If anyone ever finds a way to get some of the new Cree super bright for less than 3 bucks let me know. I was unable to find them for less than 10 bucks each. They are suppose to be the answer to everything LEDs were not, but at 10 dollars each there is no way to use them cost effectively. I got some 3mm Chinese ones that are suppose to be their answer to the Cree LEDs and they are quite impressive. They put out a very bright light comparable to 14 standard 3mm whites.
i use a flashlights 14 led bulb because it was cheep and mounted on a small board that I got for 4 bucks each. That included the aluminium flashlight and battery holder. Not a bad price as I can use the battery case for another project for a pet outside nightlight. It has one small IC type LED with three tiny LEDs that turn on when jarred. The button batteries last for months and the animals light can be seen for hundreds of feet at night. They blink every time the animal moves for 15 seconds and goes off.
If the animal is moving after 30 seconds it blinks again for 15 seconds. The duty cycle and the blink rate allows for the minimal current draw. They work great, but there are way to many blinking lights for animals out there, but they all have on and off switches. Someone has to turn on the lights before the critter goes out. mine turns on by its self and lasts for months. theirs lasts for a few hours, one day at the max. Not too useful unless you can teach the animal to turn the light on every time it goes out. Anyway, I would love to get my hands on a few of the Cree LEDs, but not for ten bucks a copy. Their specifications are second to none, but I have seen that in LEDs before and wondered how they came up with the numbers when I got to try them myself.
moony
