A diode is an electronic semiconductor device through which current can only flow in one direction. A light emitting diode (LED) is a device that lights up when current flows through it in the proper direction. While early LEDs were low intensity and only produced red light, modern LEDs are available that release light across the visible spectrum. Because of this, they can be used for many different purposes. In order to have control over when the LED is on, you should wire it to a switch.
- Copper wire
- 12-volt power source
- Soldering iron
Make sure you wire your LED with the anode and cathode in the proper positions or else the LED will not light up.
Always include the proper value resistor in your circuit. If the LED receives too much current it can explode, causing a safety hazard.
Note the rated amperage and voltage for the LED that you purchased.
Calculate the value of resistor that you will need for your circuit using the formula: (source voltage - LED voltage drop) / LED current amps = ohms. For example, using a 12-volt power source with an LED rated at 3.1 volts and 20 milliamps results in a resistor value of 445 ohms. Purchase a resistor with a value close to this value, rounding up as little as possible.
Solder your resistor to the positive wire of the LED; this is called the anode and is the longer of the two wires coming out of the LED.
Ensure the switch is set to the "Off" position. Connect the other side of the resistor to one terminal of the switch with a piece of copper wire. Solder the wire to both the switch and the resistor.
Solder a piece of copper wire between the other terminal of the switch and the positive side of the power supply; this side of the power supply will be marked with a "+" and will usually be the red terminal on a commercial power supply.
Place a third piece of wire between the negative side of the LED and power supply; the negative side is called the cathode and will be the shorter of the two leads coming out of the LED. Solder the wire to the LED and the power supply.
Flip the switch to the "On" position and ensure that the LED lights up properly.
Things You'll Need
- Make sure you wire your LED with the anode and cathode in the proper positions or else the LED will not light up.
- Always include the proper value resistor in your circuit. If the LED receives too much current it can explode, causing a safety hazard.
About the Author
David Somerset has been a writer intermittently for 11 years. He attended New Mexico Tech and earned a Bachelor of Science in technical communication in 2007. From being published in the "Bucksworth Community News" to writing how-to articles for eHow, his experience is quite diverse.
green led image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com