flyboy56 Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 I have an idea for a household item, and want to add some leds to it. I do not know what I will need to do this. I would like them to be fairly bright white leds. I can find the leds but need help with what other things I will need. Any help I can get will be great.You can email me if you like.Thanks againJohn[email protected] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwaterwizard Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Here you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 I am a newbie to all this symbol stuff, but I think I can figure that out, it looks simple enough. Is there a recommended place to buy supplies?thanks againJohn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 i would like it if someone could tell me their fav. place on line to find the items here i need. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 You can buy these parts at your local Radio Shack. Depends upon where you live.Online, my most common sources are:www.digikey.comwww.mouser.comwww.circuitspecialists.comwww.allelectronics.comI would also like to insert a little warning here, though. If you are not familiar enough with electronics to know what the symbols mean in the above schematic, should you really be taking on a circuit with mains power as a beginner project? Mains power can kill you.MP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'm not planning on building this by myself, I have a buddy that was an electronics man in the navy, I just need to find the parts for him. by the way that 150v capacitor is hard to find.Thanks for your concern, I have a healthy respect for electricity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Glad to hear it. I always have a concern when working on high powered circuits.In regards to the capacitors, and any of these parts for that matter, you can use higher rated parts. For example, a 220 Volt rated capacitor will work just as well at the lower voltage. This rating is a maximum voltage rating.MP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Thanks for the help, I just found a 160v cap. I have had an electronics class before, but it has been a while ago. I found it didn't stick with me after a few years of non use.Thanks again.I hope this little invention pays off for all the work going into it. Now I have to figure out how to mold plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Here you will find the answer to molding plastic:http://www.pulsar.gs/4_si/3-UniVac/_univac_frameset.htmlWould be interested in knowing how you do when all is complete.Please let us know.MP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Thanks for the tip on the plastic molding, that looks a lot easier.I'll keep you posted on the project. Looks promising, every woman i trust, to tell has loved the idea.john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enac Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 The 1uF cap needs to be nonpolarized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy56 Posted March 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 I went back to check if the caps. i ordered are nonpolarized. I couldn't find where it said. Here is the link http://www.web-tronics.com/19fs001.html If anyone can find it please post that i did or did not order the right ones. They have already shipped so I will need to reorder.Thanksjohn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 John, the ones you have purchased are polarized. The black band on the side with the dashes indicates that this lead is the negative side. For the application you are using them on, I really do not see where this is going to be a problem. Perhaps someone would like to comment why these have to be non polarized to light an LED?MP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwriter Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 It has nothing to do with the circuit operation. A polarised capacitor needs a net voltage applied in the correct polarity to maintain the electrolytic. This circuit is AC so a non-polarised capacitor is required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 2old4digital Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 The Radio Shack inthe town I live in ( over 80;000 peps ) has taken out just about all the comonents like that all they have left is switchs and that kind of stuff so Radio Shack in in the sack for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audioguru Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Perhaps someone would like to comment why these have to be non polarized to light an LED?The circuit uses the reactance of the capacitor to efficiently reduce the current, thefore it has a high AC voltage across it.Each half-cycle of the mains, the voltage across the capacitor reverses its polarity. Polarized electrolytic capacitors conduct a high leakage current with reversed polarity and they might explode! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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