Best way to backlight

[BuildABoeing]

Guys! Guys! Guys!
I am getting all confused!

First of all I - of course - do not like what you are saying. I have backlit my whole pedestal on the solution of "2 leds connected to 5V", and now you all say "Go 12V".

Is it just a question of providing 3V per LED in the series?

12v you say, and some of those dimmers from eBay, that is it? And then 4 LEDs in series?
Like this?
[+12v ] ----> [Dimmer] ----> +LED ----> +LED ----> +LED ----> +LED ----> [GND]

That should give 3V per LED, or do I need resistors?

I got all confused along the track when you started talking about that dimmer.

David, thanks - exactly that colour!

[davemuir]

Hi Peter,
I have found the easiest way of doing the backlighting
Is to use led strips it comes on a reel and you can cut every 4 LEDs in length .
it has all the resisters built in and when you cut the strip you can join them in series to any size and shape of panel behind the mip.
i use Perspex clear panels behind the mip ,the led strip is also sticky back
easy and quick -
Best regards
dave muir

[fordgt40]

Peter

Sorry you are having problems. Basically, there are two options with leds for backlighting

Use 12 volt strip leds, no resistor needed and the EBAY dimmer will work fine

Use a 5 volt supply with two leds in series or parallel PLUS a current limiting resistor. The EBAY dimmer may or may not work, as they are designed for 12 volts, but no harm trying. You can get the right resistor value here

LED Resistor Calculator

EDIT You could of course also use a 12 volt supply and power more leds in a "set", with the correct current limiting resistor (as outlined by Geoff), in which case the EBAY dimmer would work ok

David

[jonesthesoftware]

Here's some examples of the 12V route
leds.jpg


regards
geoff

[BuildABoeing]

Hi again guys!

Thanks a lot for clarifying - I really appreciate it!

It is not that I have run in to problems (Except understanding the technical aspect of the dimmer ) I just was not quite satisfied with my pedestal-backlightning (The 5v 2LED super-bright solution) so I thought why not get some advise from the best (= You guys!)

I'll get some of those LED strips.
It also seems easier to work with (Guess it just can be glued on a backplate) rather than making separate holes for 10-15 LEDs per panel.

Thanks guys!