Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Thought I'd post this (my) reply to the group as it may be helpful...

from Terry:
Thanks for the info, I understand better now. I thought you were
talking about a single LED that changed colors according to voltage.
What you described is a little different, but will still work for
most purposes I have in mind.
Thanks again!
~Terry

Your welcome Terry,

But just for clearification purposes - and I'm assuming that maybe
you've been over to the "LED museum.com" -
it IS a single LED 'looking' device yet has 4 leads coming out the
bottom; one cathode and one for each of the red, green, blue leds
that are in the thing. - and its best to keep in mind that LEDS work
on CURRENT not voltage.

I understand how these concepts of 'voltage and current'- and
their 'intermingling' are probably the single most misunderstood
thing in electronics - and probably the BIGGEST reason why people
don't understand or just can't grasp: 1) designing their own stuff
2) or modifying existing stuff and 3)troubleshooting! (which of
course none of us here ever have to do cause we get it right the
first time - right? - I'm laughing at myself here cause I"VE smelled
A LOT of the "magic smoke" that escapes an IC or transistor if wired
incorrectly!

My primary point here is: "CLEAR the definitions of WORDS" in a good
dicitionary (there are bad ones you know)-and be able to APPLY those
words in your own sentences - this is how you know that you really
understand them! Keep in mind that most folks simply have
a 'misunderstood' word, not a "completely 'not'" understood word and
this is how CONFUSION is created. Look around our little planet if
you don't believe me!

There is no such thing as a misunderstood 'concept'. Its only the
WORDS which describe that concept that are misunderstood!

And to make it abit more difficult - words can have
different "CONTEXTS": - make sure you are using the right one that
applies to the way the word is being used in your application.

I realize that some may feel this being all sorta redundant and nit-
picky. I did too when I first heard the above little "fact". After
I learned this and a few more things - I went back to school
(college), got my BSEE (electronic) and graduated at the very top of
my class - and believe me - prior, I narrowly escaped high school
without flunking out - i was THAT confused and messed up about
learning before! (our current 'education' system (through high
school) is completely failing -eh?)

I mean - and my BSEE was in electronics - that many things I learned
along the way such as 'ohms law' 'kirchoff's law' and a whole
crapload of 'laws' all sorta drifted off into oblivion cause with
electronics, your talking 5volts, + and - 12/15volts and so WHAT!
who cares if 2 wires get crossed - right?

Then I started working at Commonwealth Edison (power company)here in
Chicago for the last thirteen years.

Lemme tell ya -if you DON"T understand or have a misunderstanding of
Ohm's law, Kirchoffs, etc. - you will be DEAD! Brings NEW meaning to
understanding and knowledge -huh?

I really hope this helps everyone out - its worked wonders for me!

This is powerful stuff - use it and get really smart! And when you
get to the point where you realize that you can learn ANYTHING (and
only couldn't before because you have been the effect of a bad
education system) - life really tends to become wonderful and takes
on a whole new meaning!

back to the magic smoke! You never realized that RGBs were this
philosopical - huh?

Rog