LEDs in series
For the first part of the project we were supposed to familiarize ourselves with how to create and breadboard basic circuits. I have prior Arduino and circuitboard experience, but I was very rusty in applying it. The online resources helped me gain a quick refresher, and as soon as lab started on Friday I began working on the first part of this assignment: assembling a circuit with LEDs in series.
To get started I first had to convert the 9 Volts of our wall-jack power connecter into 5 Volts, so that the LEDs wouldn't be fried by excess power. To do this I used a linear voltage regulator that was handed out to us at the beginning of Lab. The setup for this was quite complicated, and involved sending excess current from both the barrel-jack connecter and the voltage regulator to ground, which decreased the overall voltage output. That power was then sent to both power rails on either side, along with ground connectors.
The next step was to integrate a switch into the breadboard. This was simple enough, I just connected power to a three prong linear switch, and lead two wires away; one ground, the other output current to connect with the LEDs. When the switch was set to up, the current would head straight to ground. When set to up, current would flow to the LEDs.
After the integrated power system and switch were complete, it was time to work on installing the LEDs in series. This means that the power is sent through one LED before being sent through the second. I have included a diagram of the circuit to show exactly how power flows through both LEDs. However, there needed to be a resistor before the LEDs, to slow the current even further for the LEDs to not fry. The lights that I used had a maximum voltage throughput of 2.0V, and a forward current of 20 mA.
View of Power and Voltage Regulation System
Bird's Eye View of Series Circuit
Series Circuit On
Series Circuit On
Close-up of LEDs in Series
LEDs in Parallel
To set up the two LEDs in parallel, a very similar setup was used to the series circuit. No changes were made to the power regulation system, as no major modifications were necessary for the creation of a parallel LED system.
LEDs set up in Parallel. 2 Resistors were used
Bird's Eye view of LED portion of circuit
Parallel LEDs when switched on
Switch and Enclosure
