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Main Characteristics

An LED requires a resistor to limit the current flowing through it and prevent burning out. The document provides instructions on how to calculate the optimal resistor value for an LED based on its voltage drop, rated current, and the power supply voltage. As a simple rule, a 150-360 ohm resistor can be used to power a typical 20mA LED with a 5V power supply.

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Raj Kumar
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25 views

Main Characteristics

An LED requires a resistor to limit the current flowing through it and prevent burning out. The document provides instructions on how to calculate the optimal resistor value for an LED based on its voltage drop, rated current, and the power supply voltage. As a simple rule, a 150-360 ohm resistor can be used to power a typical 20mA LED with a 5V power supply.

Uploaded by

Raj Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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An LED (Light Emitting Diode) is an energy-efficient, reliable, and long-lasting lamp.

An LED is a type of diode that glows when current flows through it from the anode (+) to the
cathode (-).

Main characteristics

Voltage drop V​F V

Rated current I A

Intensity (brightness) IV Cd

Wavelength (color) λ Nm

Typical wiring diagram

LED’s internal resistance after saturation is too low, and without a resistor that limits the
current flowing through the LED, the diode will burn out.
The place of the installation of the resistor in the circuit – before or after the LED – is not
important.

Finding the right resistor


Let’s calculate which R-resistor in the circuit we will need to use to get the best results. Let’s
imagine that we have the following LED and power supply unit:
V​F​ = 2.3 V
I = 20 mA
V​CC​ = 5 V

Let’s calculate the optimal resistance of the R-resistor and the minimum permissible voltage
of the PR – resistor. First, we will need to figure out the optimal voltage for the R-resistor:
UR​ ​ = VCC
​ ​ – VF​ ​ = 5V – 2.3 V = 2.7 V
Using Ohm’s law, we shall calculate the resistance value that we will get thanks to this
voltage drop:
R = U​R/I ​ = 2.7 V/0.02 A = 135 Ω
Thus:
● With resistance more than 135 Ohm, the brightness will be lower than the initially
stated one.
● With resistance less than 135 Ohm, LED’s life expectancy will be shorter.

Now we shall calculate the power that the resistor will be dissipating:
P​R​ = I​2​ * R = 0.02​2​ A * 135 Ω = 0.054 W
This means that if power is less than 54 megawatt, the resistor will burn out.

Simple rule
In order not to calculate values for the resistor during every experiment, you can simply
remember a rule for a most typical scenario.
To power 1 20 mA LED from 5 V, you need to use a 150 to 360 Ohm resistor.

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