Hello

[Megalomaniac]

Hello,
I am a complete moron when it comes to anything to do with electronics. My reason for joining this forum is to learn enough in order to insert surface mounted leds into wargames miniatures which I build and paint.
So far I have managed to melt numerous tiny leds and burn a 5 pence size hole in my leg with molten solder.
I look forward to reading through the posts and might ask a few phenomenally stupid questions.

[MacFromOK]

Lol, hi and welcome to the forum...

LEDs require current limiting, else they are little more than miniature flashbulbs. There's a handy little online wizard here that will give you a workable circuit from the LED specs and your supply voltage.

Assuming they're standard low current LEDs, a somewhat simpler and more conservative approach is to use approx 100 ohms of resistance per volt of the supply voltage (or the nearest available resistor value).

You might also check our Pinned: Links! page for assorted tutorials, including some on soldering. Generally, heat shouldn't be applied to tiny components for more than a second or two. Practicing on clean, bare, copper wire with rosin-core 60/40 (tin/lead) solder should help.

[deth502]

im very low on the scale as well, and, imo, this is a great place. i can ask stupid noob questions here and have them answered, not looked down on like other forums ive tried.

and only go to that pinned links page when you have plenty of free time, lol. ive spent hrs there so far.

[paviyaa]

Hi friends,
I am new user here.I am very happy to join this community