3mm vs. 5mm LED battery drain?

[powerplayj]

Is there a significant difference in battery drain based upon LED size.

Well, my first of two builds thus far was a PNP "Late 60's" Boutique Fuzz with  3DPDT and LED.  It sounds great but I got a bit greedy with the addition of a blue LED.  Not only is it blue but it's the 5mm version!  I will chalk this up to experience and refrain from blue when using battery powered pedals.  Anyhow, in the meantime, I'll find a red 5mm to replace it and see if I can adjust the adjacent resistor to minimize the brightness and save my batteries.  

Any chance the bezel for a 3mm would fit the hole drilled for my 5mm bezel.  If not, I'll try a washer or something similar.

[Eric H]

Is there a significant difference in battery drain based upon LED size.

No --there are high and low efficiencies in both sizes. Unless it has unusually  low output, you should be able to stick a 25k to 100k pot in series with the resistor on that blue led and dial it down to 1 or 2 ma and still get reasonable brightness. then measure the pot-value and replace it with a resistor.

-Eric

[powerplayj]

Thanks, I was able to go from a 22k to a 100k resistor and still get enough blue.  That should prolong my battery by many more weeks.

[Hal]

the larger lens on a 5mm should make it more efficent?

[Eric H]

the larger lens on a 5mm should make it more efficent?

No, the light from the diode is basically a point-source. The lens can be used to control the angle of dispersion (wider or narrower beam) or modify the color. Effiency is inherent to the diode inside the lens (and they are usually tiny).

HTH

-Eric