Someone educate me on high power LEDs

I'm interested to learn how high power (1+ watt) LEDs differ than standard chip and single LEDs. (i'm talking about the ones on chips that look like 6-point stars)

How do you install them?
How do you power them?
How can they be made weather proof?

they are similar to normal LEDs with the exception that they use lots of power, and produce lots of glow. They are mounted on a small heat sink that is used to mount on a larger heat sink. you have to mount them on a heat sink or they will get hot and burn out. if you need waterproof ones just buy the spot or flood one watters on oznium.

I picked up three trays (around 180) of them at a flea market ... How do you figure resistors for them ???

bad venge wrote:

I picked up three trays (around 180) of them at a flea market ... How do you figure resistors for them ???

Look up the part number online and find the forward bias voltage. Calculate from there.

sounds like you have the luxeon star LEDs. you need to figure out if you got the 1 watt ones or higher? the color?

PwrRngr wrote:

bad venge wrote: I picked up three trays (around 180) of them at a flea market ... How do you figure resistors for them ??? Look up the part number online and find the forward bias voltage. Calculate from there.

Lots of good info from everyone here. Maybe I can add my ability to find data sheets to the effort?

If you can post any manufacturer's name and/or part number here, I would be happy to go find the data sheet for them and post it here. I'd also be glad to calculate what sort of ballast resistors you would need and share it with the forum.

If the "tray" wasn't marked, did you look carefully at the back of each LED for any sort of letters or numbers?

Almost any printing will enable me to find the manufacturer and data sheet.

From there, the mounting, care, and feeding of these devices can be managed.

Good luck.