On Sun, 26 Jul 1998 21:08:51 -0500, Troy P. wrote:

>Hi all,
>I have an opportunity make a little money if I can design a display that
>has 5 - 36" tall digits on it. I have always wanted to make one of these
>anyway but I wanted to do it with LEDs. Does anyone have any experience
>with this type of design. Questions that came to my mind were:
>1. What should the width of each segment be? The height will be 18".
>
>2. What should the spacing on the LEDs be? I was thinking about
>stagering them for more coverage.
>
>3. How should the current and voltage be made? First calculations show
>about 30amps at around 5v per digit. This didn't sound right to me. This
>was based on 8LEDs/square inch and each segment being 18" x 2" and this
>seems too skinny.

Might I suggest *multiplexing* the segments!  <VBG>  Then you won't need
000 gauge wire to feed them.. Perhaps divide the LEDS into other groups
that scatter them throughout the display then mutiplex each group.  That
way some of the LEDS would be on in each segments at any given time.

Look at LED clusters that are sold as replacements for incandescent
indicator lamps.  I have seen them in many catalogs.

>
>Any thoughts will help before I start spending money on development.
>


Dan