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I bought an LED with built-in resistor from Radio Shack (US electronics store) that specifies the following: Forward (supply) voltage: 12.0 typ. 16.0 max.

Does this mean a 12V (specifically, a 23A 12V) is meant to power the LED?

I'm a complete electronics newb, so anything you can share would be helpful.

Would there be any other methods better for powering this LED? Thanks.

I am a chemist and understand mostly how an Light Emitting Diode works chemically but I will spare you the nerd details and just let you know LEDs have an energy barrier that must be supplied to generate the photons from the emissive layer that create visible light, that energy barrier is the voltage you apply, so if its 12V you need a 12v power source.

A= ampers which is a measure of the quanitity of electrons per second.

so a 12v battery should work.

You could create a battery series by connecting them in parallel, and use smaller batteries but more than 1. just google battery series or batteries in parallel

Thanks for the help. Its a relief to know I'm on the right track.

Check to see if you can remove the resistor. The resistor is there so you can use the L.E.D. on 12v. L.E.D.s are usually 3v. So it would be possible to run it on a small battery. Just see if you can find out what resistor it has got before you try anything.

If I remember correctly, 1.8V is the maximum voltage you can place in an LED without it blowing. I'm not sure if you can get more resistant LEDs at Radio Shack, but I've always been told that 1.8 is the most, so you'll need a considerably high resistor if you are using a 12V cell, although if it has a built-in resistor, then I have no idea.

(Dammit, had hoped my A* Systems and Control result would have been more help)

The built in resistor throws things off a bit. Most of the LEDs I've played around with were just standalone jobs, but if it's rated for 12v average, then I'd use a 12v battery. (or probably more likely, 8 1.5v) Must be either a hell of a resistor or a powerful LED though to require that much juice. Is it an array of LEDs or a single diode? You could probably get away with underdriving it at any rate. You'd just have to play with it a bit.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062569

It doesn't say it, but the LED has a built-in resistor. I purchased a 23A 12V battery and it seems to be powering it just fine. No issues so far.

It's 5mm so that is normaly 3.2v, if you can get it out of the green case you can cut that resistor out. I think it would be easier to buy a new LED.

What are you using it for?

Here's where we can buy them from the UK
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/blue-12000-leds-blue-tint-p-1952.html

<painting and modeling tutorials is for complete tutorials, and not for asking questions; thread banished>

What are you trying to do with the LED?

I have it underneath a green luminescent crystal, resting atop a rock formation. With the LED, it makes the crystal glow like warpstone. I'll get a pic if I can. The wife pilfered the camera for the weekend.