LEDs are some of the primary elements in an electronics hobbyist’s toolbox, however they can be just a little bit difficult to work with. In case you have a pile of various LEDs with out datasheets (who doesn’t?), how are you aware what voltage you need to drive them at? They fluctuate extensively, and in the event you give them an excessive amount of juice, they will pop and by no means shine their stunning, brilliant gentle once more.
YouTuber Professional maker 101 got here up with a pleasant, clear answer that anybody with a soldering iron and a handful of elements might construct in a weekend. Professional maker 101’s LED tester has a set of probes that may be touched to almost any LED’s electrodes to not solely confirm that it really works, but additionally reveal its working voltage degree.
Assembling the elements (📷: Professional maker 101)
The machine is powered by a pair of 18650 Li-ion batteries related to a 2S BMS for cover. An XL6009 increase converter does a lot of the work. Together with a current-limiting resistor, the increase converter will present precisely the extent of voltage an LED requires, and no extra. A digital voltmeter shows that voltage degree, so you understand how to drive it after you could have completed testing it. Banana sockets permit probes to be connected to the machine in order that it’s simple to make contact with an LED’s electrodes.
To complete the LED tester off, the {hardware} was put in in a easy 3D-printed case. A change was put in within the facet of this case to close the ability off when it isn’t in use.
Professional maker 101 walks via the construct course of in just some minutes. In case you have the components readily available, you need to have the ability to make your personal LED tester circuit almost as quick. It’s an excellent instrument to have readily available, so you’ll be able to count on to get a few years of use out of this little machine.
