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Sci.Electronics.Basics -> Transistor Current Question

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Date: 10:20 08-07-08

Hello

I was hoping someone could explain how to do this calculation for me.
I've got 3 transistors and 5 RGB LEDs, and I need to use the
transistor to drive them, as my microcontroller can't source enough
current for all of them on one pin.

Because they're pins on RGB LEDs, and I need individual color control,
I can't put them in series, so I was going to use 3 resistors per RGB
LED, like so:

Vdd
----
| |
| |
\ / \ /
V V
--- ---
| |
/ /
\ \
/ /
\ \
| |
------
|
|/
IN/\/---|
|\>
|
|
___
_

(Only two LEDs shown because I'm terrible at ascii art. There are
actually 5.)


Since the green and blue have a Vf of 3.2, I'm guessing I'm going to
have to use a 5V power supply instead of a 3.3V one, because I can't
get a VCE small enough to drive them.

If I need to pass 20mA through each LED, with a voltage drop of 3.2,
can someone please explain how I calculate the two different resistors
(Base and on each LED) I need?


Thanks in advance!

1


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