Cheap AC to DC converter for LED lighting

Or you can do it very very cheap:

Edit:
230V version
C1 = 470nf 630v Capacitor http://electronics123.co.za/Main.as...9181-7AF9FE0DBB4A}&PageType=Product&SKU=GB329
D1 = 1N4148 Diode http://electronics123.co.za/Main.as...9181-7AF9FE0DBB4A}&PageType=Product&SKU=HB052
R1 = 1M 250v Resistor none listed on E123
R2 = 1k 1w Resistor http://electronics123.co.za/Main.as...3&SKU=DB122&DisplayMode=Category&PageNumber=4

Subtotal: R6.00 lol - take schematic to your local electronics shop;
Gauteng: www.mantech.co.za, rsonline.com, electronics123.co.za
Cpt: www.fort777.co.za

They'll gladly assist

Add: LED's of choice - Mantech Jhb has some for very cheap - see Mantech on Bidorbuy for even better prices
Add: Plug
Add: Wires
Add: Fuse NBBB


Used this with 10 x 5000mcd White LED's in parallel without problems
didnt even make a circuit board, just soldered the component legs together and isolated with headshrink tubing
Dont have it anymore though - otherwise would've sent pics

basically
Power comes in on left
R1 = dummy load - helps "to get the electrons flowing" in laymans terms
R2 - Limits current to prevent burning up the LEDs
C1 - AC flowing through a capacitor - cap' acts as a huge resistor without generating any heat
D1 - "rectifies" the AC to be "DC"

So... Power comes in, gets flowing, gets stepped down to 4-5v, and the Diode filters the AC to become DC (though not regulated, so its full of ripples - but good enough for LEDs)

Sorry, my bad...
Just continued on the other people who already hijacked lol
Though, if anyone interested in doing LED Moonlighting read this whole thread, they'd have all the info in one place and then decide

 

That's awesome, I've been wondering how easy it is to make a converter circuit.
I know you can get them as complete little boards online from the US, but haven't seen anything like that here yet.

What is the voltage that this little circuit makes? And what would I need to change to adjust it?

So far I've just been testing out using an old cellphone charger that gives me 3V DC