A related question to the assembly with other components

[SergiT]

Hi guys.

I'm a new costumer, from Spain, with a Consular Lightsaber. Fantastic !!!
I try mount a my custom saber.

I have a related question with the assembly Obsidian Sound Board with other components:

> Is it necessary to put a resistor between Obsidian Sound Board and the LED?
> How is mounted AV illuminated Switch? Wireframe?
> Is it necessary to put a resistor between Obsidian Sound Board and the LED of the switch?

Greeting for your reply.

[Master Artorius Vidnyl]

Welcome to the family SergiT.  Let me do my best to answer your questions.  I'm not an employee but I have a bit of experience.

> Is it necessary to put a resistor between Obsidian Sound Board and the LED?

In most cases it will be necessary though what strength resistor will be determined by the LED itself.  Different colors have different forward voltages.

> How is mounted AV illuminated Switch? Wireframe?

In most cases the AV switch is a simple press fit switch.  I've never tried to take my AV switch out for fear of damaging it but if I had to give an answer I'd still say it's a press fit.  This means that a whole is drilled into the body of the saber and the switch is literally pressed in.  The whole is a specific size made to hold the switch in place.

> Is it necessary to put a resistor between Obsidian Sound Board and the LED of the switch?

This is a big old yes as far as I know.  The LED in an AV switch is not very strong and therefore has a low forward voltage which necessitates a resistor.

I hope this helped.  If you need clarification on anything please just post your question and someone will answer!

Cheers.

[darth tratus]

welcome to the forum! i am wondering the same thing since i just got a yellow av swtich for my darkwar glaive. i guess i need to buy another part. this is so expensive but so worth it

[Novastar]

I still don't know why people who don't know what they are doing are attempting DIY installs of Obsidian, but... here we go with a basic lesson in forward voltage again...

So... forward voltage of an LED is basically the minimum voltage it takes to light the LED.
Some fwd v's are ~3.7v... others are ~2.9v... etc.
LEDs tend to draw as much current as they "want"... hard to explain
LEDs are diodes, in that... current only flows ONE way.  They do not "care" if you wire them in reverse--they simply will not work.

Most "primary" LEDs are something like ~3.7v + ~1000mA (1A).  Something like that.  It varies.
Most indicator / switch/ secondary LEDs are something like ~3.xv + 20 to 60mA (not even CLOSE to 1A).  It varies.

Limit the voltage from your battery solution PROPERLY, and your LEDs will behave properly.

In general, there isn't much need for >3.8v for MOST people's sabers.  Again--this depends ON IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

Ultimately... everyone needs to learn a little about:

* Soldering
* Basic circuitry
* Using a multi-meter
* LEDs, batteries, "forward voltage"
* General theory of operation

...BEFORE screwing around with a DIY saber.  Don't be a "I wanna skip to the good part" kind of guy.  Do your work.  Learn the ways of the Force--learn the basics of saber technology PRIOR to jacking around with a DIY saber.  You'll thank me.  Or not.  Actually, you won't.  You'll just use what you learned and move forward. 

[darth tratus]

thank you novastar. this is why my saber is taking a while. i am learning and being patient with it so next time itll be a piece of cake. my dad is very goodwith computers, he even built 2, so he said hewill teach methe soldering when we get there even though i know how. i like to take the pursuit of  knowledge

[Novastar]

thank you novastar. this is why my saber is taking a while. i am learning and being patient with it so next time itll be a piece of cake. my dad is very goodwith computers, he even built 2, so he said hewill teach methe soldering when we get there even though i know how. i like to take the pursuit of  knowledge

I can appreciate that... although I will say... in MY opinion--you and your father should experiment with wiring up a "direct drive" LED circuit (not involving the Obsidian board for the moment) first.

After you begin to understand how that works... it... might make more sense on how the Obsidian board functions, which (essentially) "passes on" the battery voltage directly to the LED (through the board)... and also uses the battery voltage/current to run the sound & motion (obviously).

It's just... one mistake, and you could instantly "kill" the board... and... as the famous scientist Egon Spengler once said:

"It would be bad."

[darth tratus]

thank you alot master novastar. you are right. i am just waiting for a new soldering kit and power tools because we just moved and cant find everything