Wiring multiple LED's to one 12V DC power source

Thread Starter

spinnerrulz94

Joined Apr 11, 2011
7
So to start, I know almost nothing about LEDs, and neither does anyone else doing this project. Since I'm the only one who knows how to use a soldering gun, I'm the one assigned to do it.

Right now, I have 3 different types of LED's. Aqua, Pink, and Green. I have a "high performance" 110AC to 12DC converter.

I have about 30 each of the LEDs and I would like to wire them all into this one power source.

First, do I connect them in parallel or series?

Second, Do I need a bread board? Or can I just solderer them all to one wire?

Third, besides LEDS and resistors, are there any other supplies I need for the circuit?

I really don't know how I would go about doing this, or if it is even possible? Was hoping for some help on here.

Thanks for your help in this matter!
 

Wendy

Joined Mar 24, 2008
23,415
LEDs, 555s, Flashers, and Light Chasers

Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 (first half) are tutorials on LEDs.

The main thing you need is a stable power supply. 9V batteries shift their voltages radically, dropping quickly to 7V (and the are still considered fresh at this point). You just have to design around them.

Another very recent thread was asking pretty much the same question, so my reply looks very similar to both.
 

Thread Starter

spinnerrulz94

Joined Apr 11, 2011
7
Well to start, I have a stable power supply I will be using. It's taking a standard house current and converting it into 12V of DC power.

I read the article you mentioned, but I guess I just dont understand. It's not possible to link that many to a source? I can't parallel link them, so how do I connect them all to a source? Or will I need more than one source?

Also, there is going to be quite a bit of wiring that is connecting the LEDs to the power supply. Does the long wire affect anything?
 

Wendy

Joined Mar 24, 2008
23,415
The article has schematics that describe exactly what you are asking. Displaying the illustrations, what is it you don't understand?



Are you having trouble understanding the schematics? Serious question, no sarcasm intended.

Some electronics cares about long wires. LEDs are not one of them.
 

russpatterson

Joined Feb 1, 2010
353
All the info is in those articles. Try to think of it like this. Each LED is going to "use up" some voltage. That's called the forward voltage drop or Vf. So, for example if Vf on your LED was 3.0V, you could connect 4 in series to your 12V supply (3x4=12). It's not that simple though. You should have at least one ballast resistor (Google calculating voltage drop across a resistor, once you understand that the rest should fall into place).

So if you had 3 LED's in series with your resistor, then to use 30 LED's you'd have 10 strings of 3. Each string is in parallel to the next string, the LED's in a single string are in series.
 

Thread Starter

spinnerrulz94

Joined Apr 11, 2011
7
So for the sake of simplicity here... It I wanted to string 30 red leds, I could do so by stringing three in paralell to a single wire that has the power running to it? I of course would need a resistor in there. Then just wire ten "strands" of three to the wire?

Now I'm running into another question. I have a 3 amp push-button switch that I want to use to be able to turn the LEDs on and off. Am I going to run into a problem with the switch, or do I just wire it in and have no problems doing so?

Now, an LED has two legs, one positive and one negative. To wire in paralell, I solder the positive legs end to end? Then, what do I do with the negative legs? How do I ground the LEDs?
 

russpatterson

Joined Feb 1, 2010
353
Well, you need to get some info about the LED's you are using. I used 3.0V for Vf as an example. Your LED's are probably different. Look at the example schematic that Bill Marsden posted. The picture on the left has only one LED and one resistor. The schematic on the right has two strings of LED's in parallel. One string starts with R1 at the top and one string has R2 at the top. The arrow looking symbol at the bottom of each string represents ground. So everywhere you see that means you connect that wire to the ground, or negative, of your supply.

Notice how he uses a much smaller value resistor when he's got the three LED's in series?

Technically LED's don't have positive and negative. They have Anodes and Cathodes. The Anode is usually the longer of the two leads and you connect that to the positive supply (if you want them to light up) and the shorter Cathode to the ground of your supply.

So start by finding the info (datasheet) for your LED's, then you can figure out how many and what resistor goes in each string. You want to learn the Vf and the current at that voltage.

I expect that you're 3A switch will be sufficient but without knowing what LED's you're using there's no way to be sure.

You should read that article that Bill posted. You shouldn't solder the legs together. Each string needs it's own ballast resistor. If you just use one resistor then some LED's will pull more current than the others and burn out sooner.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Well, first you need to know what your LED's typical Vf (forward voltage) at their rated current.

A typical red LED might have a Vf of 2v at 20mA current. However, you really need to find out what your particular LED's specifications are; normally shown in a datasheet.

