Checking An LED

Ask and answer questions, share tips and resources for installing lighting and other electronics in your models.

Moderators: Sparky, Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Disillusionist
Posts: 1134
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2003 10:11 pm
Location: Closer than you think

Checking An LED

Post by Disillusionist »

Got a mystery LED laying about? Not sure what the forward voltage is? Stick it in a curve tracer and find out! This one looks like 3.3 volts at 20mA.

Tracer

I love surplus store finds like this one! :wink: \:D/ \:D/
User avatar
Pat Amaral
Posts: 3730
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 2:44 pm
Location: Ok, I'm here. You can start now

Post by Pat Amaral »

I kick myself every time the subject of oscilloscopes comes up. :evil:

I worked at a technical college a few years ago. They had a pretty nice dual-trace scope from one of the electronics labs that the facilities manager couldn't figure out how to fix. He let me have it so I took it home and opened it up. It turned out to just be a disconnected plug. So I had a fully functioning, $400 o'scope to play with.

A few years later, I hadn't been using it much so my wife talked me into puting it out during a yard sale. She ended up selling it for $20 when I wasn't looking. :roll: I really wish I still had that thing. Somebody got a really good deal.
Pat A.
=============================
50% Nerd, 50% Geek, 100% Cool
jwrjr

Post by jwrjr »

3.3 v.? Sounds like white, blue, or maybe green.

As for a 'scope, that is my most important troubleshooting tool. It can tell you more than any meter if you know what to look for.
Post Reply