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View Full Version : LED Help...

Ttop191
12-11-2009, 02:32 PM
Is there any way to tell the usage of an LED short of testing it, I just pulled out one from a light up pen and was wondering how i could find out :lol:
cherrington17
12-11-2009, 05:22 PM
nope. connect it to a AA battery. if it lights up, its good. if it doesn't, its not.
Kilroy
12-11-2009, 06:35 PM
You could always use the diode test feature of a multimeter, after all, LED means Light Emitting DIODE. Also, if you just have a regular multimeter, just test the resistance of the LED, but test it both ways. If you get high resistance both ways, chances are it is blown. If you get low resistance both ways, chances are it is shorted. If you get high one way, then low the other, chances are it works. Of course Cherri's idea of the battery does sound easier.
Ttop191
12-11-2009, 06:52 PM
ok, i'm sure i have some batteries lying around :D
cherrington17
12-11-2009, 06:54 PM
make sure to test the battery first. if its dead, obviously it won't work.
Ttop191
12-11-2009, 06:58 PM
God, I should have known a smart-ass comment would follow :thumb:
cherrington17
12-11-2009, 07:14 PM
God, I should have known a smart-ass comment would follow :thumb:

hey... know who your dealing with... :lol:
Kilroy
12-11-2009, 07:59 PM
God, I should have known a smart-ass comment would follow :thumb:

I was a technician in the Canadian Army, and you'd be surprised how much equipement I got in my shop and the only fault was the batteries where dead. They'd turn it on, try thy the other set of dead batteries in the case, and then figure it didn't work. It is an easy, and VERY common mistake. 2nd only to "leaving the lens cap on"!! :yahoo:
cherrington17
12-11-2009, 08:03 PM
I was a technician in the Canadian Army, and you'd be surprised how much equipement I got in my shop and the only fault was the batteries where dead. They'd turn it on, try thy the other set of dead batteries in the case, and then figure it didn't work. It is an easy, and VERY common mistake. @nd only to "leaving the lens cap on"!! :yahoo:

same here at ratshack.
Them: "i just put new batteries in it!"
*tests batteries*
Me: "...you put 8 DEAD batteries in it..."
Ttop191
12-11-2009, 09:44 PM
Yea, I've gotten about 6 free MAGLITEs because of idiots who return them with dead batteries :nuts: