LED not quite super bright

crispae · Post by **crispae** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:24 pm

I received a matrix orbital MX212 the other day (the USB one) and have installed it and it runs almost perfectly.

My problem is with the GPOs. I have a blue super bright LED that I want to use for mail notification. WHen I first plugged it in I oddly enough had a nice and bright blue LED shinning at me all the time. I discovered later that this was because the first pow of pins on the GPO column is a standard 5v out. No worried there. I switched the led connector down to the next row and the LED now lights up when I get new mail - but quite dimly.

When the LED was hooked up to the power output pins it was of a nice brightness - now, when hooked up to GPO 1 it is really only just visible when lit.

The stats of the LED are: 3.8v, 20mA.
I have both the USB power and floppy connector power hooked up.

How could I hook this LED to the GPO's to have it shine at full brightness when activated?

Post by **Henry** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 12:29 pm

All I can think of is that since you connected the LED to the +5V line direct you might have damaged the LED. Since where you connected it has no current limiting, the LED probably got way to bright and way to hot, and damaged it. All I can say is try another one. (I know the blues are expencive)

crispae · Post by **crispae** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:37 pm

That seemed to be the problem! I went and replaced it with my second LED (I bought the LED in a pack of 2) and now it is shinning nice and bright!

Thanks for the help!

Post by **Henry** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:58 pm

NP, don't forget the pics in the gallery!!!