AIRPLANENUTS

My Feedback: (2)

Guys, I have made an onboard glow system for my plane, and I want to wire a LED between the switch and the glow plug to indicate when power is being applied. The LED's at Radio Shack have a 1.8v forward voltage minimum, with the only exception being an infared 1.3v LED (how are you supposed to see this?!). My problem is that the battery is only supplying 1.1-1.35volts, which is not enough to light the LED. Anyone know how I can trick the LED into thinking it is being supplied 1.8v? Capacitor, maybe? Thanks for your help.

Stick Jammer

First off, you wouldn't be able to put an LED between the switch and the glow plug, it would have to be paralleled. Unfortunately, I don't think there is an easy way to light up an LED from 1.2 volts. The commercially made units get voltage from the receiver pack to run the circuitry and light the LED, the separate 1.2v cell powers the plug. Here's a link for the plans and all the info to build the OPTOGLO II on-board glow unit if you are interested.

http://www.cliftech.com/html/optoglo.html

AIRPLANENUTS

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks, Stick. I'll just have to forget about an indicator for my onboard glow.[]

AIRPLANENUTS

My Feedback: (2)

Well, since I can't use an LED, I think I'll try a 1.2v, 270mAh bulb. I'm using a 5000mAh cell, so this will only reduce my effective discharge time by about 10 minutes, assuming a 3000mAh draw from the plug. Thanks for the help, guys!