Search found 100 matches

by Ant
Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:58 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: I suck at LEDs and electronics
Replies: 2
Views: 3885

Re: I suck at LEDs and electronics

I wrote this a _long_ time ago, but it covers the very basics of single LEDs... http://www.antsnest.net/Garage/LEDs.php
by Ant
Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:18 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Wholesale options for LED strip components from flashlights/lanterns?
Replies: 2
Views: 5360

Re: Wholesale options for LED strip components from flashlights/lanterns?

Those are generally referred to as "COB" LEDs (chip-on-board). Also have a look for LED filaments - those are the things you get inside decorative light bulbs these days. They can be either 1-2" strips, or 6-12" of flexible "string". Random examples from random ebay sel...
by Ant
Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:58 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Finding a resistor for your LED (Easy & Fast)
Replies: 3
Views: 15626

Re: Finding a resistor for your LED (Easy & Fast)

One small issue here - 20ma is 0.02A, not 0.2A....
by Ant
Mon Jun 19, 2023 3:30 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Reliable methods for scribing on a sphere or cone?
Replies: 5
Views: 14905

Re: Reliable methods for scribing on a sphere or cone?

Old style Dymo tape is a good self adhesive 'edge' to scribe against and will follow curves to some extent.
by Ant
Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:57 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Anyone else have problems with Vallejo?
Replies: 11
Views: 32351

Re: Anyone else have problems with Vallejo?

geck wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:01 am ... Acrylics just don't stick well to anything but wood.
And me. And the inside of my airbrush :D
by Ant
Fri Oct 28, 2022 1:46 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Wireless LEDs
Replies: 6
Views: 12956

Re: Wireless LEDs

by Ant
Wed Nov 03, 2021 2:11 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Review of Wireless LEDs
Replies: 9
Views: 16814

Re: Review of Wireless LEDs

To be fair, this is not a new technology at all - induction has been known about for almost as long as electricity. All these are are the combination of an inductive power source glued to a LED. But that's also it's biggest weakness - the size of the pick-up coils and the distance and alignment betw...
by Ant
Thu May 13, 2021 7:00 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Wire breakage at solder joints
Replies: 5
Views: 12938

Re: Wire breakage at solder joints

Ideally they would have some sort of sleeving (flexible or heat-shrink) on them when assembled to prevent exactly this issue. I don't know of the parts you are talking about, but you may be able to use a blob of hot glue over the joint to relieve the strain.
by Ant
Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:20 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Quick question about power substitution
Replies: 4
Views: 13258

Re: Quick question about power substitution

There's a possible problem with this - many "cheap" battery operated LED products rely on the properties of the battery to reduce the component count and cost of the product - specifically, they can rely on the battery being unable to supply enough current to damage the LEDs due to it's in...
by Ant
Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:22 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Drilling Really Tiny Holes?
Replies: 20
Views: 61621

Re: Drilling Really Tiny Holes?

Great to see another Frankendrill!!
And I really like the finger trigger upgrade!

I've been meaning to 3D print a small enclosure for mine, but I've not used it in ages so the need has fallen down the list of priorities...
by Ant
Sat Nov 07, 2020 3:58 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Attaching An SMD LED
Replies: 2
Views: 11694

Re: Attaching An SMD LED

5 min clear epoxy works really well
by Ant
Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:47 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: LEDs & Other Low voltage, Low power lighting
Replies: 49
Views: 163619

Re: LEDs & Other Low voltage, Low power lighting

Did you get rid of the "dome" on the top of the LED? This is essentially a lens that spreads out the light from the LED die and makes it appear brighter than a smaller point source.
by Ant
Wed Jan 08, 2020 3:30 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Flickering LED?
Replies: 10
Views: 29027

Re: Flickering LED?

I could possibly provide you with a very small bespoke solution pre-programmed to your needs. I have done a lot of custom lighting modules for kits over the years. Coincidentally I have also just got the EVA Pod and am currently working on a complete solution, screens and internal lighting that woul...
by Ant
Mon Sep 23, 2019 2:27 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Glow-In-The-Dark paint for fiber optics /light pipes?
Replies: 8
Views: 36363

Re: Glow-In-The-Dark paint for fiber optics /light pipes?

Mr. Engineer wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:20 pm Mr. Antsnest on the other hand (the brilliant guy who first gave you the roving Cyclon Eye for the Moebius 1/32 Advance Cylon raider)
Blush :oops: Thanks!
Ant
by Ant
Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:35 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: The Next evolution in Lighting?
Replies: 8
Views: 27707

Re: The Next evolution in Lighting?

