wiring LEDs

[montmorency]

im doing a model stage in set design in school and i want to do some real lighting using 5mm LEDs. i need to power them with batteries. i figured that 2 d batteries
would give me 72 hours of light. what i need to know is it within my
skills/budget/tools range to make a controller for on/off and brightness?

[crazybillybob]

im doing a model stage in set design in school and i want to do some real lighting using 5mm LEDs. i need to power them with batteries. i figured that 2 d batteries
would give me 72 hours of light. what i need to know is it within my
skills/budget/tools range to make a controller for on/off and brightness?

Should be. Go to Radio Shack. Get a SPDT Toggle Switch, a pack of 220 ohm resistors and a 10K ohm Potentiometer. Wire the Middle pole of the Switch to the + of the Batts, Then go from the top pole of the switch to one of the 220 ohm Resistors then from the other side of the resistor to the middle pole of the Pot (this is so if you turn the pot all the way down you don't blow the LED). Then wire from the top pole of the Pot to the + of the LEDs. Wire the - of the LEDs to Ground. If you pick up a 2D batt pack @ the Shack you should still come in under $20 us.

Good luck,
Crazybillybob

[montmorency]

thanx!