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Science Fiction

Started by Back to the bench at 10-30-2009 11:08 PM. Topic has 18 replies.
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   10-30-2009, 11:08 PM
Back to the bench


Joined on 07-05-2009
New Mexico
Posts 106
An interesting lighting option

This looks like a possible candidate for some cool lighting effects. I just stumbled across the product and have no experience with the seller...

http://www.focuztech.com/ultra-thin-12v-led-tape-white-12-inches.html 


Gil
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   10-31-2009, 8:06 AM
Division 6


Joined on 01-08-2009
Central CA
Posts 549
Re: An interesting lighting option
You can get those at auto parts stores, they run off 12v.
They usually have a battery pack attached to the ones at the stores so you can see what they look like.
Depending on the length and type the run from $20 - $40.
 
E... 

It's all about keeping it real.
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   10-31-2009, 11:56 AM
Back to the bench


Joined on 07-05-2009
New Mexico
Posts 106
Re: An interesting lighting option
Thanks for the info, I guess I should walk down more than the "what part do I need to replace this week" isle at the auto parts storeWink [;)]

Gil
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   10-31-2009, 1:31 PM
Division 6


Joined on 01-08-2009
Central CA
Posts 549
Re: An interesting lighting option

They are usually in the area for Int/Ext customizing parts.

Pep Boys as an isle of the stuff.

E... 


It's all about keeping it real.
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   11-01-2009, 2:30 AM
Cosmic J


Joined on 12-13-2007
Louisville, KY.
Posts 813
Re: An interesting lighting option
That's kinda cool. Make great ground effects for Santa's nitro-burning funny sleigh...

When you open your mouth, you allow others to see into your mind.

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   11-05-2009, 9:50 AM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option
I grabbed some of that hoping to figure out how to extract the lil LEDs from the tape. Try as I might that never happened with any success though.Black Eye [B)]
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   11-05-2009, 10:03 AM
tetsujin

Joined on 01-23-2008
Massachusetts
Posts 60
Re: An interesting lighting option

 MrSquid2U wrote:
I grabbed some of that hoping to figure out how to extract the lil LEDs from the tape. Try as I might that never happened with any success though.Black Eye [B)]

Seems kind of silly...   LEDs are cheap enough that I don't know why anybody would buy a string of 'em just to extract the individual LEDs...


---GEC
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   11-05-2009, 12:25 PM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option
 tetsujin wrote:

 MrSquid2U wrote:
I grabbed some of that hoping to figure out how to extract the lil LEDs from the tape. Try as I might that never happened with any success though.Black Eye [B)]

Seems kind of silly...   LEDs are cheap enough that I don't know why anybody would buy a string of 'em just to extract the individual LEDs...

 

It would seem silly if you never saw just how small these are. They're even smaller than micro surface mount LEDs which is why they didn't cooperate being extracted from the plastic they were embedded in.

Now if you're satisfied with the "standard range" of LEDs you'll never need to worry about exploring an option like these.

But then it seems kind of silly to me that a modeler wouldn't be curious to find the smallest light sources possible for projects.Wink [;)]

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   11-06-2009, 4:48 PM
Buddho


Joined on 03-02-2003
Newport News VA
Posts 3,015
Re: An interesting lighting option
Oh boy...MrSquid2U...now ya DID it...we are gonna have 1/144 scale cockpits lit up now...lol! Tongue [:P]


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   11-06-2009, 5:34 PM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option

 Buddho wrote:
Oh boy...MrSquid2U...now ya DID it...we are gonna have 1/144 scale cockpits lit up now...lol! Tongue [:P]

 

IF, I could have gotten them durn things detached- then maybe so!Tongue [:P]

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   11-06-2009, 8:05 PM
Buddho


Joined on 03-02-2003
Newport News VA
Posts 3,015
Re: An interesting lighting option
Well...If anyone can do it... my bet is on you! Bow [bow] Wink [;)]Approve [^]


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   11-09-2009, 7:58 AM
Ti4019


Joined on 10-06-2009
Greater Baton Rouge Area
Posts 27
Re: An interesting lighting option

just installed these in the chest box of an ATAT driver. The unit has a switch and circuit board to allow a bunch of different flash patterns or just remain steady on.

 


If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong!
Build to please yourself and they will flame you every time!
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   11-09-2009, 12:04 PM
tetsujin

Joined on 01-23-2008
Massachusetts
Posts 60
Re: An interesting lighting option
 MrSquid2U wrote:
 tetsujin wrote:

 MrSquid2U wrote:
I grabbed some of that hoping to figure out how to extract the lil LEDs from the tape. Try as I might that never happened with any success though.Black Eye [B)]

Seems kind of silly...   LEDs are cheap enough that I don't know why anybody would buy a string of 'em just to extract the individual LEDs...

