LED bulbs, best place to buy from?

[Jeremy Jon]

Where are you guys finding the best (priced) place to buy mini LED bulbs from?

I looked on ebay, but only a few came up (from China of course)

Specifically I'm looking plain clear mini bulbs with leads attached, and online is probably best price/shipping option

LMK

Thanks

[Chief Joseph]

Jeremy, whenever you buy an LED with attached wire leads, you are going to pay a hefty premium. Soldering leads onto a bare LED isn't very difficult and it'll save you a ton of money.

Here's a place that caters to rail modelers and sells the LED with leads : http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/the-DCC-Components-cln-LEDs-and-LED-Lighting-Kits-cln-LEDs/Categories

I have used www.unique-leds.com many times. Their prices are good and they carry some hard-to-find 1.8mm items, but they only sell bare components.

The Chinese sources on eBay are going to sell you the same items that everyone else carries, but you eliminate the middle-man. Sometimes the stuff I order from China arrives faster than if it were coming from a domestic supplier!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've repeatedly bought Chinese LEDs on the 'bay, as has the Cheif, and they have been mostly so cheap I tended to forgive that maybe 1 in 20 is bad.

Right now, there's a bag of 100, 5mm LEDs in assorted colors up for $1.56.

Hard to beat that price. I don't know how they do it.

Edited August 22, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Harry P.]

Hard to beat that price. I don't know how they do it.

Cheap labor, no unions.

[johnbuzzed]

Jeremy, remember that an incandescent bulb and an LED are two totally different things.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1mm LED sources, pre-wired

http://www.dccconcepts.com/catalogue/d/nano-leds

http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/led-small.html

Edited August 22, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Hawk312]

Guys, the ones without leads, do they require heat sinking when soldering? Also, anyone have any pics of some of the projects where you have used these?

[Jeremy Jon]

Thanks for the good links & info guys

No problems if without leads, it's just use to then already having them

Found these 5mm LEDs on that link, probably the most common style, only $0.20 each

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?target=categories&category_id=184

Found a couple of ebay items, like Bill refered to;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100Pcs-3mm-LED-Light-White-Yellow-Red-Green-Blue-Assorted-Kit-DIY-LEDs-Set-/351107387144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bfa18f08

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-3mm-White-Red-Blue-Green-Yellow-LED-Light-Bulb-Emitting-Diode-Lamp-/191172122655?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c82bf181f

Joseph, sent you on email

Edited August 24, 2014 by Jeremy Jon

[blunc]

when searching for clear LEDs the term "water" indicates a clear top/lens, otherwise it may be diffuse or milky. be aware that ordering clear LEDs doesn't mean you're getting a "white" LED.

I have ordered LEDs from the following sources:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/

www.mouser.com

www.digikey.com

be aware that LEDs usually require 1.2vdc to 3vdc to operate (more voltage equals brighter LED but also more heat, LEDs don't get as hot as incandescent bulbs but the do get warm), if you plan to operate multiple LEDs in a circuit it's best to put a current limiting resistor on each LED rather than one for the whole circuit. There are many free LED circuits to be found on the interwebs.

[1320wayne]

www.policecarmodels.com

This is where I buy my lights from. Kits that are already wired together and ready for use. Many different types and affordable.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Hey blunc...thanks for the Digikey reminder. I lost the last catalog during the move and couldn't remember the name for anything.

[blunc]

Hey blunc...thanks for the Digikey reminder. I lost the last catalog during the move and couldn't remember the name for anything.

they are just one of my "go to" places for electronic components but you really have to know exactly what you're looking for or you can waste a lot of time and money ordering the wrong parts.