Battery Powered Lamp Answered

I have to make a battery powered lamp for a school project but having no experience or knowledge whatsoever in electronics I really need help! I'm using a halogen GU10 bulb which is 35W, 240V, toggle switch and 2 AA batteries. Can someone please explain how I would wire the light bulb to a toggle switch and batteries? Also, do I need a resistor anywhere? Apparentely halogen bulbs aren't really suitable for lamps, so should I change to a superbright LED? Thanks!

Tags:Lamp Battery

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Goodhart

12 years ago

Depending on "which" LED you use, if you are using only one, you will need a resistor, like in the standard diagram that follows, BUT it does depend on the capacity of the specific LED you use

Since LEDs have very low resistance, you must have an external resistor to limit the current or they will burn up. To find out the value of the resistor needed, we use Ohm's Law.

V=IR (voltage = current * resistance)
(Vsource - Vled) = IR

The specs on my 5mm blue LED for instance, say it can operate at 3.2-3.6v at 20mA current. Since we know V & I, we can solve for R.

V/I = R
(6V - 3.2V) / 0.02A = R
140ohm = R

jemily

Reply 12 years ago

ooh okay, I understand now! thanks for the info & diagram! It's rather coincidental that I'm using a 5mm blue LED too. Just one question: why is it 6V and not 3V? I thought AA batteries were 1.5V each - does this mean that I don't need a resistor like tech-king said? Thanks to tech-king and guyfrom7up for your help too!

NachoMahma

Reply 12 years ago

. Just plug 3 into the formula, instead of 6. You'll have to forgive Goodhart; he's getting old.

Goodhart

Reply 12 years ago

Oooops......Getting ? LOL

jemily

Reply 12 years ago

haha! So i guess i'll have to use more than 2 batteries, because otherwise i'll get a negative resistance? ty.

NachoMahma

Reply 12 years ago

. You don't need a resistor. You won't get max brightness, with less than the 3.2-3.6V, but it shouldn't affect you too harshly - 3V should be close enough.

Goodhart

Reply 12 years ago

....if the batteries are completely fresh :-)