I am a hobbyist wishing to put two LED mini lights in an ornamental project. The USB supplied output power is 5 volts. The mini LED's available are a choice of either 3 volt or 6 volt. Which should I use?

 

Nobody makes an LED with a voltage as high as 6V, maybe it is two 3V LEDs in series or a 3V LED in series with a current-limiting resistor. Two 3V LEDs in series might not light up when fed only 5V.
An LED is fed a limited current, not a voltage. A series resistor changes the voltage into a limited current.
Please post a link to the sales sheet or datasheet for the LED mini lights.

 

I am a hobbyist wishing to put two LED mini lights in an ornamental project. The USB supplied output power is 5 volts. The mini LED's available are a choice of either 3 volt or 6 volt. Which should I use?

We need more information. No bare LEDs are available to operate at 6V, and none are exactly 3V.

What color are the LEDs? Do they have integral current limiting resistors?

 

We need more information. No bare LEDs are available to operate at 6V, and none are exactly 3V.

What color are the LEDs? Do they have integral current limiting resistors?

Thank you Dennis, I will take a different approach and connect led strips made for USB connection.

 

Nobody makes an LED with a voltage as high as 6V, maybe it is two 3V LEDs in series or a 3V LED in series with a current-limiting resistor. Two 3V LEDs in series might not light up when fed only 5V.
An LED is fed a limited current, not a voltage. A series resistor changes the voltage into a limited current.
Please post a link to the sales sheet or datasheet for the LED mini lights.

Will rethink thanks and use USB to LED strip lighting. They are to go inside large seashells.

 

Thank you Dennis, I will take a different approach and connect led strips made for USB connection.

Do you really want them to require a power adapter? My Wife has a half dozen LED candles on the fireplace mantle and piano. It'd be a big pain if they needed power routed to them.

 

Do you really want them to require a power adapter? My Wife has a half dozen LED candles on the fireplace mantle and piano. It'd be a big pain if they needed power routed to them.

Yes, the project involves the need for automatic timer on and off scenario thanks.

 

Yes, the project involves the need for automatic timer on and off scenario thanks.

The timer in the LED candles is pretty simple. In the timer mode, they turn on for several hours (maybe 4), then turn off and turn on again 24 hours after they were first turned on.

They have a microcontroller and operate from 2 AA batteries.

 

The timer in the LED candles is pretty simple. In the timer mode, they turn on for several hours (maybe 4), then turn off and turn on again 24 hours after they were first turned on.

They have a microcontroller and operate from 2 AA batteries.

Thanks Dennis, that is an option then and perhaps quite a good one. I shall have a look thank you.