> > This might be able to help you out.
> >
> > http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
> Hmmm, thanks Mike - that works pretty slick. But I have a
> question... the "forward voltage" the calculator uses... I read
> the little aside-note it has on using "best guess" voltage if you
> don't know the specs... my question is just what do they mean by
> forward voltage?
The short answer is that it is the voltage drop across the LED.
Longer answer: forward voltage is the voltage across a diode when
current is flowing in the "forward" direction, or the direction
that allows current.
This page has a table of common voltages about 1/4th of the way
down:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode
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