I should know this... but right now I'm sitting at work scratching my head and wishing I could go home and test it. I'm working on ideas for my next simple project, putting LEDs into a 1:18 scale model car. I was thinking about doing turn signals, and using either blinking LEDs or a 555 chip; but would eliminate the ability to have the corner markers or parking lights running steady with the head lights unless I used to two LEDs... and space is at a premium.
Would it be possible to hook an LED to the power source with two different jumpers and two different resistors and put a switch on one jumper? One jumper could connect to the LED with its proper resistance for normal forward voltage and current; the other could be connected with more resistance to lower voltage/current and thus lower its brightness. The lower resistance jumper (or the bright jumper) could have a switch in it to open its path and send current through the dim jumper. When the switch is closed though the current would travel through the less resistance of the bright jumper.
That way with the press of a button one LED could be either bright or dim. It just seems way too simple though... and I'm sure there is something I'm missing that makes it impossible; and its driving me crazy trying to figure out what.
I hope what I said makes sense. I wish I had a way to make a diagram of what I'm talking about. Even if no one can figure out what I'm trying to say, I'm appreciative of you reading!
Would it be possible to hook an LED to the power source with two different jumpers and two different resistors and put a switch on one jumper? One jumper could connect to the LED with its proper resistance for normal forward voltage and current; the other could be connected with more resistance to lower voltage/current and thus lower its brightness. The lower resistance jumper (or the bright jumper) could have a switch in it to open its path and send current through the dim jumper. When the switch is closed though the current would travel through the less resistance of the bright jumper.
That way with the press of a button one LED could be either bright or dim. It just seems way too simple though... and I'm sure there is something I'm missing that makes it impossible; and its driving me crazy trying to figure out what.
I hope what I said makes sense. I wish I had a way to make a diagram of what I'm talking about. Even if no one can figure out what I'm trying to say, I'm appreciative of you reading!