FreeTrack Forum

Welcome, you're not connected. ( Log in - Register )

RSS >  Easy build setup with SFH485P, Anyone can build this !   (for 5v Usb serial build see Page 2)
Chunk3ym4n #46 23/12/2009 - 22h27

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 17
Registered on : 15/12/2009

Off line

Posted Image

When the positive wire and the negative wire branch off to three wires, do I just solder 3 wires to the battery wire?
benmeijer #47 24/12/2009 - 00h30

Class : Habitué
Posts : 208
Registered on : 19/07/2008

Off line

That's correct !

Practically you could connect the 3 leads (from the right in this scheme) from the resistors together, the other sides (left) should be isolated.

edit:
I found a picture in "Your point model constructions" to illustrate what I mean.
Posted Image
Edited by benmeijer on 24/12/2009 at 00h46.
Chunk3ym4n #48 27/12/2009 - 04h59

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 17
Registered on : 15/12/2009

Off line

So can I just connect the resistors to the leg of the LED if I wanted to? Also would it be a good idea to just solder the LEDs and then wrap the wires with electrical tape for the support?
benmeijer #49 27/12/2009 - 13h22

Class : Habitué
Posts : 208
Registered on : 19/07/2008

Off line

Yes you can connect one lead of the resistors to the (short) leg of the LED if you want!

Chunk3ym4n @ 27/12/2009 - 04h59 a dit:

......  wrap the wires with electrical tape for the support?

what support?
Chunk3ym4n #50 28/12/2009 - 01h10

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 17
Registered on : 15/12/2009

Off line

benmeijer @ 27/12/2009 - 13h22 a dit:

Yes you can connect one lead of the resistors to the (short) leg of the LED if you want!

Chunk3ym4n @ 27/12/2009 - 04h59 a dit:

......  wrap the wires with electrical tape for the support?

what support?



Well I have hook-up wire that's pretty stiff and holds it's shape when you bend it and I think if I just wired it up and wrapped it with electrical tape it would hold.
VoodooWoo #51 29/12/2009 - 10h05

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 3
Registered on : 22/07/2008

Off line Www

benmeijer @ 13/11/2009 - 23h02 a dit:


Posted Image

fullsize pics here:
http://forum.free-track.net/index.php?showtopic=466&page=8#12613



Hi @ All!

To those who want to use ben´s contruction:
I found this round item here in germany in a DIY-Store.
It´s called "Pflanzring /plant ring". There are 3 pieces of it in one package for 4,50€  :D
Now I will start to build my second tracking device. My first one was build of some wires and was not that nice.

VoodooWoo :pirate:
catar #52 06/01/2010 - 11h36

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 2
Registered on : 27/12/2009

Off line

I wonder what happens if you change polarity by accident? Does it blow LED's?
Falcon #53 06/01/2010 - 21h01

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 23
Registered on : 14/11/2009

Off line

Well, it depends. If you shortly apply low voltage, just to get bit over froward current, you wont destry it, it just won't shine. But if you get over reverse current (perhaps 5V if I recall), you will destry the LED.
As some have opposite polarity to others (short vs long "leg"), I bought 4 then tested the first it carefully. I didnt damage the LED. If you get the Osram SFH485 schematics here are right (+ on short legs) which is opposite to many other.
SomeBum #54 08/01/2010 - 04h35

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 4
Registered on : 08/01/2010

Off line

I tried to construct a three point clip using SFH485P LEDs wired in a series connection. I'm worried that I may have fried my LEDs, but I hope not. I'm using two AA batteries to deliver 3V which goes through a 33-Ohm resistor, delivering oh about 90.9mA to the LEDs if I recall my calculations correctly. I removed the IR filter on my VX-1000 webcam, but it does not detect the LEDs. I am going to troubleshoot the system with a multimeter later, but I'm in my initial panic phase and quite worried! I only bought one extra LED but if the three that I'm using are burned out then I'm out of luck. Any tips?

EDIT: I just wanted to clarify that yes, I made sure to observe the polarity of the LEDs. All of my negative connections come from the leg with the flat edge on the plastic.
Edited by SomeBum on 08/01/2010 at 04h38.
benmeijer #55 08/01/2010 - 23h07

Class : Habitué
Posts : 208
Registered on : 19/07/2008

Off line

I think you mixed up two ways to build the 3 point clip/hat. You talk about "in a series connection" and  "a 33-ohm resistor (one ?) and 3 Volt.

Are you sure you wired your build in a "series connection" ?

See the two pictures below

1. Parallel build
- 3 volt
- 3 x 30 ohm resistors
Posted Image

2. Serial build
- 5 volt
- 1 x 10 ohm resistor
Posted Image
SomeBum #56 08/01/2010 - 23h20

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 4
Registered on : 08/01/2010

Off line

Absolutely certain it was in series. I had it wired like in the circuit diagram Resistor-Diode-Diode-Diode and applied 3V (measured as an effective 2.6V with multimeter) across the resistor (measured as 32.6 Ohms) which should give me a current that would work well across the LEDs (<100mA). I did it in much the same way as your picture for series, but instead of 10 Ohms I used the 33 Ohm resistor and connected to x2 AA batteries instead of USB for which I assume the fuse is needed.

Does it matter if my resistors are marked as 1/2 watt?

Provided that I didn't destroy my LEDs, I am probably going to reattempt the design in a parallel build.
benmeijer #57 08/01/2010 - 23h41

Class : Habitué
Posts : 208
Registered on : 19/07/2008

Off line

Well you definitely mixed the builds .....  :)

In serial setup you must have a minimum of 4.5 volt to light the leds (3 x 1.5 V forward), thats why 5 volt USB is perfect for this build.

I think you can use your build ... if you use 2 extra batteries ( 4x 1.5 = 6 V)

lets put these values in the led wizard:

6 Volt
Battery power
1.5 V forward
45 mA ( guessed)

result 33 ohm ...... should be bright enough to use !!

give it a try or re-build it with the values in one of the shemes above.


edit: 1/2 watt resistor is ok!
Edited by benmeijer on 08/01/2010 at 23h43.
SomeBum #58 09/01/2010 - 00h48

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 4
Registered on : 08/01/2010

Off line

All I have is a holder for two batteries and more than enough resistors so I'll just do the parallel configuration. Didn't know that about the forward voltages.

Thank you for your help!
Freaky #59 18/01/2010 - 20h00

Class : Apprenti
Posts : 14
Registered on : 18/01/2010

Off line

Hi Guys,

In the Series set up what Is the values of the PTC Fuse?

Thanks in advance this thread has been very helpful so far.

Freaks
benmeijer #60 18/01/2010 - 22h49

Class : Habitué
Posts : 208
Registered on : 19/07/2008

Off line

A PTC fuse is a resistor with almost no resistance while current < I(hold). When your assembly uses more current the value of the resistance gets higher, and when the current becomes > I-(trip)  (short-circuiting ?), it gets very high, and so protecting your power source (USB / motherboard).

So you can use a PTC fuse with 200ma (I-hold) and max 300ma (I-trip).

read more here: click

 >  Fast reply

Message

 >  Stats

1 user(s) connected during the last 10 minutes (0 member(s) and 1 guest(s)).