Too Little LED Current?

S

Synful Serenity

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
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After upgrading to a DFI NF4 Ultra, there's not enough connectors to power an extra turbo LED in my case. I am able to splice the power LED connection to get them both to run, but they both run somewhat dimmer. Is this ok for their lifespan? I want to be sure because I know that certain bulbs like halogens need a certain amount of current and heat to keep the lighting cycle going, and undervolting and splicing can kill bulbs like that.
 
undervolting an LED is not going to hurt it, but i think it would be better to use a seperate power supply for the LEDs and some transistors.

this is something for the electronics section
 
There's absolutely no danger to your LEDs. Here's whats happening--your MB has a current-limiting resistor that keeps the (one) LED from drawing too much current. If you put a second LED in series with the first one, each one will now only have half the voltage, and therefore less power. If you put them in parallel, they will draw more current through the resistor, and there will again be less voltage available to each LED.

It's certainly not dangerous for your LEDs--if you put too much current through them, you can seriously shorten their lifespan, but too little current won't do any damage. You just won't get as much light out of them.

 
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