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RSS >  Did I get the right resistor?
snipcod #1 21/03/2008 - 22h42

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Im getting ready to make my Track IR.  I have 3 IR LED's, forward voltage is 1.2v, forward current 100mA.  Im using a 6v 300mA power adapter.  The best match I found for the resistor was a 47Ohm 1/2 watt with 5% tolerance.  Will this work?
larockonoli #2 22/03/2008 - 06h42

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i am not sure if you got the right resistor...   using your 6v power adapter, and the leds voltage and current, I came up with much lower numbers for the resistor.

did you use the LED calculator?  I can't say for sure, because I haven't had enough experience, but I think that you are way overboard on that resistor.
tristan68 #3 22/03/2008 - 18h45

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Hello Snipcod.


I checked your values , and :

- about the resistor value (47ohms)
everything seems OK.
Depending of the "real" voltage value of your power adapter, you should get a bit less or about 100mA, so it's OK

Remember it's often of no use to reach the led max power, because your leds will usually be brigth enough at 1/2 max power already.

- about the resistor power allowance (1/2w)
According to the led wizard, you'd dissipate about 0.4w in your resistor. I's a bit close to the max value of your resistor (0.5w). I'd recommend using a bigger resistor (about 1w), just to be sure.

Cya

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