LukeFRC Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 help! What's a normal value for a LED protection resistor? Standard 9v supply, 5mm LED operating voltage 2v .... I got a load of 1.8k resistors but think they might be too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 12 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: help! What's a normal value for a LED protection resistor? Standard 9v supply, 5mm LED operating voltage 2v .... I got a load of 1.8k resistors but think they might be too high? You need to know what the current is too. Typically about 20mA but different colours are different currents. Dropping 7V at 20mA would take a 350R resistor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 10 minutes ago, tauzero said: You need to know what the current is too. Typically about 20mA but different colours are different currents. Dropping 7V at 20mA would take a 350R resistor. cheers - I found this informative... https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=98464.0 I'll try my 1.8k and see how we are with brightness... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 14 hours ago, tauzero said: You need to know what the current is too. Typically about 20mA but different colours are different currents. Dropping 7V at 20mA would take a 350R resistor. Currents in the ball park of 20mA are normally far too much for a realistic light level. An LED of any colour will likely be too bright for comfort at that current (it will also produce a heating effect that reduces the brightness a bit and shortens the life expectancy of the LED). Values of 10/20mA are often quoted as max continuous rated current etc but typically much lower currents 1 - 2 mA or even less for "High Efficiency" types give a usable light level. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekomatic Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 1.8 kΩ with a 7 V drop would give you (mental arithmetic) somewhere between 3 and 4 mA, which should be visible with most LEDs. If it's too dim and you need to build it right now, you can parallel up two or three of the 1.8 k's to get (all other things being equal) double or triple the current. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 I've been using 2K2 recently and finding it's still quite bright enough for live use. Although having said that, some of my LED stock is high/super brightness, which probably has something to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 On 01/09/2022 at 22:42, JPJ said: So the kit arrived at home today so that’s about three weeks from order. No claims for import duty or VAT 😎 Typically the kit arrives when I’m halfway around the world away and crazy busy in the day job so probably won’t get to open this for another week or so 😤 So I'm finally home and able to take a look at the kit. Whilst it looks quite daunting to a novice like me, everything is nicely packaged and identified and the instructions (you download these from the website) are comprehensive. I think I'll probably leave it until the weekend to get the soldering iron out as I'm a bit knackered after ten days on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 2 hours ago, JPJ said: So I'm finally home and able to take a look at the kit. Whilst it looks quite daunting to a novice like me, everything is nicely packaged and identified and the instructions (you download these from the website) are comprehensive. I think I'll probably leave it until the weekend to get the soldering iron out as I'm a bit knackered after ten days on the road. I started my Vong kit last night - it’s nice, hardest bit will be the enclosure graphics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 Also - price of a pint in town and about a week or two from ordering…. hopefully they work!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passinwind Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 1 hour ago, LukeFRC said: Also - price of a pint in town and about a week or two from ordering…. hopefully they work!! Which board vendor did you go with? Meanwhile, I've been finishing up my small run of 3 band preamp w/variable LPF builds. One left to go, then on to other things for the foreseeable future. I'll be releasing the open source spec very soon but parts availability is likely to be an ongoing hassle for at least another year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 3 minutes ago, Passinwind said: Which board vendor did you go with? Meanwhile, I've been finishing up my small run of 3 band preamp w/variable LPF builds. One left to go, then on to other things for the foreseeable future. I'll be releasing the open source spec very soon but parts availability is likely to be an ongoing hassle for at least another year. Elecrow - they seemed to be good! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 20 hours ago, JPJ said: So I'm finally home and able to take a look at the kit. Whilst it looks quite daunting to a novice like me, everything is nicely packaged and identified and the instructions (you download these from the website) are comprehensive. I think I'll probably leave it until the weekend to get the soldering iron out as I'm a bit knackered after ten days on the road. Start with smallest components first - diodes and resistors up to electrolytic caps - makes it easier when you turn the board over to access the solder side. Check polarity on diodes and electrolytic capacitors. Socket ICs and transistors so they aren't damaged by excessive heat. Use a crocodile clip (or similar) as a heatsink when soldering pots. Above all, take your time and enjoy the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 Also, today I will be starting a catalinbread heliotrope on stripboard. I'm probably going to mount it in an old Wah enclosure for sweeping fun with the 'Bit' control... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 On 08/09/2022 at 15:39, LukeFRC said: I started my Vong kit last night - it’s nice, hardest bit will be the enclosure graphics And so it begins. As usual, having started I’m now being dragged off to do family stuff, but hope to be able to get more done later today. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 Vong … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 and finished (but naked) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 Schalltechnik i.e. Julian has decided to stop delivering kits after 7 years. He has been supportive, and I wish he would get back to business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 12 minutes ago, itu said: Schalltechnik i.e. Julian has decided to stop delivering kits after 7 years. He has been supportive, and I wish he would get back to business. Having made this kit all I can say is he's very very good at what he does and it was painless. Last pedal I build I was swearing at Vero board for a week so for it to all go together first time and work is nice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 (edited) On 10/09/2022 at 12:43, JPJ said: And so it begins. As usual, having started I’m now being dragged off to do family stuff, but hope to be able to get more done later today. Well as might be expected for a first attempt - I have a non-functioning pedal. I know I messed up one capacitor connection as the solder merged between the two pins and I have a few other areas where my plumbing soldering techniques were a little, shall we say, heavy handed. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and I’ve bought the kit again to have another go, well I have the enclosure now 😉 Edited September 12, 2022 by JPJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 hour ago, JPJ said: Well as might be expected for a first attempt - I have a non-functioning pedal. I know I messed up one capacitor connection as the solder merged between the two pins and I have a few other areas where my plumbing soldering techniques were a little, shall we say, heavy handed. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and I’ve bought the kit again to have another go, well I have the enclosure now 😉 You can fix it - do you have a solder sucker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 51 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: You can fix it - do you have a solder sucker? I thought I did, but its missing in action somewhere. I did a bit of damage to the PCB trying other non-approved solder removal techniques and I’ve probably fried a few components too. But it was a great learning experience and I’m looking forward to attempt no2 (armed with a solder sucker, desoldering tape, smaller tips for my soldering iron, and a better magnifier). I will not be beaten 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloke_zero Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 You are calling out the must haves for me! Smaller tip, de-soldering tape/wick and a solder sucker and you will be rocking. If you get into real detail stuff (SMD) then a jewllers loupe is a good buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Never heard of desoldering tape before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passinwind Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Never heard of desoldering tape before! In the US it goes by "solder wick" or "desoldering braid", typically. Like so: https://www.aventools.com/desoldering-wick-1-5mm-0-06 I have a pro grade Pace desoldering station but still use braid 90+ % of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 4 minutes ago, Passinwind said: In the US it goes by "solder wick" or "desoldering braid", typically. Like so: https://www.aventools.com/desoldering-wick-1-5mm-0-06 I have a pro grade Pace desoldering station but still use braid 90+ % of the time. Aw cool - I’ve been using a very cheap iron and a big solder sucker for years … I now know there’s easier ways!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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