Advice on lighted panel construction.

[TigersharkBAS]

He he...sorry man! I only just researched this and discovered them yesterday! Does it make you feel better that I posted as soon as I learnt about them? :)

[TigersharkBAS]

Pics or it didn't happen! :D

 

:D

 

OK...there are LEDs that look like bars...this is one option eg.

https://www.distrelec.ch/led-light-bars-super-red-5-x-22-mm/kingbright/l-865-4idt/254667/en

 

 

This looked interesting:

https://www.distrelec.ch/light-conducting-window-material/clarex/dr-ii-705b-260x380x2/650925/en

 

There are also LED arrays

https://www.distrelec.ch/led-array-yellow-4-leds/signal-construct/zsxt-041/630993/en

 

And these fiber optic doohickies look like this (they are called Light Guides):

https://www.distrelec.ch/light-guide-10-way/mentor/1278-1010/631276/en

http://www.mentor-components.com/en/

[TigersharkBAS]

Nice job RK, the light distribution is nice and even and I don't see any bleed.. pretty good imo.

 

btw, you guys that are conneting resistors to each LED may want to check out this handy little tool...

 

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

 

I figured out I can drive 4 LED's with a single 1 Ohm resistor, based on an array of 100 LED's

 

 

Hey nobrot...can you explain how you got that from the wizard? It looks interesting but I'm not sure how to interpret it correctly.

[Hansolo]

Very nice looking RK :thumbup:

 

Cheers

Hans

[TigersharkBAS]

RK...re: the grey enclosure. Actually....it might be more realistic. These panels are after all bolted on to a light gray frame :-) It's just that there are so many bolted together that we don't see the gray from above the panels in the cockpit.

[nobrot]

Hey nobrot...can you explain how you got that from the wizard? It looks interesting but I'm not sure how to interpret it correctly.

 

I am going to be using the white LED's from Groovy Game Gear, and the specs for those is

 

LED Voltage 3.0-3.5v

Current 20ma

 

I will be using a 12v DC power source, so in the wizard I put the following in.

 

Source Voltage: 12

diode forward voltage: 3

diode forward current (mA): 20

number of LED's : 100 (complete guess)

 

However, whilst researching the LED I spotted that my LED's are coming with their own resistors anyway, so I will be using those...

[agrasyuk]

With string of 4 LEDs in series each one is slightly undervolted when connected to 12v supply, so 1ohm resistor is there just to be all proper about it. I actually ommited the resistor altogether. Its not fully bright but as you can see on pictures above will still require dimming. All my panels are lit by number of such strings. For 12v one can tap into PSU of the PC, just put a miles connector to one of the unused HDD power plugs

[romeokilo]

Awesome job RK! How did you place the LEDs do you need to drill the plexiglass or glue them on?

 

Thanks! Drilled 3mm holes in the plastic and the LED's fit in so snugly no glue is required. A little bit of force required to remove it but the whole circuit just pops out and retains its shape.

 

 

 

Edit: one little hint, you possibly are aware but the fuel panel would be better placed in front of your throttles.

 

 

Yep, I'm aware but i just don't have the desk space. If i mount it up front the landing gear panel and AHCP will foul on my monitors.

 

Nice job RK, the light distribution is nice and even and I don't see any bleed.. pretty good imo.

 

btw, you guys that are conneting resistors to each LED may want to check out this handy little tool...

 

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

 

I figured out I can drive 4 LED's with a single 1 Ohm resistor, based on an array of 100 LED's

 

Thanks! I did actually use that tool and with a 5V source it recommended to use a resistor on each LED.

 

Very nice looking RK :thumbup:

 

Cheers

Hans

Cheers! :thumbup:

 

 

 

Just got my LED's so working on the ELEC PWR panel right now :thumbup:

[romeokilo]

ELEC PWR done!

 

More LED's-

 

Panel broken down-

 

Holes drilled-

The circuit-

 

Works!-

[JaseGill]

Romeo,

Where did you get the Standoff pillars for the panels?

Did you make them or are they a standard size from a supplier/

I was thinking of making my own from Nylon rod stock but if I can buy them and save some time that'd be much better.

Thanks in advance,

J.

[nobrot]

RK, thanks for the pics, its very informative, and is adding to my piles of info for my panel designs... thanks, its looking good. The only thing I would change would be to change the blanking/masking plate so that the light did not bleed into the switch holes... but thats just me being picky!!

[TigersharkBAS]

Seeing all those resistors makes me think it might be better buying LEDs with built in resistors.