Hardware : How to connect LED on parallel port
 
This page describes how to connect LEDs on parallel port..

Many thanks to Gazza 4x4 for this great how-to.

 

Thought I would start a thread to help others out
If you have any tips, help. advice then post here for all to benifit.
LDR's ( Light Dependent Resistors ) No matter how simple it may be to you it may be a god send to others so here is my first tip on
LED'S ( Light Emitting Diode ) Be aware there is 2.5v, 5v & 12v LED'S possable even more.You want the 2.5v with a 47ohm resister

How do you know what colour the LED is ( trust Me bought some other day and all of them were clear ) also do a test on coloured ones and even if you have cut the legs off to the same length. A simple test is put your multimeter on DIODE test ( this should be your first item to buy in electronics 2nd soldering iron )
Ok check out pic below :



the Leads from multimeter are connected to Black common and red volts /amps diode etc dont worry if they are fixed leads all the better. Now just turn dial to diode see pic for symbol the LED WILL ONLY LIGHT the correct way round so you know which is positive ( PIN on LPT 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 are all POSITIVE and negitive (ground is PIN 25 )

Try this you MUST put in resistor or it will blow the LED'S take care dont short out on other pins or you may blow the LPT port if not sure how to do it . . . dont do it

I take no responsability



Also try this to locate pins



I normally strip colour back to wire then cellotape the colour on to paper with the pin Number trust me this is easy to trace when faults happen

E.G
BLUE = PIN 2 start light red ( blue wire is connected to led on gantry )
RED = PIN 3 start light Amber ( red wire is connected to led on gantry )
--------
--------
Green / Red Pin 10 Lap sensor lane 1 (Green/red wire is sensor to lane 1 )

etc.etc
when you have done all this pin it on wall or under table

More info / ideas on my web site http://www.trackside.co.uk/Scalextric.html

hope this helps out now go and set up your Ultimate racer 30 on your PC. . . have fun