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dheck123 · 10-13-2013, 08:53 PM

Need help:

Can use individual 3528 leds on the blades.

kavic5150 · 10-13-2013, 09:15 PM

On my larger night blades I've used 5050 and bigger leds with no problem. So for blades 325mm and bigger you'll be ok.

Are these leds that were desoldered from a 12v led strip? If so just use the normal values for leds, 20ma current draw and use 91ohm for red/yellow/orange, 8 to 28ohm for blue/purple/UV and 28 to 56 ohm for white/green. Lower value resistors make the leds brighter and 1/4 watt 0805 or 1210 SMD resistors will do just fine.

Or you could skip the led resistor calculator and use one of these for each led.

http://lighthouseleds.com/20ma-led-current-limiter-driver.html

I havent tried these myself so maybe someone else can offer an opinion on them.

dheck123 · 10-13-2013, 11:50 PM

Can I use stock Align carbon fiber blades or do I had to find old woodies??

kavic5150 · 10-14-2013, 12:20 AM

CF blades will do just fine. What you have to watch out for is any parts of the blade that may have bare carbon fiber since its partially conductive. Use the ohms beep setting of a multimeter and check out those Align blades first.

Its usually the trailing edge and that inside curve near the root that has the exposed CF. A tiny square of scotch tape will insulate the copper tape and prevent shorting.

Here's a good thread on the topic.

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=495423

dheck123 · 10-14-2013, 12:14 PM

Kavic510:

thanks so much for all you help. One more question, what batteries should I use to make my 325mm DIY night blades and where do you buy them.

dheck123 · 10-14-2013, 01:03 PM

Kavic5150:
I just found this battery (EFLB0701S) on horizon hobby web site. Check it out let me know if you think these will work to power 5 3528 LED's per blade.

kavic5150 · 10-14-2013, 07:12 PM

That would work but you might not get much run time with 5 leds and 70mah. I've used up to 130mah on 360mm blades. Maybe 100 to 120mah would be better.

Just search ebay for 3.7v lipo and sort by cheapest first.

Also most ebay single cell lipos have a little circuit board on them. I think its low voltage protection. I desolder those since they arent needed. If any blue or white leds start to dim in flight, its time to land.

10-13-2013, 08:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
dheck123 Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2011	3528 LED's on blade Need help: Can use individual 3528 leds on the blades.

10-13-2013, 11:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
dheck123 Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2011	align blades Can I use stock Align carbon fiber blades or do I had to find old woodies??

10-14-2013, 12:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
kavic5150 Banned User Join Date: Jan 2010	CF blades will do just fine. What you have to watch out for is any parts of the blade that may have bare carbon fiber since its partially conductive. Use the ohms beep setting of a multimeter and check out those Align blades first. Its usually the trailing edge and that inside curve near the root that has the exposed CF. A tiny square of scotch tape will insulate the copper tape and prevent shorting. Here's a good thread on the topic. https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=495423 Last edited by kavic5150; 10-14-2013 at 05:55 AM..

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10-13-2013, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
kavic5150 Banned User Join Date: Jan 2010	On my larger night blades I've used 5050 and bigger leds with no problem. So for blades 325mm and bigger you'll be ok. Are these leds that were desoldered from a 12v led strip? If so just use the normal values for leds, 20ma current draw and use 91ohm for red/yellow/orange, 8 to 28ohm for blue/purple/UV and 28 to 56 ohm for white/green. Lower value resistors make the leds brighter and 1/4 watt 0805 or 1210 SMD resistors will do just fine. Or you could skip the led resistor calculator and use one of these for each led. http://lighthouseleds.com/20ma-led-current-limiter-driver.html I havent tried these myself so maybe someone else can offer an opinion on them.

10-14-2013, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
dheck123 Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2011	Kavic510: thanks so much for all you help. One more question, what batteries should I use to make my 325mm DIY night blades and where do you buy them.

10-14-2013, 01:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
dheck123 Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2011	Kavic5150: I just found this battery (EFLB0701S) on horizon hobby web site. Check it out let me know if you think these will work to power 5 3528 LED's per blade.

10-14-2013, 07:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
kavic5150 Banned User Join Date: Jan 2010	That would work but you might not get much run time with 5 leds and 70mah. I've used up to 130mah on 360mm blades. Maybe 100 to 120mah would be better. Just search ebay for 3.7v lipo and sort by cheapest first. Also most ebay single cell lipos have a little circuit board on them. I think its low voltage protection. I desolder those since they arent needed. If any blue or white leds start to dim in flight, its time to land.

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