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LED tester

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  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
LED tester
Posted by Billwiz on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 8:08 PM

I have a string of LED Christmas lights that does not completely light. Is there a simple way of testing the LEDs?  I can find plenty of uses for them on the layout. 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 8:33 PM

A cheapo multimeter will put some light in a LED on its lowest resistance range.

 

Mel



 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 8:40 PM

I use a 9 volt battery with a 1K resistor.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 10:30 PM

If they are white LEDs, I just use a couple AA batteries in series to test them. I have the batteries in a holder with test leads. Been using it for years to test LEDs.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    October 2010
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Posted by Billwiz on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 6:19 AM

Thank you everyone!  I won't get to them for a bit, on the table as a "when I get time" project but I appreciate the input.  

Bill

 

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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 2:15 PM

Mark R.
If they are white LEDs, I just use a couple AA batteries in series to test them. I have the batteries in a holder with test leads. Been using it for years to test LEDs.

Mark.

Yep, have the same holder.  (I think I got it @ Radio Shack years back.)  Lay the battery leads across the LED leads briefly whenever I need to confirm if a stray or unknown LED is good or not.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
Posted by Billwiz on Thursday, February 4, 2021 3:45 PM

This is why I miss Radio Shack. Maybe I can buy a dollar store light string for the battery pack. And have more LEDs of course!  

Thanks all. 

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
Posted by Billwiz on Monday, February 8, 2021 4:23 PM

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.  I decided to put something together using a train transformer and stuff on hand.  There is a resistor connected to the terminal strips.  I can simply touch the LED wires to the spade connectors and test them quickly.

 

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