Thread: Infrared LED brightness
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sixwheeledbeast is offline sixwheeledbeast
2012-02-29 , 19:04
Posts: 2,292 | Thanked: 4,135 times | Joined on Apr 2010 @ UK
#12
Originally Posted by vi_ View Post
According to schematics, the current through the LEDs is controlled by the the 220R resistors. Replace them all with 110R resistors for maximum IR lols.

...Although, the fact they have used two transistors in parallel implies that the forward current is already quite high for them (the transistors). So, will doubling it cause any problems? If not, why use 2 transistors?? Can the LED even take any MOAR juice anyway?

Who will try to find out?
AFAIK messing with transistors linked like this can cause problems.
Two transistors in parallel like that have to have the same resistance (with not much tolerance).
If there not one transistor will end up taking all of the load. This will destroy both transistors quickly.

Two transistors allow double the current of one.

Most 5mm 860nm infra-red LED's I have seen have a max forward voltage of 1.8V. 940nm LED's can have even lower voltage (1.2-1.6)
Increasing voltage above this will reduce light output due to increased temperature and eventually fry the LED.

I am certainly not going to try.
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