how to lower voltage?

[tac0meat]

this isnt explorer related but it is performance lighting in a way. i have a remote control f150 and i am in the procces of puttind tail lights, fog lights, and headlights, and a neon undercar kit on it. i am using LEDs all the and a pair of 6 inch mini neons. the lights are being powered by there own 12volt battery pack. i need to know how to lower the voltage to 2 volts and 3.5 volts(two seperate leads) i thought a 50 ohm resistor would get me to about 3.5 volts but it has absolutly no effect on the voltage, neither does a 1.5k ohm resistor. i have a 25 ohm varible resistor in my computer for my fans and i read 7 volts (12volts in) at 25 ohms. what gives? i know i dont understand ohms law or any of that stuff, but i thought a resistor was made for lowering voltage?

 

[JDraper]

You can do it with a resistive circuit, but you will kill your battery life doing it. A better way is to get yourself a voltage regulator from an electronics manufacturer. Take a look at Radio Shack Online Voltage Regulators. there are other electronics companies like Newark Electronics or DigiKey that also carry voltage regulators.

Good Luck!!

Brain fart!! I wasn't awake when I put this up early in the morning!! You don't really have to worry about the voltage, it's the current that will waste your lights. For the LED's try a 270 ohm resistor in series. For the mini neon's, start with a 1kohm resistor and adjust it down for brightness. The reason you got no voltage drop with just the resistor is you probably had no load on the circuit. Measure the voltage with a load in place, and you will see the voltage drop.

 

[tac0meat]

cool i havent tested it with a meter yet but im not burning out leds any more so i think its workin. thanx man