Which is better?

[Hambone68]

Also, to figure out what resistor to use with your LED in your setup, you can use the LED Resistor Calculator. You need to know 3 things: the voltage of your supply, the forward voltage of the LED, and the forward current of the LED. You should be able to find the second two items on the spec sheet for the LED you're using, but if you don't have the spec sheet, you'll find that for 5mm LED's, the typical forward voltage is 3.2v - 3.6v and the typical forward voltage is 20ma. Using those numbers and a source voltage of 5v, you would need at least a 100ohm 1/8 watt resistor (or higher) to protect the LED. At 12v, you would need a 470 ohm 1/8 watt resistor (or higher). Or, to put it simply, for any vaping voltages you'll be working with, a 470 Ohm resistor will do just fine.

 

[Hambone68]

Ah! So I make it work harder to do less...and it overheats and dies

Basically, yes

 

[locke2121]

Ok...got my box, switch, connector, a cool slow change LED and batteries on the way! I was going to use a scavanged 510 connector from an old Joye battery, but I cut through the side lol. I think it could still work..but I'd have to fill the cut with JBweld and I figured it would be better to save that for another day. The regulator though...gotta wait till next pay day lol. We're going on vacation next week so gotta watch my money!

 

[locke2121]

Regulator is ordered lol. I would squeal like a little girl....but then people would look at me funny.