So the lone LED in the middle, with two resistors, is going to be on all the time, as a night light to the night light.
If the rest of the LEDs are on a switch, will I have to run two completely separate wires for the single LED, isolating it on its own circuit?
I'm tentatively planning on doing that, using heat shrink or something like that to tidy up the wires, then use two DC barrel jacks to connect each set of wires to the board. Are there any potential problems with this plan?
You really need a circuit diagram for this question to make sense... I think for both of us too. I have no idea what connections you're making where and what is in serial versus parallel, or where you're intending to add power. KiCAD is not too hard but, like all CAD there is a learning curve. I can say first hand, KiCAD is far easier than FreeCAD or Blender.
It sounds like you want a circuit like what a self lit double pole switch has built in. With those switches, you have 3 terminals. The #2 middle terminal is your incoming power from the supply. When 1-2 are connected, your main circuit is powered. When 2-3 are powered, the main circuit is cut, but there is a light, (usually a neon lamp and resistor because it is for AC, but it can be a resistor and LED for a DC rated switch). The light can be lit because both the live and neutral are present on the switch. It is only possible to have the internal light if 2 polarities are present to complete the circuit. You can do the same thing externally by wiring a light in the 3rd terminal of a double pole switch. You just route the LED the right way depending on if you're switching ground or the positive rail.
With LED's be sure you understand star power and grounding, or you're going to have some lights that are brighter than others.
Yeah, I'm not surprised help is limited without a diagram. Maybe I can get around to making one tonight
Is this going in a light on the roof or something, and your switch on the wall? Im happy to help out but I think it would help to know what the installation will be and what wires youve got to work with
The lights are going to be on a wall, around 7' up, with the power running straight down to an outlet. About halfway up will be a switch
Oh right so you arent using existing wiring, and can run any wires you need? (That makes it easy)
Yep, the power source is a 7.5V wall wart
Awesome well what i would do is have the power supply inside the wall (behind the switch) on a plug base, powered 24/7. Id then run: 1 cable up to the light as your negative. 1 cable up to the light as your night light. 1 cable up to the light as your switched positive.
Bonus: If you want the night light to turn off when the main light is on, just run it off the normally closed terminal of the switch instead. Either way - just 3 wires from the bottom to the top, all 7.5vdc.
Any grade of cable is fine since its extra low voltage. Jusy make sure its like 1mm2 or greater so you dont suffer from voltage drop. If you just have one or two of these lights any switch should be fine with that load.
Is that what you were wanting to verify?
