Video Idea (Basic LED Tutorial) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:08:44 am
content: I figured, since all of us on the forum love LEDs, I would do a basic tutorial for beginners, detailing the basic history of these fun devices, how they work, as well as some common do's and don'ts of using them. (Current-limiting diodes, CC supplies, etc.) Please post any thoughts in the bottom, as well as anything you think would be important to cover as that was just a very rough draft.

author: TVman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:09:33 am
content: Go right ahead.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:15:53 am
content: I have also decided to add different types of drivers, and there pros+cons, etc.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:21:24 am
content: Looking forward to watching it.

author: scientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:44:21 am
content: Unless you understand quantum tunneling and are prepared to teach it to an audience composed entirely of babies, you'll have nothing on the billions of YouTubers who have already made videos on LEDs.

author: TVman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:48:40 am
content: Quote from: PeterG on May 13, 2014, 02:21:24 amMe too!

author: Joule Thief
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 02:56:07 am
content: looking forward to the video.don't forget some coverage of the 10 -100watt range (heatsinking & wiring considerations).

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 03:28:56 am
content: Quote from: Joule Thief on May 13, 2014, 02:56:07 amOK. I don't have any of those (shame) but will either look into getting a few for demonstration or just explaining.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 03:29:39 am
content: Quote from: scientist on May 13, 2014, 02:44:21 amYea, but it is an educational experience for me as well. Which is why I'm doing this. For the educational value.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 03:52:22 am
content: Most of the 12 year olds who make up the "Electronics Community" on the 'Net have only ever heard of LEDs in connection with house lighting,& scratch their heads if you mention the other common uses of this class of device.Same with MOSFET-------to me it suggests "Receiver RF amplifier or mixer"--- to them it is "high power switching device".

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 03:59:27 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on May 13, 2014, 03:52:22 amFor one of my friends MOSFET just means a magical part in an airsoft gun that makes little plastic ball fly out.

author: scientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 05:58:32 pm
content: pereczes, typically it's in the tens of microseconds (uS) or millionths of seconds (1/1000000) so it is basically instant.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2014, 09:25:18 pm
content: Rather than posting a video, you may want to think about it from the viewer's perspective: why should someone click on your video rather than someone else's? What's your video's value-add?

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 01:13:18 am
content: Even with all the videos out there on many aspects of electronics i feel there is still a need for a well presented series of videos that starts at the very basics and builds up from there. In this case i think it could easily be split into a couple of videos. The first video would cover the very basics of LEDs, there construction uses and so on. The second could cover things like methods of driving LEDs, such as high powered LED drivers and display setups.Same could be done for many other electronic components such as Mosfets, Triacs, LCD displays.Above all, do not be put off by the trolls of the internet. Even Dave Jones started with just a single video.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 01:46:30 am
content: Quote from: PeterG on May 14, 2014, 01:13:18 amI like that idea.

author: TVman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 03:52:33 am
content: Quote from: dannyf on May 13, 2014, 09:25:18 pmHe is A EEVBlog forum user.That makes all the difference!

author: Joule Thief
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 07:54:22 am
content: Start by telling the audience WHY they should spend time watching your video - have respect for someone else's limited resource of time Make a sales pitch to us about the value of your series and about yourself as well. If you are 15 years old, let us know that fact. Set some expectations and try to exceed those expectations. Make me think "WOW, a 15 year old did that!"Start with a quick introduction and summary of what will be discussed in the video. I can quickly decide if this is information that interests me. This shows respect for my time. As a professional in business for nearly 40 years, I like that. Correction, I demand that.Use a Tripod - if you make me seasick in the first 10 seconds, I leave.If you drop an LED on the floor - edit out the footage - don't make me go down on the floor with you to find it. And if you bang your head on the desk on the way up and start cursing ..... edit it out or you lost me. If you step on the LED, don't complain about how much they cost or how much it sucks living in Texas and having to run to the store to buy another one. I already know how much an LED costs and how long it takes to get another one from overseas !! Edit it out if it happens and stay on target with your content.If you burn yourself with a soldering iron and start cursing, edit it out - not something people want to spend their time watching. Better yet, if this is not a video about soldering, I don't want to see you soldering at all. Have your circuits prepared and working before the video begins.Don't have components tipping over when you go to probe the circuit. Secure your work for the video session. Don't construct your circuits with alligator clips hanging all over the place.If you wire up your circuit incorrectly and its blows up your meter or your power supply, edit it out. Do not change your LED tutorial into a power supply or multimeter diss-assembly video.Test your circuits before turning on the camera. Don't video yourself being surprised if a circuit doesn't work as it shows me you spent too little time and forethought on the presentation.Don't shine the LED directly into the video camera and force the camera to make drastic autoexposure corrections - looks unprofessional and poorly planned out. On that same thought, try to have a solid, neutral color background for your circuit breadboards. White breadboards against a white background or distracting background (scratched up work surface) annoys the heck out of us OCD'ers. We start thinking more about how you scratched your desk than the material in your tutorial.Keep in mind that getting the "small things" right in a video tutorial will make a huge positive difference in your "street cred". Take your time, develop your series and don't rush just to get one out there. Keep on topic and EDIT EDIT EDIT.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 08:33:52 am
content: And no slurping your coffee on camera

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2014, 12:06:43 pm
content: I didn't feel like a coffee till I read that!Now I'm slurping on one,& it'sall on you!!I'm not on camera,though!