Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > DIY

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-28-2012, 01:57 PM
reefme reefme is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 660
reefme is on a distinguished road
Default Help on choosing resistor

I have a LED driver rated 120W produce 103v-171v range at 700mA.
I connect 44 LEDs at 3.6v@700mA each in serie. Is 18ohms resistor correct?

Thank you for your help.
__________________
Wow! That's Crazy! Why would you spend that much and go through all that trouble?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-28-2012, 02:58 PM
wingedfish wingedfish is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Medicine Hat
Posts: 112
wingedfish is on a distinguished road
Default

44 x 3.6 = 158.4V / .7A = 226.3ohms.


Not sure its right for you application. E over IR
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-28-2012, 03:33 PM
themastr themastr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wainwright, AB
Posts: 67
themastr is on a distinguished road
Default What kind of Driver are you using?

If your driver is auto ranging you would not need to put in a resistor in series? you said that its ranges from 103v-171v DC. So 44 LEDs X 3.6V = 158.4 v. you're within the range. Now if you are looking to put a resistor in series so you can check the voltage drop and then calculate the current across your string then I think it would be 12.6v/0.7a = 18 ohms

P=IE so you will need to get a P=0.7x12.6 = 8.82 watts minimum rating on the 18 ohms resistor.

someone please Double check this work its been a long time since I built my Led build.

you can also put just a smaller resistor in series so it acts like a single led.

R=E/I = 3.6v/0.7 = 5.14 ohms or a greater resistor and the wattage should be
P=IE= 0.7a X 3.6v = 2.52 watts

I think I used the smaller resistor for mine less heat and doesn't max out the driver output.

hope this helped a bit

But please someone recheck the work. it's been awhile ;D

thanks
erick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-28-2012, 05:36 PM
toolmanbmw's Avatar
toolmanbmw toolmanbmw is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: edmonton
Posts: 58
toolmanbmw is on a distinguished road
Default

In my build I just used a 5W 1ohm resistor in series and measured the voltage drop to get the amps the driver is putting out. I am no expert.... but it worked for me anyway


Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-28-2012, 05:38 PM
reefme reefme is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 660
reefme is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by themastr View Post
If your driver is auto ranging you would not need to put in a resistor in series? you said that its ranges from 103v-171v DC. So 44 LEDs X 3.6V = 158.4 v. you're within the range. Now if you are looking to put a resistor in series so you can check the voltage drop and then calculate the current across your string then I think it would be 12.6v/0.7a = 18 ohms

P=IE so you will need to get a P=0.7x12.6 = 8.82 watts minimum rating on the 18 ohms resistor.

someone please Double check this work its been a long time since I built my Led build.

you can also put just a smaller resistor in series so it acts like a single led.

R=E/I = 3.6v/0.7 = 5.14 ohms or a greater resistor and the wattage should be
P=IE= 0.7a X 3.6v = 2.52 watts

I think I used the smaller resistor for mine less heat and doesn't max out the driver output.

hope this helped a bit

But please someone recheck the work. it's been awhile ;D

thanks
erick
i am using a Inventronics:120W produce 103v-171v range at 700mA.
__________________
Wow! That's Crazy! Why would you spend that much and go through all that trouble?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-28-2012, 06:20 PM
themastr themastr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wainwright, AB
Posts: 67
themastr is on a distinguished road
Default drivers

Thats the same driver I used you should be okay with the small resistor and a 3 watt or more power rating.

they are solid drivers I've never had any issues with any of them.

thanks
erick
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-28-2012, 06:57 PM
reefme reefme is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 660
reefme is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by themastr View Post
Thats the same driver I used you should be okay with the small resistor and a 3 watt or more power rating.

they are solid drivers I've never had any issues with any of them.

thanks
erick
Do you mean small resistor = high value of resistor?
__________________
Wow! That's Crazy! Why would you spend that much and go through all that trouble?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-28-2012, 09:15 PM
beefORchicken's Avatar
beefORchicken beefORchicken is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Surrey
Posts: 101
beefORchicken is on a distinguished road
Default

you don't need resistors because the driver supplies a regulated current of 700mA regardless of what the load is, as well LEDs are still diodes and they will maintain their 3.6V across them regardless of supply voltage. the extra voltage will be dropped by the driver
resistors can be used as drivers but are only a good choice for low power situations (indicator lights etc.)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-28-2012, 10:45 PM
themastr themastr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wainwright, AB
Posts: 67
themastr is on a distinguished road
Default

Sorry I didn't explain myself better.

I meant that you can put the 5ohm resistor with a 3 watt rating in series on your string to see the amount of current you have. all you will have to do is test the voltage across the resistor and then use this formula to find your current.

I = E/R so the voltage drop across the resistor divide by the resistor value.

BeeforChicken is correct you don't need to add any resistors. What was your purpose to adding the resistor in the first place. I asked that in the earlier post? I don't think you answered it or did I miss it?

I used one because I was troubleshooting and also wanted to know how much current was going pass my LEDs. If you're just building and never will tamper with it just hook everything up without the resistor. Everything should work fine.

hope this helps

thanks
Erick
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-28-2012, 10:53 PM
reefme reefme is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 660
reefme is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by themastr View Post
Sorry I didn't explain myself better.

I meant that you can put the 5ohm resistor with a 3 watt rating in series on your string to see the amount of current you have. all you will have to do is test the voltage across the resistor and then use this formula to find your current.

I = E/R so the voltage drop across the resistor divide by the resistor value.

BeeforChicken is correct you don't need to add any resistors. What was your purpose to adding the resistor in the first place. I asked that in the earlier post? I don't think you answered it or did I miss it?

I used one because I was troubleshooting and also wanted to know how much current was going pass my LEDs. If you're just building and never will tamper with it just hook everything up without the resistor. Everything should work fine.

hope this helps

thanks
Erick
Thank you so much. I asked the question, because one of my blue LEDs burned out.
__________________
Wow! That's Crazy! Why would you spend that much and go through all that trouble?
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.