[Shotimes] how do flashers work?

Donald Mallinson dmall@mwonline.net
Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:51:13 -0500


I appreciate the lesson, but I think you just said that as a light, the 
LED is very LOW resistance, and thus my first statement would be 
correct.  Yes? No? 

Don


James F. Ryan III wrote:

>>Then please help me understand.  LED's put out much more light with a
>>lot less electricity.
>>    
>>
>
>Absolutely correct.  LED's are MUCH more efficient at converting heat into
>light than their incandescent counterparts.  That's just technology, my
>friend, not black magic.
>
>
>
>  
>
>>They also require a resister in-line to make them equal the resistance
>>of the older incandescent bulb.
>>    
>>
>
>No.  They require a resistor to limit the current so they don't damage
>themselves.
>
>
>
>  
>
>>If they have much higher
>>resistance, then why do they light up brighter and quicker with less
>>juice?
>>    
>>
>
>You struck upon the very definition of a SEMI-conductor - a device that can
>act as both a conductor and an insulator (but not at the same time).
>Normally it has a very HIGH resistance and acts like an INSULATOR.  However,
>when you forward-bias the device (connect + battery to + lead of diode,
>and - battery to - lead of diode) it will magically become a CONDUTOR at a
>very low voltage of approx 0.7V.  Now the LED/diode has a very LOW
>resistance and must be protected with a properly sized current-limiting
>resistor.
>
>
>
>I thought the higher the resistance, the higher the ohms of
>  
>
>>resistance?
>>    
>>
>
>Yup.
>
>
>
>  
>
>>Just asking
>>
>>Don
>>
>>James F. Ryan III wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>>The LED's have a much lower resistance to electricity as I understand
>>>>it, thus it is like opening up a water faucet from a slow drip to
>>>>flood.  Things move faster!  :)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>LED's have a MUCH HIGHER resistance.  High resistance = not a good
>>>      
>>>
>conductor
>  
>
>>>= very little current flow.
>>>
>>>LED's and diodes are classified as SEMI-conductors (that's an easy memory
>>>aid).
>>>      
>>>
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>>    
>>
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