Maker Pro
Maker Pro

My first circuit

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
Hi
I'm brand new to electronics and no idea what I'm doing
I'm thinking of making this circuit. The power supply is a USB cable, about 5V and about 500mA. Each diode (they're LEDs by the way) are 20mA and 3-3.5 V each. Will this circuit work or do I need any sort of resistors or anything? Also if I add in a variable resistor will that allow me to change the brightness of the LEDs?
Any help appreciated
Thans
Sam
 

Attachments

  • circuit.jpg
    circuit.jpg
    18 KB · Views: 121

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
hi there

welcome to the forums :)

just take the top row of 4 LED's for a start
you said they are 3 - 3.5V each.
Work out the total voltage and then tell me why that wont work off 5 V ;)

Dave
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
I'd forgotten about the anode and catode on the diagram, I know the way the negatives and positives that should go in relation to eachother. Assuming all those are correct is would it work?
Thanks
Sam
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
I'd forgotten about the anode and catode on the diagram, I know the way the negatives and positives that should go in relation to eachother. Assuming all those are correct is would it work?
Thanks
Sam

hi Sam

Yup OK so as Bob said, your sets of LED's are reversed .... just change the polarity of the battery to solve that

BUT still ... no it wont, read my post above again.
you have 4 x 3V what does that equal?
you said your supply voltage is 5V

do you see the problem ?

Dave
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
Sorry dave, but you Ninja'd me. I was composing mine when you posted.

Bob

no probs :)
just a hint tho, don't always give the full answer straight away let them work it out
it just helps them to learn a little more ... rather than being spoon fed :)

see with his response he hadn't read what I said about the voltages .... lets see if he figures out his problem ;)

Dave
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
Ok, so I have 10 LEDs in total running at roughly 3V. Does that mean I need a thirty volt supply or what?
Sorry I'm a compete novice
Thanks for bearing with me
Sam
 

BobK

Jan 5, 2010
7,682
Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Messages
7,682
No, it means you cannot put them in series. They have to be in parallel and have a reistors in series with each one.

Did you bother reading the tutorial I pointed you to?

Bob
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
Yes I did, I just became lost after a few lines. My only electronics experience is a short Unit on it in GCSE physics which isn't much use, I read the parts of the tutorial which were about what I needed and didn't understand, hence I came back here.
Thanks though :)
And thanks for that advice too, I understand what I need to do now and how it will work :).
Sorry for my cluelessness (if that's a word)
Thanks alot again
Sam
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
after listening to what you've both said, had another look at that tutorial and after finding a couple of equations online. I have come up with this, does it look anybetter and does the resistance of my resistors look realistic ie will they work do you think?
Sorry for going on about this
Thanks a lot
Sam
 

Attachments

  • circuit.jpg
    circuit.jpg
    48 KB · Views: 93

BobK

Jan 5, 2010
7,682
Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Messages
7,682
Much better! That will work, assuming your power supply can supply 200mA.

Bob
 

duke37

Jan 9, 2011
5,364
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
5,364
To get positive at the top,which is the norm, the battery has to be inverted.

The leds will then conduct. The arrows should point down to conduct in pnp or npn transistors or leds.
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
Thank you both for bearing with me
You've helped me a lot
I couldn't complete my project without your help
Thanks
Sam
 

BobK

Jan 5, 2010
7,682
Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Messages
7,682
I can't believe I missed that the polarity was still wrong.

Bob
 

completenovice

Jun 23, 2013
8
Joined
Jun 23, 2013
Messages
8
Oh yes I've seen it now. It's just that the LEDs should be the other way right? + to + and - to -. I've got them the oppisite way
Is that the problem
Thanks
Sam
 
Top