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FreeTrack Forum > FreeTrack : English Forum > Support : Tracking System > The resistor calculator not working?
mcdull2k | #1 02/08/2008 - 17h29 |
Class : Apprenti Off line |
I planned to use USB 5V to drive 3 IR LED.
I got them in local store where they don't have any spec printed on it. They are around US$1 each and I asked the keeper saying it is 1.5V just like normal LED. I guess it was around 1.5-1.6V and therefore I get myself a tiny 5 Ohm resistor and put them all together. And none of the LED light up (I tested it with a capable DC of course). I later was told that IR LED usually requires 1.7V to light up, so I remove the resistor. Still no go. What else can I do? can I do some test using a multimeter? Thanks |
tristan68 | #2 03/08/2008 - 12h55 |
Off line |
Hello mcdull2k
Tested it with your values.... Works correctly
Your keeper has to provide 2 values : Forward voltage : 1.5v Forward current : ????? Form your resistor value, i suppose you went for about 100mA Thats OK for SFH485 (although a bit too high already , IMO), but can be definitely to much for some led models. So you have to ask the keeper for the forward current value.
How did you check ? If you power a 880nm IR led , you can see a very faint red glow, but if you power a 940nm IR led , you see absotuley nothing, since this wavelength is too far inside IR range and is absolutely invisible to human eyes. About the webcams : All webcams can perceive 880nm leds without being IR modded, but a few cams need to be IR modded to be able to perceive 940nm Leds. About the leds : Leds are diodes, so they're polarized. Did you mount them the correct way ?
LEDS ARE NO LIGHT BULBS BUT DIODES. THEY ALWAYS NEED A CURRENT LIMITING DEVICE TO OPERATE PROPERLY NEVER USE THEM WITHOUT A RESISTOR, YOU CAN DESTROY THEM DOING THAT To check you leds : If your multimeter has a diode test function : - switch off your setup - select diode test on your multimeter - for each led : use your multimeter on the led leads, on both ways. You should find nothing on one way , and a low voltage (varying , about 1 to 1.5v) on the other way. If a led doesn't react as stated, then this led is fried, and you can change it. If your multimeter doesn't have a diode test function : - select voltage tester on your multimeter - power on your setup - test the voltage drop of each component The voltage drop should be : - about 0.5v for the resistor - about 1.5v for each led if your find these values , then your setup is working. if you don't find these values , please post each value so i can help you debug this. cya |
FreeTrack Forum > FreeTrack : English Forum > Support : Tracking System > The resistor calculator not working?
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