Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: iCopyright_Everything on July 24, 2007, 06:04:00 PM
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Hi there!
Just to double-check, Resistors CAN have current flow in either direction through them, right?
By that I'm asking does is matter which way resistors are wired one end or the other, as long as they're in the right place....?
THANKS!
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Ive always used resistors either way, and never had any trouble.
They are generally just a conductive material with non conductive impurities added so it is really just like a normal piece of wire, albeit with some resistance.
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Great, thanks for the information, it's really good to know!
That's one down, (unknown) to go in my quest to figure out what the **** is wrong with my $50 Photovore circuit!
Ooh - follow up Question -- For an LED, what is a good value resistor to use to ensure the Microcontroller DOSN'T start being egg-fryable again!! --I have two values from the tutorial -- 340 ohms AND 1.62 KILO ohms --- THE COLOR DOT SCHEMATIC (here: http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/sbs_avr_schematic_small.png (http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/sbs_avr_schematic_small.png)) does NOT SPECIFY WHICH RESISTORS to use in Either the LEDs OR the Photoresistors!
Thanks!
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y would the microcontroller fry if it is providing the output. If anything the LED would fry
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This is from the tutorial, i have highlighted the important part in red:-
The LED will be used as a status indicator. The LED is useful for knowing if your microcontroller is powered properly, and can output other useful information for testing purposes. A resistor wired in series is required so keep the LED from frying. Any resistor value from 10 ohm to 1 kohm will probably work. Higher resistance values reduce the power drain (good), but also decrease brightness (bad).
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As lon as the resistors are in the right place, it wont matter.
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Thanks guys!
(Sorry Airman I have no idea what you mean)
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iCopyright_Everything, an LED is rated for a certain maximum power before it fries. Check its datasheet.
Power = voltage ^2 / resistance
So if power is 20mW, and voltage is 5 volts, use algebra to figure out the resistance.
I typically use a 100ohm or higher - it all depends on the LED and the brightness/efficiency I need.