LED Lights Setup on RC Helicopter

Some remote control helicopters equipped with glittering LEDs once you bought it, but things seldom comes perfect. So, if you want to install LEDs or replace the color of LEDs, wish this guide able to help you.

What you are going to do is to create a simple circuit similar to the diagram shown below. The power for LEDs would be shared from a spare servo jack on the receiver or use a “Y” cable adapter with an existing servo.

Some emitters are focused (10-30 degree of lighting angle) while some are designed for wider dispersion (360 degree viewable). Some LED even have the series resistor built into the LED itself! Although uncommon, these are normally configured so you can easily connect them directly to either a 5v or 12v power source.
LED will only light up if connected with its cathode on the negative side of the circuit, and its anode on the positive side of the circuit. The cathode side of an LED is usually marked with a flat spot on the flange that rings the body of the diode.  The cathode wire is also usually shorter that the anode wire of an LED. LEDs are polarity sensitive, so you should be aware of how you connect the circuit. The LED’s anode is always positive (+) and is usually identified by a longer lead (there are exceptions). On LED’s with a flat spot around the lens base, the flat mark ALWAYS indicates the cathode lead, which connects to the battery negative (-) terminal. By the way, the resistor can go on either lead.

Series Resistor for RC LED Light

A resistor connected in series is necessary for protecting the LED from burnt by limiting the excessive current pass through it.
To choose the suitable resistor for your LED circuit, you better calculate the resistance of it through certain Online LED Calculator. For example, a 5mm LED’s maximum safe current is 20 milliamps (mA). If you don’ t know the LED specification, a 80-100 ohm resistor will work fine.

This circuit is a voltage divider in which the diode voltage and the resistor voltage must add up to the total applied voltage. As long as the applied voltage exceeds the +VF of the LED the voltage across the LED remains fairly constant. A good digital multi-meter with a diode test function will let you easily find the forward voltage of the LED. Once you know the voltage across the LED, you also know that the voltage across the resistor is the difference between the applied voltage and the LED forward voltage.

RC LED Light How To Setup Guide

Now, it’ s time to get your hand dirty. First of all, there are many different methods to install LED. Some mount LED on RC helicopter by super flue or plastic/metal LED holders/lenses. Also, you have to attach a connector to the end of LED wire for further connecting to power source.
Step 1: Shorten the LED leads, left approximate 0.5” from LED base. Depends on cases, you may need to bend the leads before soldering.
Step 2: LED holder is optional, it is convenient for replacement of LED later. You may also snip the LED holder leads whenever you need.

Step 3: Solder the limiting resistor to one of the LED(holder) leads.
Step 4: Tin and solder the black lead (negative) to the end of LED connector without resistor, and do the same trick on red lead to the resistor.

Step 5: Wrap the connections of wires by heat shrink tubing to prevent it from short circuits.
Step 6: Now move onto another end of leads. Slide the heat-shrink tubing before soldering the connectors.

Step 7: Solder both LED wires to the connector. And slide the heat shrink tubing over connectors.
Step 8: You may then connect the LED connector to one of the Mini-Flash / Mini-Beacon LED controller output connectors if you want.