I have a cord strip that has 2 deplex receptacles each one has a 15 amp circuit breakers. Im trying to install a green LED on each circuit so when the strip is pluged in the LED's are lit ,put if the breaker trips the LED go off. can any one confirm how to wire this.
The positive lead to the LED go's to to the black wire coming in from the cord. the Negative lead from the LED gets a 5600 Ohm resistor, the resistor connects to one side of the 15 amp circuit breaker, Im not sure on the wattage of the resistor . Is this the best way to do this?? Thanks Mark
The best way to do this would be to use a 120vac incandescent indicator light.
The issue I see with you doing it the way you propose is that you will be drawing 2.5 watts across the resistor - so you would technically be looking at a 5 watt resistor for long term reliability. That's a pretty big resistor.
Industrial controls use transformers to step the 120vac voltage down to something more practical (like 12 or 24vac). By going down to 12vac you will reduce your power by 10x (.25 watt). I would recomend a 1000 ohm resistor to give you 12mA of current to power the LED. This would be 0.144 watts, so you could get away with a 1,000 ohm, 1/4 watt resistor and a 10:1 transformer.
https://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=595-1115-ND
https://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=595-1176-ND
Either of those will work as long as you can fit it inside the unit you are working with.
The other thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are doing all work with the power strip unplugged - don't take any chances when messing with 120vac!
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Kevin Pierson