Here is a good site on LEDs.
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htm
LED headlights
Re: LED headlights
Thanks Colibri,
I followed a link from that site you gave to www.superbrightleds.com.
It appears that the LED prices from superbrightleds.com is *MUCH* cheaper than the Radio Shack.
For example,
The white 5mm LED from Radio Shack (3.6 V, 20mA, 1100mcd) was $4.99.
A white 5mm LED from superbrightleds.com (3.5 V, 20mA, 2500mcd) is $1.38
Here's a link to the white 5mm LED from superbrightleds.com:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/w5_specs.htm
Not sure how much shipping costs, but I think I'll refrain from opening the remaining Radio Shack LEDs and order some from superbrightleds.com
I didn't know what viewing angle was. Here's a link I found that explains it: http://www.grandwell.com/vw_angle.htm
I followed a link from that site you gave to www.superbrightleds.com.
It appears that the LED prices from superbrightleds.com is *MUCH* cheaper than the Radio Shack.
For example,
The white 5mm LED from Radio Shack (3.6 V, 20mA, 1100mcd) was $4.99.
A white 5mm LED from superbrightleds.com (3.5 V, 20mA, 2500mcd) is $1.38
Here's a link to the white 5mm LED from superbrightleds.com:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/w5_specs.htm
Not sure how much shipping costs, but I think I'll refrain from opening the remaining Radio Shack LEDs and order some from superbrightleds.com
I didn't know what viewing angle was. Here's a link I found that explains it: http://www.grandwell.com/vw_angle.htm
Re: LED headlights
Well, one advantage that the Radio Shack LED I mentioned above has a 100* viewing angle is whereas the one from superbrightleds.com is only 45*.
I suspect that the two won't appear to be all that different though because the LED from superbrightleds.com has an intensity of 2500mcd (more than twice the intensity of the 1100mcd intensity of the Radio Shack LED).
So, I somewhat expect the greater intensity to sort of offset the smaller viewing angle.
But, I'm new to all this, so what do I know. I always thought electricity was magic, anyhow.
I suspect that the two won't appear to be all that different though because the LED from superbrightleds.com has an intensity of 2500mcd (more than twice the intensity of the 1100mcd intensity of the Radio Shack LED).
So, I somewhat expect the greater intensity to sort of offset the smaller viewing angle.
But, I'm new to all this, so what do I know. I always thought electricity was magic, anyhow.