New pedal build...noob questions, enter at your own risk

[setzer2]

I am getting back into making pedals and have been looking at some of the great PCBs that have come out since I last made pedals around 2008-09. Looks like things have come a long way. I am gonna try my hand at building AionFX's Refractor but had a few questions.

With the Superbright LED's from Tayda, what would be a good value instead of the 4k7 resistor listed in the parts list to tone it back just SLIGHTLY to be bright but not blinding as all of the reviews show.

I can't seem to find any wiring harnesses like AionFX's kits come with, does anyone have any recommendations for these or which parts would be needed to make these myself? I like the clean look they offer.

Thanks in advance!

[bluebunny]

Welcome to the forum!

With the Superbright LED's from Tayda, what would be a good value instead of the 4k7 resistor listed in the parts list to tone it back just SLIGHTLY to be bright but not blinding as all of the reviews show.

You might simply want to try a few (bigger) resistor values beforehand (you won't find any resistors labelled "good" ).  Just connect battery to resistor to LED to battery.  You could probably do this entirely hand-held.

[stallik]

Seems excessively ocd but I used to pop a trimmer in series with a 4k7. That way, I could adjust all the pedals to have the same brightness. The 4k7 remains as insurance against popping the led.
I only stopped doing that because I picked up a box of maybe 1000 super brights in mixed colours for a fiver on eBay . They all seem to be about the same with a 50k

[duck_arse]

33k.


or 18k.

[setzer2]

Thanks for the replies! I edited the post and got rid of most of the questions I originally posted after doing just a BIT more research on my end.

[Radical CJ]

33k.


or 18k.

I usually use 3k3... Am I the only person who enjoys bright LEDs!?

[WoundUp]

I'm thinking so. Lol. I have blue painters tape over most of mine(all pre-built). It tones down the brightness without blocking the light completely.

On the Fuzz Face I'm currently building, I was just going to keep increasing resistor value on the breadboard until I saw something I liked lol. Seems like the easiest thing to do.

Not trying to hijack but I just thought of something. Does it matter where in the circuit you put the LED? Can you put it right before the battery so it's before/after everything?

[duck_arse]

the led and its CLR go between supply and ground. all supply is the same - all ground is the same. the only difference is where you place it on your drawing, and where you place it in your build, but unless you've done something wrong/un-orthodox, the led doesn't know where it is and there can be no different placings.

[eightsevenzero]

Want to chime in with something, if you're looking to build a good amount a resistance substitution box is an awesome minimal investment for this and so much more. 👍🏻

[Marcos - Munky]

I usually use 3k3... Am I the only person who enjoys bright LEDs!?

I use 4k7 for mine. It's a bit annoying if I use a white led and this resistor value, but I rarely use a white led.

[ElectricDruid]

I usually use 3k3... Am I the only person who enjoys bright LEDs!?

Quite possibly, yes. But it's ok, I don't think it's illegal. Just deeply weird.