Then you can calculate how many LEDs you can operate in a series string. Basically, calculate that as:
Max_LEDs_in_series = Integer((Vsupply-1v)/LED_Vf)
So, if Vsupply = 12v and your LED Vf is 2v, then:
Max_LEDs_in_series = Integer((12-1v)/2v)
Max_LEDs_in_series = Integer(11/2)
Max_LEDs_in_series = Integer(5.5)
Max_LEDs_in_series = 5 (you round it down)

Then you need to calculate what value current limiting resistor to use in the series string.
Rlimit >= (Vsupply - (LED_Vf *LED_count))/Desired_Current
Rlimit >= (12v - (2v * 5))/20mA
Rlimit >= (12v - 10v)/20mA
Rlimit >= 2v/0.02A
Rlimit >= 100 Ohms.
100 Ohms is a standard value of resistance.
A standard table of resistance is here:
http://www.logwell.com/tech/components/resistor_values.html
Bookmark that page. Use the green E24 columns.
If there were not a standard resistance value that was the same as the result, you would need to go to the next higher value.

Then you need to calculate the wattage requirement for the resistor.
Power in Watts = Voltage * Current.
We know there will be a 2v drop across the resistor, and 20mA current through it. So,
P= 2v*20mA = 2*0.02 = 0.04 Watts, or 40mW. We double that for reliability, so 80mW. You can use a 1/10 Watt rated resistor or higher (1/8W, 1/4W, etc).

That is for one series string.

You can have multiple of these series strings in parallel.
 

Thread Starter

spinnerrulz94

Joined Apr 11, 2011
7
White LED’s:
-Intensity: 690mcd
- Forward Voltage: 3.6V typical, 4.0V Max @20mA
-Max Forward Current: 30mA
Aqua LED’s:
-Intensity: 4000mcd
-Forward Voltage: 3.5V @ 20mA
-Max Forward Current: 30mA

ML=X((12-1v)/3.6)
11/3.6 = 3.05
Max number of WHITE LED’s = 3

ML=X((12-1v)/3.5)
11/3.5 = 3.14
Max number of AQUA LED’s = 3
WHITE LED’S:
Rlimit >= (12v-(3.6v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.8v)/20Ma
1.2v/20mA
1.2v/.02A
Rlimit>=60 Ohms (So I would Need a 100 ohm resistor for the white LEDS?)
AQUA LED’S:
Rlimit>=(12v-(3.5v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.5v)/20mA
1.5v/20mA
1.5v/.02A
Rlimit>=75 Ohms (So once again, I would need a 100 ohm resistor for the aqua LEDS?)
WHITE LED’S:
Watts = Voltage*Current
Pw=3.6V*20mA
Pw=3.6V*.02A
Pw=.072W
.072W=72mW
(So I would need a 144mW Resistor for white)
(That means I need a 100 ohm resistor rated at 144mW?)
AQUA LED’S:
Pw=3.5V*20mA
Pw=3.5V*.02A
Pw=.07W
.07W=70mW
(So I would need a 140mW Resistor for Aqua)
(That means I need a 100 ohm resistor rated at 140mW?)

So what fraction of a Watt is 140 and 144mW?
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
WHITE LED’S:
Rlimit >= (12v-(3.6v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.8v)/20Ma
1.2v/20mA
1.2v/.02A
Rlimit>=60 Ohms (So I would Need a 100 ohm resistor for the white LEDS?)
Well, 100 Ohms would reduce your current too much.
1.2v / 100 Ohms = 12mA.
Remember that decade table of resistance values I posted the link to?
http://www.logwell.com/tech/components/resistor_values.html
If you go on there and look at the green columns, you'll notice over on the right that there is 560 and 620. If you divide those values by 10, you get 56 and 62.
56 is less than 60, so that would result in too much current. 62 Ohms is the next larger value, and it will work fine.

1.2v / 62 Ohms = 19.35mA; plenty close enough. 96.7% of 20mA.

AQUA LED’S:
Rlimit>=(12v-(3.5v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.5v)/20mA
1.5v/20mA
1.5v/.02A
Rlimit>=75 Ohms (So once again, I would need a 100 ohm resistor for the aqua LEDS?)
Nope - go back to that table of standard resistance values; you'll see 750 in the green column on the right. 750/10 = 75 Ohms, so that is a standard E24 value.

About the wattage values:
1 Watt = 1.0W or 1000mW
1/2 Watt = 0.5W or 500mW
1/4 Watt = 0.25W or 250mW
1/8 Watt = 0.125W or 125mW
1/10 Watt = 0.1W or 100mW

Doubling the actual wattage requirement is easiest to remember. However, you can use 1.6 times the result, which gives you a 60% over the required rating, which is normally plenty good enough.

