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Transistor Current Question

by Elscimar@[EMAIL PROTECTED] Jul 8, 2008 at 06:57 AM

Hello

I was hoping someone could explain how to do this calculation for me.
I've got 3 transistors and 5 RGB LEDs, and I need to use the
transistor to drive them, as my microcontroller can't source enough
current for all of them on one pin.

Because they're pins on RGB LEDs, and I need individual color control,
I can't put them in series, so I was going to use 3 resistors per RGB
LED, like so:

     Vdd
       ----
      |    |
      |    |
     \ /  \ /
      V    V
     ---  ---
      |    |
      /    /
      \    \
      /    /
      \    \
      |    |
      ------
          |
        |/
IN/\/---|
        |\>
          |
          |
         ___
          _

(Only two LEDs shown because I'm terrible at ascii art. There are
actually 5.)


Since the green and blue have a Vf of 3.2, I'm guessing I'm going to
have to use a 5V power supply instead of a 3.3V one, because I can't
get a VCE small enough to drive them.

If I need to pass 20mA through each LED, with a voltage drop of 3.2,
can someone please explain how I calculate the two different resistors
(Base and on each LED) I need?


Thanks in advance!
 




 5 Posts in Topic:
Transistor Current Question
Elscimar@[EMAIL PROTECTED  2008-07-08 06:57:16 
Re: Transistor Current Question
Tim Wescott <tim@[EMAI  2008-07-08 07:57:48 
Re: Transistor Current Question
"Bob Monsen" &l  2008-07-08 09:10:41 
Re: Transistor Current Question
Tim Wescott <tim@[EMAI  2008-07-08 09:47:37 
Re: Transistor Current Question
Jamie <jamie_ka1lpa_no  2008-07-08 20:00:26 

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