RCCrawler Forums

saddlehorse · 08-06-2011, 02:46 PM

Got my led lights strip in today , my question is where would I hook up the 2 wires so it comes on when I turn truck on , would I tap into wires coming from on/off switch ? Thanks

forbid89 · 08-06-2011, 06:45 PM

You better hold off a minute and do some research or else you are going to risk burning the LEDs out. First, what LED strip do you have? Does it have resistors built in to limit the current?

saddlehorse · 08-06-2011, 07:13 PM

Yes the resistors are built in . I got them from hobbypartz.com that I will never order from again , only get half your order and they ignore you .

forbid89 · 08-06-2011, 10:21 PM

Well according to hobbypartz they are designed to run on 12V, I found this:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1448353

According to that guy's results they operate well between 9-12V and are pretty dim at 7V. So my next question would be what battery are you planning to use? If you are using a 3S lipo it would be just about perfect. As far as wiring I would solder a servo plug on them and plug it into an empty slot on your receiver. Or you could wire it directly to your battery.

edit: Just found this site, it seems to have a lot of good information about these strips:

http://www.hoverandsmile.com/led-cir...ed-strip-kits/

saddlehorse · 08-06-2011, 11:04 PM

The servo plug is good idea , but I am not using a lipo pack , just a 6 cell 3000 nimh pack in the crawler . The hobby shop guy said unless I went brushless not to go lipo it would hurt my esc .
Anyways I plugged lights straight to battery and they worked until you make the truck go then the lights shut off , oh well only $3 wasted that I guess I can't use .
Thought about using a AA battery pack box off another project to power them but not to sure that would work either .

Thanks for the info....

forbid89 · 08-06-2011, 11:21 PM

You could always get a small 3S lipo and use it to power just the LEDs. I know you don't like Hobbypartz but I'd give them another chance you could get one of their small 3S 800mah sky lipos for $5.20. AA's batteries would work but you would need at least 6 better yet 8 to get the voltage you need. The small 3S lipo would be much better.

Out of curiosity what ESC are you using?

losikid · 08-07-2011, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlehorse

The servo plug is good idea , but I am not using a lipo pack , just a 6 cell 3000 nimh pack in the crawler . The hobby shop guy said unless I went brushless not to go lipo it would hurt my esc .

Go give your lbs guy the

he was probably just trying to get them nihm s off his shelf.
What esc are you using...any esc will allow a lipo, its just a battery, but what you want is a esc with lipo cut off. Most newer esc's have it. This is to protect your lipo.

Nihms are not ideal for anything that requires power, and crawlers love power

salty · 08-07-2011, 12:17 AM

I have a 500mah 3S pack plugged directly into the LED's... dirt cheap and have had no problems. SUPER long run time... think I've gone through 3-4 cycles on the main batt without recharging the LED batt.

outkast7222 · 08-07-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by losikid

Go give your lbs guy the

he was probably just trying to get them nihm s off his shelf.

When I picked up new packs my LHS guy also tried insisting on a 10 cell NiMh 5000mAh(?) battery for my Comp Crawler. Insisted that's what I was gonna need to get 20 minutes out of it. Not sure where in the hell I would have put the thing in the first place. Bet he would feel like an idiot knowing that I get close to 45 mins out a 1350 3s LiPo.

In anycase I would hook my lights directly at the battery plug if they are indeed safe up to 12v. I use LiPo's and some nice bright LEDs would be a good reminder to unplug my battery when not in use.

Charlie-III · 08-07-2011, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlehorse

Anyways I plugged lights straight to battery and they worked until you make the truck go then the lights shut off , oh well only $3 wasted that I guess I can't use .
Thought about using a AA battery pack box off another project to power them but not to sure that would work either .

Thanks for the info....

When you let off the throttle, did the lights come back on? My guess is "yes", thus when you load the battery, it drops the voltage enough to shut off the lights.
Why not just use a 9volt battery for the lights? Small & cheap.

08-06-2011, 02:46 PM	#1
saddlehorse Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Here not there Posts: 29	Lights ? Got my led lights strip in today , my question is where would I hook up the 2 wires so it comes on when I turn truck on , would I tap into wires coming from on/off switch ? Thanks

08-06-2011, 10:21 PM	#4
forbid89 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 423	Well according to hobbypartz they are designed to run on 12V, I found this: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1448353 According to that guy's results they operate well between 9-12V and are pretty dim at 7V. So my next question would be what battery are you planning to use? If you are using a 3S lipo it would be just about perfect. As far as wiring I would solder a servo plug on them and plug it into an empty slot on your receiver. Or you could wire it directly to your battery. edit: Just found this site, it seems to have a lot of good information about these strips: http://www.hoverandsmile.com/led-cir...ed-strip-kits/ Last edited by forbid89; 08-06-2011 at 10:31 PM.

08-06-2011, 06:45 PM	#2
forbid89 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 423	You better hold off a minute and do some research or else you are going to risk burning the LEDs out. First, what LED strip do you have? Does it have resistors built in to limit the current?

08-06-2011, 07:13 PM	#3
saddlehorse Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Here not there Posts: 29	Yes the resistors are built in . I got them from hobbypartz.com that I will never order from again , only get half your order and they ignore you .

08-06-2011, 11:04 PM	#5
saddlehorse Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Here not there Posts: 29	The servo plug is good idea , but I am not using a lipo pack , just a 6 cell 3000 nimh pack in the crawler . The hobby shop guy said unless I went brushless not to go lipo it would hurt my esc . Anyways I plugged lights straight to battery and they worked until you make the truck go then the lights shut off , oh well only $3 wasted that I guess I can't use . Thought about using a AA battery pack box off another project to power them but not to sure that would work either . Thanks for the info....

08-06-2011, 11:21 PM	#6
forbid89 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 423	You could always get a small 3S lipo and use it to power just the LEDs. I know you don't like Hobbypartz but I'd give them another chance you could get one of their small 3S 800mah sky lipos for $5.20. AA's batteries would work but you would need at least 6 better yet 8 to get the voltage you need. The small 3S lipo would be much better. Out of curiosity what ESC are you using?

08-07-2011, 12:17 AM	#8
salty Newbie Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Up s**t creek with no paddle Posts: 25	I have a 500mah 3S pack plugged directly into the LED's... dirt cheap and have had no problems. SUPER long run time... think I've gone through 3-4 cycles on the main batt without recharging the LED batt.

Sponsored Links

RCCrawler Forums

Thread: Lights ?