Data Sheet

6/30/2015 LightemittingDiodes(LEDs)learn.sparkfun.com
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/lightemittingdiodesleds?_ga=1.43468261.1900427809.1434378181 4/13
It’salsonotamathtutorial,sowe’llgiveyouafewrulesofthumbforgettingLEDsupandrunning.As
you’veprobablyputtogetherfromtheinfointhelastsection,you’llneedabattery,aresistorandan
LED.We’reusingabatteryasourpowersource,becausethey’reeasytofindandtheycan’tsupplya
dangerousamountofcurrent.
ThebasictemplateforanLEDcircuitisprettysimple,justconnectyourbattery,resistorandLEDin
series.Likethis:
AgoodresistorvalueformostLEDsis330Ohms.Youcanusetheinformationfromthelastsectionto
helpyoudeterminetheexactvalueyouneed,butthisisLEDswithoutmath…So,startbypoppinga
330Ohmresistorintotheabovecircuitandseewhathappens.
Theinterestingthingaboutresistorsisthatthey’lldissipateextrapowerasheat,soifyouhavea
resistorthat’sgettingwarm,youprobablyneedtogowithasmallerresistance.Ifyourresistoristoo
small,however,youruntheriskofburningouttheLED!GiventhatyouhaveahandfulofLEDsand
resistorstoplaywith,here’saflowcharttohelpyoudesignyourLEDcircuitbytrialanderror: