DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Bobcat DMX Servo Controller => Topic started by: holland lights on August 07, 2012,
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I bought a RGB led common anode from radioshack #276-0028 and i want to makee sure i did the calcuations right for the resistor value. <rtt..
(green/blue)
Forward current: 30ma
Forward voltage: 3.5 v typ 4.0v max
(Red)
Forward current: 50 ma
Forward voltage: 2.0v typ 2.6v max
mA =(1.25/R) x 15].
For 30ma I got
1.25/650 ohms x 15=0.0288
For 50ma I got
1.25/400 ohms x 15=0.046875
Because I done the calculations for 20 ma and it gave me
1.25/1000 ohm x 15=0.01875
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Each color needs its own resistor with the common anode connected directly to the positive lead of your power source.
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I know how to connect a led to a resisitor wih the proper value. I am asking about what R7 is suppost to be on the servo board to work with these leds.
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The driver used on the Bobcat servo board is a constant current driver, so you don't use individual series resistors. R7 is used to set the current drive for each LED. It's not like the traditional case of a resistor per LED connected to a constant voltage.
The currents spec'ed for that RGB LED are likely maximum currents; I would try driving it at 20mA on each color and see how it looks. Your calculations look right to me; 1k would give 18.75 mA per channel. Unfortunately, the way the driver chip is designed, you get the same current on each channel.
/mike
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The driver used on the Bobcat servo board is a constant current driver, so you don't use individual series resistors. R7 is used to set the current drive for each LED. It's not like the traditional case of a resistor per LED connected to a constant voltage.
The currents spec'ed for that RGB LED are likely maximum currents; I would try driving it at 20mA on each color and see how it looks. Your calculations look right to me; 1k would give 18.75 mA per channel. Unfortunately, the way the driver chip is designed, you get the same current on each channel.
/mike
yea I thought R7 had to be changed. Then he said individual resistors and i had to wonder why. Yea the leds may run good at 20ma, just not as bright, but the leds is for the eyes of the skull.
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Well after hooking the leds up all 3 colors seem to work fine running on 20ma. When i am running the red led though; the red led causes channel 1 servo to chatter just a little bit. I dont know if it is because i am running on 5 volts still or not. But I guess somebody has to do it and figure out problems, or else it would never get done :).