Help with lighting/electronics

[D_Menace]

Hi all,

I'd like to try my hand at lighting up a kit. I have no experience with electronics, so I'm thinking maybe I need a tutorial or a simple book on wiring? Can any of you recommend sources?

For my build, I think I would just need 2 to 3 LEDs. Pretty simple stuff (I'm assuming), but down the line I'd love to do multiple LEDs, strobes, etc.

Thanks in advance!

-Dennis

[Moongrim]

Well I would've suggested Radio Shack, but they appear to be going out of business.
The Engineer's Mini-notebooks from Radio Shack would be a good start.
https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threa ... -iii.6909/
You can also find them in pdf form downloadable for free.

https://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/techmain.htm
scroll down to the electronics part.

Basic soldering.
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... soldering/

I've lit up a 1/350 enterprise with a circuit set from Madman's Lighting.
https://www.allscaletrek.com/viewtopic.p ... 350#p23447

I've also lit up a 1/1000 Bonaventure with my own 'design'.
https://www.allscaletrek.com/viewtopic.p ... onaventure

It is most rewarding.

[D_Menace]

Moongrim,

This is awesome - thank you! Now, I just need to troll the other messages to find the best place to pick up some LED's.

Happy modeling!
Dennis

[Moongrim]

If you can get to radio shack before they shut down completely, they've been selling their stock at a big discount.

[D_Menace]

If you can get to radio shack before they shut down completely, they've been selling their stock at a big discount.

Moongrim,

On your advice, I just visited a Radio Shack near where I work. No luck on any deals (this one isn't closing), but I did see up close the strip LEDs many on this forum seem to be using. I understand segments can be cut, but can individual LEDs be removed? Also, can it be dimmed?

Thanks again!
Dennis

[Moongrim]

Technically one could take apart the ribbon LED strip for an individual. But I've noticed no few of them usually have 2-3 per segment. So long as you can still connect the power source to the wiring tabs/soldering, there's no reason why you couldn't be able to just use one at a time. I'd recommend clipping one of the leads to the LEDs you don't want.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRLt-fzTwg

Dimming- Shouldn't be a problem. This will require a resistor, or a variable resistor (https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... Arxy8P8HAQ)

By putting the resistor in series with the cathode of the LED you can increase the decrease the current flow by increasing the resistance of the Variable Resistor.

To gauge what level of resistance you want: Get yourself a multimeter, and a variable resistor, and some connecting clip on leads. (https://www.productsforautomation.com/mu ... Aq378P8HAQ)

Connect the power source (usually a battery) through the alligator leads through the resistor and the Led. And then adjust the variable resistor to the level of brightness you want. At that point disconnect everything and then use the multimeter to read the OHM/resistance of the variable resistor- THAT reading will give you the resistance you want of a static resistor to solder in for the leds.

I hope that makes sense.

[emptyoftheface]

Moongrim,

This is awesome - thank you! Now, I just need to troll the other messages to find the best place to pick up some LED's.

Dennis

I've had good luck with digikey.com