current in the circuit is determent by the load.

If its any help the resistor has five stripes: red black black gold gray – that’s 20 ohm 5% and the temperature Coefficient is 100 ppm (what ever that means )

Any help welcome.
Thanks

I know this may sound kinda stupid...but you are looking at the LED's through your camera right?The naked eye doesn't see the IR LED's light up...only the camera can see them.

Also a problem I was having with not being able to see the leds through the camera was for some reason the camera couldnt see them.I was using a Microsoft Lifecam vx2000....even know some here are using the vx1000 and vx3000,the 2000 will not work,or least not for me.

Im no expert here but thats just some simple things you can look at.

Im also new to this stuff too,I just finished my first 3pt clip on yesterday and so far its seems to be working good.

Edit-

I powered mine through USB cable from an old mouse.Wired LED series with 15ohm 5% resistor and PTC 0.2a fuse on the positive side.And just to be safe so I dont mess up my USB or my motherboard(never know about that mistake that may have been made ) I just plug into a powered USB hub.

Hmm, didnt think to try  if the camera can see theme, ill try now but i think its not working becoze the remotes have an IR-LED and you can see theme  flashing when you puss a button.

Nope doesnt work, the camera cant see it.
And in my last post i meant so say:
Hmm, didnt think to try  if the camera can see theme, ill try now but i think it wount work becose the remotes have an IR-LED and you can see theme  flashing when you puss a button.   .

Thanks for trying