Side view LED ?

[Bern]

You people are great. I am getting all kinds of good info. Now I need a 360-degree, side view, bright LED. ---- I have a box sitting about four feet high, with a light sticking out the top. When it is on, it needs to be seen from all directions. Normally an incandescent lamp would work great, but I would like something more efficient. Do any LEDs have good 360-degree side view characteristics?

[Chris Smith]

You can use a crystal lens [faceted glass] commonly used with light bulbs [radio shack sold them] to defuse and disperse the Led into a 360 angle. There are other tricks and lens's sold for this purpose. I believe they even sell 360 degree angle Leds?

[dyarker]

4 to 6 LEDs in a circle, bent to 45°, in series, and a series resistor. Explanation too long in words, see image.

With only 4 LEDs, their viewing angle should be 90° or more.

T-1 size LEDs are small enough, you might find frosted/crystal lens cap to cover them that is relatively small itself.

<img src="http://www.yarker-dsyc.info/LED360.png" alt=" - " />

Cheers,

after thought: With 5 in a circle, and 1 in the center pointing straight up, the light levels will be more equal from anywhere around and above the box. You may need to use 3 in series in parallel with another 3 in series, or other combinations, depending on supply voltage available and LED color.

<small>[ January 15, 2006, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Dale Y ]</small>

[jwax]

How about an inverted polished cone (point down towards the LED)? 90 degree internal angle in the cone.