Indicator leds with relays

[birt]

i've got some 5V relays (G5V-1). if i want to add led indicators that show when the coil is connected to ground, can i just put them in series with the relay coil and ground switch that controlls the relay?

what i mean is:
5Vdc goes to the coil of the relay, other side of the coil goes to + of a led, - of the led goes to a spst switch wich is connected to ground.

[fikri]

Usually LED indicator place in paralel with the coil. Just stick the (+) of the coil to the anode of LED and (-) of the coil to the cathode of LED. You can easily put an SPST to switch on the relay like usual. So whenever the relays contact, your LED would also 'switch on'

Cheers

[R.G.]

It seems like an obvious idea, doesn't it?

Yes, you can - if and only if the amount of current you want for your LED is exactly the same as the current you want for your relay coil. You can get into trouble with this two ways. The LED may eat too much of the available voltage for the coil, and the coil current may be too big or too small to let the LED light to the right brightness.

Hooking the LED up in parallel with the coil lets you independently adjust the LED's brightness.

[birt]

well it was probably so obvious i couldn't see it

tnx