okay, am educating myself slowly (as time allows( on DC stuff).
First sucessfull project was an LED hood for my little 2.5 gallon aquarium. This was a victory for me when I finally made it work, so that should tell you the level I am at.
Batteries, switch, resistors and LEDs had me struggling for a bit - mostly how to arragne the LEDs, which resistors to use and which batteries to use to get me as close to supply demand as possible so I didn't waste battery charge with big resistors and burning off juice the light could actually use later. Tried to maximize the dc current stored in the battery. Dont know if that makes electronics sence or not, but it made sence to me at the time, and I think I am swapping out batteries les often.
Anyhow, want to add something (useless) to it just to learn from doing it.
Is there some way to wire an LED to indicate that the light has been shut off?
Was thinking that I could power the LED from the batteries, put the resistor on the anode, put a diode after the resistor and then ground the diode to the switched power side of the switch. Would the unpowered side of the switch provide (enough?) ground?
Thanks much (if liberal application of the 2x4 of enlightenment is needed, please apply liberally)
First sucessfull project was an LED hood for my little 2.5 gallon aquarium. This was a victory for me when I finally made it work, so that should tell you the level I am at.
Batteries, switch, resistors and LEDs had me struggling for a bit - mostly how to arragne the LEDs, which resistors to use and which batteries to use to get me as close to supply demand as possible so I didn't waste battery charge with big resistors and burning off juice the light could actually use later. Tried to maximize the dc current stored in the battery. Dont know if that makes electronics sence or not, but it made sence to me at the time, and I think I am swapping out batteries les often.
Anyhow, want to add something (useless) to it just to learn from doing it.
Is there some way to wire an LED to indicate that the light has been shut off?
Was thinking that I could power the LED from the batteries, put the resistor on the anode, put a diode after the resistor and then ground the diode to the switched power side of the switch. Would the unpowered side of the switch provide (enough?) ground?
Thanks much (if liberal application of the 2x4 of enlightenment is needed, please apply liberally)