Now, you kind of messed up on the power calculations; you used the LED Vf instead of (Vsupply - the total Vf's of the LEDs)
For the White LEDs, you would calculate:
Pw=1.2V*20mA*1.6
Pw=1.2V*.02A*1.6
Pw= 38.4mW; 1/10 Watt or greater would be fine.

You also need to re-calculate the aqua LED resistor power requirement.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
This is all starting to make sense!
Good. :)

I don't understand why you are dividing by 10 when figuring out the OHM values for the resistors?
That table of standard resistor values is a decade table. You can multiply or divide the numbers in the columns by powers of 10. This is explained in the 2nd paragraph on that page I posted the link to.

I'm not altering the value that I calculated for the limiting resistor; for example the 75 Ohm resistor I looked up in the table and found 750. 750/10 = 75, a match for the calculated limiting resistor value.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Ahh, no.

I'm just talking about that standard decade table of resistances.
For example, that table shows just one 750 in the green columns.
That 750 represents standard values of 0.75 Ohms, 7.5 Ohms, 75 Ohms, 750 Ohms, 7.5k Ohms, 75k Ohms, 750k Ohms, and 7.5 MegOhms; they're all powers of 10 of 750.

As far as physical resistors go, you can't substitute a 750 Ohm resistor for a 75 Ohm resistor.
 

Thread Starter

spinnerrulz94

Joined Apr 11, 2011
7
White LED’s:
-Intensity: 690mcd
- Forward Voltage: 3.6V typical, 4.0V Max @20mA
-Max Forward Current: 30mA
Aqua LED’s:
-Intensity: 4000mcd
-Forward Voltage: 3.5V @ 20mA
-Max Forward Current: 30mA

ML=X((12-1v)/3.6)
11/3.6 = 3.05
Max number of WHITE LED’s = 3

ML=X((12-1v)/3.5)
11/3.5 = 3.14
Max number of AQUA LED’s = 3
WHITE LED’S:
Rlimit >= (12v-(3.6v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.8v)/20Ma
1.2v/20mA
1.2v/.02A
Rlimit>=60 Ohms (So I would Need a 62 ohm resistor for the white LEDS?)
AQUA LED’S:
Rlimit>=(12v-(3.5v*3))/20mA
(12v-10.5v)/20mA
1.5v/20mA
1.5v/.02A
Rlimit>=75 Ohms (So I would need a 75 ohm resistor for the aqua LEDS?)
WHITE LED’S:
Watts = Voltage*Current
pW=(12-10.8)*20mA*1.6
pW=1.2V*20mA*1.6
pW=1.2V*.02A*1.6
pW= 38.4mW
AQUA LED’S:
pW=(12-10.5)*20mA*1.6
pW=1.5*20mA*1.6
pW=1.5*.02A*1.6
pW=48mW

(so I need a 1/10Watt Resistor for both of them?)
 
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

This link points to a nice resistor and schematic drawing tool.

You must know both the forward voltage and current of your LEDs.

Ordinary, nothing special LEDs are generally rated at about 20mA and about 3.3 volts except for red LEDs which are about 2 volts. The manufacturer or supplier will publish these data.

All the Best
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
spinnerrulz94
Yes, that's all correct; 62 Ohms for the white and 75 for the aqua. Note that you can use resistors of higher wattage rating, but you should not try to use lower ratings than you calculated. Basically, the higher the wattage rating of a resistor, the larger it is physically.

Radio Shack does not carry much of a selection of resistors any longer. If there are no decent electronic stores in your area, you'll need to order them online from someplace like http://www.Digikey.com or http://www.Mouser.com - they will ship SMALL orders via USPS 1st class mail, which can save you money.

Eschatonic
That LED "wizard" has some severe deficiencies. I do not recommend its' use.
I have had a series of exchanges with that websites' author, and he is not interested in updating his calculator.

For example, try: 10v supply, LEDs with a Vf of 2v at 20mA, 10 LEDs.
It will come back with 5 LEDs in two strings with a 1 Ohm resistor each, which is not correct; the LEDs' current would vary greatly over temperature and even minor fluctuations in the supply voltage.

By starting off subtracting 1v from the supply voltage, you will have sufficient "headroom" for the current limiting resistor for a regulated supply. If the supply is not well regulated, you would need to subtract more for starters.
 
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jptoutant3d

Joined Apr 16, 2021
1
Similar to the original post, looking to wire 10 x 10 leds on boards, using a 12V supply,
75 ohms resistors,

Does this circuit make sense ?


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