 

It would seem silly if you never saw just how small these are. They're even smaller than micro surface mount LEDs which is why they didn't cooperate being extracted from the plastic they were embedded in.

Now if you're satisfied with the "standard range" of LEDs you'll never need to worry about exploring an option like these.

But then it seems kind of silly to me that a modeler wouldn't be curious to find the smallest light sources possible for projects.Wink [;)]

How small are we talking, here?  I mean, I work regularly with 0603's, and the only reason I haven't worked more with 0402's is because I have a considerable stash of 0603s and most projects don't require anything smaller...  (Though there were a couple installations where 0603's were too big, so I ran fiber instead...)

I am with you in the quest to get smaller LEDs - I didn't know that's what we were dealing with here.  I thought it would probably be something like a larger SMD size in there.


---GEC
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   11-09-2009, 3:59 PM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option
 tetsujin wrote:
 MrSquid2U wrote:
 tetsujin wrote:

 MrSquid2U wrote:
I grabbed some of that hoping to figure out how to extract the lil LEDs from the tape. Try as I might that never happened with any success though.Black Eye [B)]

Seems kind of silly...   LEDs are cheap enough that I don't know why anybody would buy a string of 'em just to extract the individual LEDs...

 

 

It would seem silly if you never saw just how small these are. They're even smaller than micro surface mount LEDs which is why they didn't cooperate being extracted from the plastic they were embedded in.

Now if you're satisfied with the "standard range" of LEDs you'll never need to worry about exploring an option like these.

But then it seems kind of silly to me that a modeler wouldn't be curious to find the smallest light sources possible for projects.Wink [;)]

How small are we talking, here?  I mean, I work regularly with 0603's, and the only reason I haven't worked more with 0402's is because I have a considerable stash of 0603s and most projects don't require anything smaller...  (Though there were a couple installations where 0603's were too big, so I ran fiber instead...)

I am with you in the quest to get smaller LEDs - I didn't know that's what we were dealing with here.  I thought it would probably be something like a larger SMD size in there.

 

I don't even know the 'official designation' for the ones I have? But they are embedded within the plastic runner with some very small "wiring", if you wanna call it that? The ones I have are about the size of a pinhead? Or, I'd say similar to a "thick" strand of fiber optic. But they are quite bright and I've yet to see FO transfer that much light?

So yeah, they caught my attention!Wink [;)]

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   11-10-2009, 4:02 PM
tetsujin

Joined on 01-23-2008
Massachusetts
Posts 60
Re: An interesting lighting option

Smaller than this?

The meaning of the 0603 designation is like this: length and width in hundredths of an inch.  So .06 inches by .03 inches, or about 1.5mm x .8mm.  0402 would be about 1mm x 0.5mm.

Not quite "head of a pin" sized, I think, though 0402 might be close...


---GEC
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   11-10-2009, 4:57 PM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option
 tetsujin wrote:

Smaller than this?

The meaning of the 0603 designation is like this: length and width in hundredths of an inch.  So .06 inches by .03 inches, or about 1.5mm x .8mm.  0402 would be about 1mm x 0.5mm.

Not quite "head of a pin" sized, I think, though 0402 might be close...

 

Without the solder, it looks to be appx 1mm by.75mm???? So maybe it falls under that 0402 designation?

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   11-11-2009, 10:21 AM
tetsujin

Joined on 01-23-2008
Massachusetts
Posts 60
Re: An interesting lighting option
From the picture it looks more like approximately 1mm x 1.5mm - 0603 size or close to it...  'course I could be wrong...

---GEC
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   11-11-2009, 11:03 AM
MrSquid2U

Joined on 03-08-2007
Posts 340
Re: An interesting lighting option

 tetsujin wrote:
From the picture it looks more like approximately 1mm x 1.5mm - 0603 size or close to it...  'course I could be wrong...

You might be adding in the soldering? When it's right in front of me, it's pretty darn small.

So where are you getting yours? Obviously I had no luck with extracting these but are still interested in the "little ones". 

 

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   11-11-2009, 12:05 PM
tetsujin

Joined on 01-23-2008
Massachusetts
Posts 60
Re: An interesting lighting option

From the photo it looked like the body of the LED itself (not the lens, but the tiny little board it's mounted on) extended over 1mm in length - but the ruler isn't aligned with that side of the LED so with perspective and all I can't say for sure my estimated measurement is right.

I get most of my LEDs at mouser.com.   White LEDs in small quantities sell for $0.30 - $0.50 each or more depending on the specific item you buy.  I also sometimes buy LEDs on ebay - sometimes that can be a good deal, other times not so much...


---GEC
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