Where to get LED's and transistors?

Zenbaas

Zenbaas

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Where to get LED's and resistors?

I was wondering if anyone know of a physical shop/s in JHB area that sells LEDS and transistors eg. electronics stores.?

I read the latest PCformat and was thinking of maybe modding my case with some LED goodness.(or just playing with them :D)

Any suggestions appreciated.
 
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If you're successful, will you post a pic up? (even if it's a total flop)?

Or, better still, do a blog about it :D
 
The_Librarian said:
If you're successful, will you post a pic up? (even if it's a total flop)?

Or, better still, do a blog about it :D
Click to expand...

LOL...a blog about me electrocuting myself :D Actually i was just thinking of maybe adding some LED's to the underside of my case to give it a blue glow. My case is already elevated about 2cm above the table so it has the potential to look quite nice :p
 
These chaps on Bid or Buy are selling the following - not sure if they can get blue LEDs though...I got some green, red and yellow LED's from them and had no problems.

Red LED's
470 Ohm resistors
BC546(b) Transistor

Maybe they stock other electronic parts?

Otherwise maybe try buying some cheap blue LED case fans and removing the LED's...
 
Thanks. Also had a look at electronics123.co.za and they have a nice selection aswell but i just not in the mood for an online shop ATM. So you can just walk into mantech and order what you want? Not exactly my favourite part of town ;)
No other suggestions for actual physical shops?
 
If you do this project, what will you be using as the power supply for your LEDs?
 
carderne said:
If you do this project, what will you be using as the power supply for your LEDs?
Click to expand...

Use the PC supply. 12volt or 5v. Just calculate the resistance required in series with the LED with R=V/I where normally based on 20-30milliAmps per LED. R=5V/.003= 2500 or rather a 2.5K (2500ohm) resistor.
R=12/.003= 6000 ohm or 6K resistor

Normally the modern hi power LEDS have higher Amp ratings so let them give you the specs of the LED's
 
I saw communica, was thinking of maybe going there.?
@ NoADSLyet--General JHB area(parktown\Northcliff).
@ Carderne--yes you run it off a simple molex connector. Look here. This is sort of the same idea but i was thinking of putting about 6 of them spread at the bottom of the case(Like this).

Might look pretty nice i think :D And it should be cheap to do too!

@The Librarian...see lookie a preview :D :p
 
Zenbaas said:
I saw communica, was thinking of maybe going there.?
@ NoADSLyet--General JHB area(parktownNorthcliff).
@ Carderne--yes you run it off a simple molex connector. Look here. This is sort of the same idea but i was thinking of putting about 6 of them spread at the bottom of the case(Like this).

Might look pretty nice i think :D And it should be cheap to do too!

@The Librarian...see lookie a preview :D :p
Click to expand...


Problem with that is if one led fails the lot will be off or the rest will blow. Work on one resistor for 1 led. Its cheap enough.
 
NoADSLyet said:
Problem with that is if one led fails the lot will be off or the rest will blow. Work on one resistor for 1 led. Its cheap enough.
Click to expand...

You're right. Although they're pretty resistant to failing. I suppose i could try linking them in parrallel. More work but at leist if one fails the rest will remain on.
 
I've been using Yebo Electronics via their online store for about a year.. decent prices and friendly people.. :) (Even if they have the funniest looking online store)

I think they have a physical store somewhere in Joburg..

Ah yes.. it says here that they have one in "Faerie Glen" .. but I don't have a clue whereabouts that is.. :o
 
redarrow said:
I've been using Yebo Electronics via their online store for about a year.. decent prices and friendly people.. :) (Even if they have the funniest looking online store)

I think they have a physical store somewhere in Joburg..

Ah yes.. it says here that they have one in "Faerie Glen" .. but I don't have a clue whereabouts that is.. :o
Click to expand...

I think fearie glen is in PTA and not JHB. But thanks in any case :)

@ Ivan...thats just crazy amazing!
 
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Zenbaas said:
Thanks. Also had a look at electronics123.co.za and they have a nice selection aswell but i just not in the mood for an online shop ATM. So you can just walk into mantech and order what you want? Not exactly my favourite part of town ;)
No other suggestions for actual physical shops?
Click to expand...
They also have a shop somewhere in pretoria. Not sure exactly where and don't feel like searching right now. Come to think of it they still owe me two books so should probably send a mail of to them. :rolleyes:

The blue LEDs are very expensive though so be sure to have the resistors connected. It's probably best to have one in series with each LED and connect the lot in parallel but if you use one for all of them it's no biggy since they should only start failing after about 20 years of continuous use. You'll have to calculate the resistance as follows:

12V supply - ~1.8V forward voltage drop = 10.2V across resistor
assuming 10mA current for the LED the calculation would be:
R = V / I = 10.2 / 0.010 = 1020
You'll have to use the nearest value which is 1k

The shop should have the data sheet with the exact specs.
 
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Thanks prometheus, came across a nice explanation Tut here if you can call it that. Went to mantech today, and the blue LED's were quite expensive(R7 each) but the rest wasn't too bad.
 
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