Conductive paint has been around for decades.

It still sucks.
by Ant
Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:30 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: What am I doing wrong?
Replies: 19
Views: 45113

Re: What am I doing wrong?

What usually happens with many low cost mass produced items such as these battery operated strings of LEDs is they rely on side effects & physical properties of components within the circuit to allow the elimination of what would otherwise be required components for a high quality solution. Typi...
by Ant
Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:48 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: What am I doing wrong?
Replies: 19
Views: 45113

Re: What am I doing wrong?

I think that's because they were wired in parallel, but you have now wired them in series. This places different voltage/current demands on the circuit.
by Ant
Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:56 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Android/iOS controlled lighting system
Replies: 11
Views: 40082

Re: Android/iOS controlled lighting system

It's an interesting looking concept - basically built around every single LED being an addressable one so that the "design" of the lighting can be developed separately from the physical implementation. Whilst this greatly simplifies some aspects, it vastly complicates others, and you'd nee...
by Ant
Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:47 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Using putty to fill gaps and seams
Replies: 15
Views: 53694

Re: Using putty to fill gaps and seams

General rule of thumb: any one part, solvent based putty will shrink far more than 2-part epoxy types.
But as far as working with styrene, a solvent based putty will bond far better to the plastic.
by Ant
Thu Jun 21, 2018 2:34 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: UV Reflective Paints
Replies: 7
Views: 26935

Re: UV Reflective Paints

I expect he's talking about flourecent paints. These do not emit light themselves but will glow brightly in the presence of UV.
by Ant
Fri May 04, 2018 2:35 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: Glue for mounting LEDs
Replies: 4
Views: 16673

Re: Glue for mounting LEDs

+1 for epoxy, or you can even use PVA if you don't need a really strong bond and have time for it to set.
by Ant
Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:28 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Reducing LED Brightness?
Replies: 12
Views: 37068

Re: Reducing LED Brightness?

Yup, absolutely no reason a trimpot can't be used to reduce the brightness.

To be safe, use it in series with the resistor calculated to give your maximum allowed current through the LED - that way you will never accidentally wind it down too far and let too much current flow.
by Ant
Fri Mar 30, 2018 4:49 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Reducing LED Brightness?
Replies: 12
Views: 37068

Re: Reducing LED Brightness?

To make less bright, just reduce the current by increasing the resistance. Try doubling it to star with...
by Ant
Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:10 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Identifying Mystery LEDs?
Replies: 5
Views: 19519

Re: Identifying Mystery LEDs?

Easiest way is with a LED tester https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Quality-Handy-2-150mA-LED-Test-Box-Tester-For-Light-emitting-Diode-Lamp/222564385314?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D50926%26meid%3D8fad0166efda467e82a5e90c3c3c40c3%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm...
by Ant
Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:46 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Need a good quality water based primer
Replies: 14
Views: 36799

Re: Need a good quality water based primer

Hi Scott

I absolutely LOVE Badger Stynylrez Primers! I've pretty much given up on rattlecan primers on everything now.

Just have a google for reviews!

Airbrushable, and comes in quite a range of colours now.

Ant
by Ant
Wed Feb 28, 2018 3:32 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Magnetic energy conductors
Replies: 8
Views: 26310

Re: Magnetic energy conductors

The only way you will do it through plastic is via induction.
by Ant
Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:25 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Multiple mounting points with electrical/power connections
Replies: 12
Views: 23760

Re: Multiple mounting points with electrical/power connections

Yup, absolutely no reason why you can't do that. Assuiming your lighting circuit currently has a single connector with your + and - contacts, then you can just connect more in parallel, linking each + and each - together. Plugging the power into any connector will then work.
by Ant
Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:20 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Magnetic energy conductors
Replies: 8
Views: 26310

Re: Magnetic energy conductors

That would be some kind of inductive loop - same way that wireless chargers work on phones or toothbrushes. The magnets probably just held the loop in place on the model. You basically feed an AC signal into a coil of wire, which generates a moving magnetic field. If you place another coil of wire n...
by Ant
Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:45 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Glue for mounting LEDs
Replies: 4
Views: 16673

Re: Glue for mounting LEDs

2-part 5 minute clear epoxy works well.
by Ant
Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:32 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: anyone here good with arduino code?
Replies: 4
Views: 15751

Re: anyone here good with arduino code?

Check all the pins you are using for the LEDs are set to OUTPUT with the pinMode command - that's a common issue when outputs don't appear to be behaving.