Something I've been noticing from our Japanese brethren

Ask and answer questions, share tips and resources for installing lighting and other electronics in your models.

Moderators: Sparky, Moderators

Post Reply
Grumpy Popeye
Posts: 1011
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:11 pm
Location: Lower left hand of Canada, surrounded by a moat!

Something I've been noticing from our Japanese brethren

Post by Grumpy Popeye »

I was looking at a fellow's lighting setup for his 2199 Yamato and he has diodes in line with his LEDs. Why is that? LEDs themselves are diodes and will work in only one "direction" so why bother with an extra diode?

I've noticed this same thing from a few different builders in Japan too but I can't say I've really seen anyone else do it.


Thoughs?
The rakishly handsome artist formerly known as Darph Bobo
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Are you sure they're not tiny glass resistors?
Abolish Alliteration
Grumpy Popeye
Posts: 1011
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:11 pm
Location: Lower left hand of Canada, surrounded by a moat!

Post by Grumpy Popeye »

Hm, that's entirely possible, I've only ever seen ceramic or wire wound resistors
The rakishly handsome artist formerly known as Darph Bobo
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Otherwise I have no idea why you'd run a diode inline with LEDs.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

But with a little quick reading there are few reason why you might want a diode inline depending on your power source. You can use them to protect against surges, death to LEDs, or to help regulate voltage.
Abolish Alliteration
cajunwolfman
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:15 pm
Location: My Town USA

Post by cajunwolfman »

Voltage drop.
RossW
Posts: 198
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2002 1:04 pm
Location: Toronto, ON

Post by RossW »

A diode will typically drop about 1V so the modeller might be using it to make the LEDs not so bright. Not sure about surge protection, though.
Madman Lighting
Posts: 1816
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 9:16 am
Location: Serenity.
Contact:

Post by Madman Lighting »

Might be for reverse hookup protection, or possible surge protection.

I dunno, I'm just and engineer with a business doing LED lighting.
That Madman Who Lit Up Deep Space Nine
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Ah, in that case they're there to keep the smoke in and regulate the flux capacitor in conjunction with the oscillation overthruster?
Abolish Alliteration
Madman Lighting
Posts: 1816
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 9:16 am
Location: Serenity.
Contact:

Post by Madman Lighting »

Yup. Over in Dimension 8 that is.

Now get back in your Thermalpod and build something. :wink:
That Madman Who Lit Up Deep Space Nine
Post Reply