That's a good target number to help you make the resistor calculations we talked about. This datasheet is even helpful enough to suggest a stable current range (in the third row from the top) of 16-18mA. This LED can handle short bumps to 30mA, but you don't want to sustain that current for too long. The second row tells us what the maximum peak current should be for short bursts.
In this case, you can give it 20mA or less, and it will shine its brightest at 20mA. The first row in the table indicates how much current your LED will be able to handle continuously. You can find out all about it in the example applications of our resistor tutorial! Don't worry, it only takes a little basic math to determine the best resistor value to use. Resistors limit the flow of electrons in the circuit and protect the LED from trying to draw too much current. That's why it's important to limit the amount of current flowing across the LED.įor this, we employ resistors. If you connect an LED directly to a current source it will try to dissipate as much power as it's allowed to draw, and, like the tragic heroes of olde, it will destroy itself. 3) There is Such a Thing as Too Much Power But, setting the mood isn't the only reason to cut back your current. The second is that you can control the brightness of an LED by controlling the amount of current through it. The first being that super bright LEDs drain batteries more quickly, because the extra brightness comes from the extra power being used. The brightness of an LED is directly dependent on how much current it draws. So don't freak out if adding an LED breaks your circuit. A reversed LED can keep an entire circuit from operating properly by blocking current flow. The other, negative side of the LED is called the "cathode." Current flows from the anode to the cathode and never the opposite direction. The positive side of the LED is called the "anode" and is marked by having a longer "lead," or leg.
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