LCD LED backlight question

Jan 08, 2007 8 Replies

Hi,



I just installed this LCD:



formatting link



to replace the dead one in an Alesis QuadraVerb (this doesn't really matter, it's more of a generic question).



The LCD display itself work fine but to get power to the backlight I ran the 5V source and ground that supplies the LCD part to the LED blacklight and it works too. However I'm wondering if I need to add a resistor to limit the current to the backlight like I normally would with regular 5mm LED. I've read the specs on the backlight but they aren't given as simply as:



# 30mA (max) # Typical Voltage is 2.0, with a maximum voltage of 2.8V



like I'm used to.



Can anyone point me in the correct direction?



Thanks!



Reply =BB



See page 11 of the spec sheet. VF(typ) = 4.1V @ IF = 112ma.

So you will need a series resistor sized to drop .9V at 112ma.

James T. White

Thanks! That's actually what I thought but I wasn't sure I was reading that correctly on the spec sheet. So an 8 ohm resistor is the way to go? I assume a 1/4w would be fine?

Thanks again

In a pinch you can start with a 500 ohm or so pot, then set it to max resistance, measure the current with a DMM and adjust the pot to get the desired current/brightness and then disconnect the pot, measure the resistance of that and choose a fixed resistor as close as you can get.

1/4W should be plenty, 1/8W should work too.

Since I use this thing in the dark mostly I would lean towards the brightest I could get out of it which would be at a resistance of 0. hehe Obviously that's not a good idea. Do you think the 8 ohms would give me the best brightness and still protect the LED enough? I've got

10ohms resistors (1/8 and 1/4W) laying around so I may toss one of those in and call it done. How does that sound?

Thanks again!

Measure the current, don't exceed 20mA or the LED will not last long.

Don't I want (nominally) 112mA?

I put a 10 ohm resistor in and get 90mA on the ammeter. Nice bright backlight too.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required