ROTF Optimus Prime LEDs

Sabrina_Ng · 06-01-2009, 07:14 PM

Hey Guys,

Need some advice. I took out ROTF Prime's yellow led light at the head. Tried to replace it with another led and it cant light up. I tried a maglite 1 cell AAA and 2 cell AA and both cant seem to work. Any tips and ideas? Or do I need to fix a new power source in the head as well?

Maglite Solitaire 1 Cell AAA Replacement Bulb 2 Pack - eBay (item 310143650182 end time Jun-19-09 19:03:29 PDT)

frenzy_rumble · 06-01-2009, 07:17 PM

most likely you need to match the voltage type LED that used to be in there. Although LEDs might be the same size, good chance they require different powers. Most likely, because the original is being powered by 2 AA batts, there's a resister somewhere (to level out the power going to it) which means, you'll need the exact same wattage bulb.

Hank would know best, he's like the "radicon electrician"

Sabrina_Ng · 06-01-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenzy_rumble

most likely you need to match the voltage type LED that used to be in there. Although LEDs might be the same size, good chance they require different powers. Most likely, because the original is being powered by 2 AA batts, there's a resister somewhere (to level out the power going to it) which means, you'll need the exact same wattage bulb.

Hank would know best, he's like the "radicon electrician"

I see. That sure explains it. Big Hank???? Any tips?

encline · 06-01-2009, 07:36 PM

Well, I just did that this morning. Did you make sure it worked by testing it out first? The is a negative and positive side for the led. A size .3 LED works perfect. So what you do is strip the wires a bit, put the led ends to the exposed wires while you press the head back to get the lights. If it does not work, change connection points.

I can not say about the voltage for the LED. Mine have always worked with enough power. One time I blew one up though with a AA battery.

frenzy_rumble · 06-01-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by encline

Well, I just did that this morning. Did you make sure it worked by testing it out first? The is a negative and positive side for the led. A size .3 LED works perfect. So what you do is strip the wires a bit, put the led ends to the exposed wires while you press the head back to get the lights. If it does not work, change connection points.

I can not say about the voltage for the LED. Mine have always worked with enough power. One time I blew one up though with a AA battery.

good point. didn't even think of that. but I have run across some LEDs which HAVE to have a shitload of juice to light them up. I bought a bag full from ebay, which won't run on anything smaller than a 9v

big hank · 06-01-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenzy_rumble

Hank would know best, he's like the "radicon electrician"

Hmmm... Hey Sabbs, here's some basics before I go any further, I apologize if it seems insulting due to the rudimentary nature, but it's good info for those who read and want to try some LED work.

1. LED= Light Emitting Diode. The "light emitting" part is all we seem to to care about, but look at the "diode" part.

A diode is an electronic component which allows electric current to flow in one direction only.
Encline is right to suggest reversing your LED. If you have a surplus type LED, one that has never been installed, you can tell the positive side by the length of the anodes (the wire legs you solder) the longer anode is the positive, or "in" as I like to call it. That needs to be placed so the positive of the battery is to the positive anode of the LED.
If your using a salvaged one, you will have to determine positive and negative. I find the best way is to use a watch battery (or similar) which is rated 3 volts or greater (not too high though) and tape or pinch the ends of the LED to the battery poles to see which way lights it up. Then just make a note of the + and the - anodes (you can just bend one to signify + or -, and leave the other straight)
Sometimes the voltage is sufficient, but the amperage may be too large, in which case a resister will be necessary. We use Ohm's law to determine optimum amperage, which promotes battery life as well.

Rather than explain away Ohm's law (boooooring) here's a calculator:LED calculator for single LEDs

Now, with all that mumbo jumbo being said, you SHOULD be able to simply place a new LED in where the old one was. I looked at the link you provided for the Maglite bulbs, not sure if they will work only because they may have the resistor built in, so if they have a resistor, and Prime's circuit has a resistor it may be too much voltage resistance. In effect blocking so much voltage it won't allow the battery to power the LED!

I have Leader Prime in front of me, but not my electronics stuff, but let me crack into him and see what I find!

frenzy_rumble · 06-01-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big hank

Hmmm... Hey Sabbs, here's some basics before I go any further, I apologize if it seems insulting due to the rudimentary nature, but it's good info for those who read and want to try some LED work.

1. LED= Light Emitting Diode. The "light emitting" part is all we seem to to care about, but look at the "diode" part.

A diode is an electronic component which allows electric current to flow in one direction only.
Encline is right to suggest reversing your LED. If you have a surplus type LED, one that has never been installed, you can tell the positive side by the length of the anodes (the wire legs you solder) the longer anode is the positive, or "in" as I like to call it. That needs to be placed so the positive of the battery is to the positive anode of the LED.
If your using a salvaged one, you will have to determine positive and negative. I find the best way is to use a watch battery (or similar) which is rated 3 volts or greater (not too high though) and tape or pinch the ends of the LED to the battery poles to see which way lights it up. Then just make a note of the + and the - anodes (you can just bend one to signify + or -, and leave the other straight)
Sometimes the voltage is sufficient, but the amperage may be too large, in which case a resister will be necessary. We use Ohm's law to determine optimum amperage, which promotes battery life as well.

Rather than explain away Ohm's law (boooooring) here's a calculator:LED calculator for single LEDs

Now, with all that mumbo jumbo being said, you SHOULD be able to simply place a new LED in where the old one was. I looked at the link you provided for the Maglite bulbs, not sure if they will work only because they may have the resistor built in, so if they have a resistor, and Prime's circuit has a resistor it may be too much voltage resistance. In effect blocking so much voltage it won't allow the battery to power the LED!

I have Leader Prime in front of me, but not my electronics stuff, but let me crack into him and see what I find!

he knows... lol

just opened up the head, looks easy to get to, though not worth fucking with, seeing the US version is green...a few layers of transparent blue paint and it's blue now.

big hank · 06-01-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenzy_rumble

he knows... lol

just opened up the head, looks easy to get to, though not worth fucking with, seeing the US version is green...a few layers of transparent blue paint and it's blue now.

Well I guess you could do it that way.

Does the resultant shade of blue over the green LED still look good in your opinion? I know your finicky, if it passes in your judgment I'll say that's the way to go then.

frenzy_rumble · 06-01-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big hank

Well I guess you could do it that way.

Does the resultant shade of blue over the green LED still look good in your opinion? I know your finicky, if it passes in your judgment I'll say that's the way to go then.

the light piping is blue too, so that helps even more. a blueish teal is the bulb after I laid the paint, once I put his head back together it's blue as a blue LED would be. good enough for me.

Really sucks how you guys in other countries are getting shittier gimped out versions. I heard about the one in Europe that only says "Optimus Prime" instead of "I am Optimus prime"

big hank · 06-01-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenzy_rumble

the light piping is blue too, so that helps even more. a blueish teal is the bulb after I laid the paint, once I put his head back together it's blue as a blue LED would be. good enough for me.

Really sucks how you guys in other countries are getting shittier gimped out versions. I heard about the one in Europe that only says "Optimus Prime" instead of "I am Optimus prime"

Sounds good to me!

On topic, Sabbs I believe your trouble with the Maglite is the fact that they aren't actually LEDs! It seems they are incandescent bulbs. Save yourself the headache and a fortune and get some bulk LEDs from Ebay!