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 8/13
intensity.ThisLEDhasaprettytightviewingangle.YoucanseethatlookingstraightdownattheLED
iswhenit’satitsbrightest,becauseat0degreesthebluelinesintersectwiththeoutermostcircle.To
getthe50%viewingangle,theangleatwhichthelightishalfasintense,followthe50%circlearound
thegraphuntilitintersectstheblueline,thenfollowthenearestspokeouttoreadtheangle.Forthis
LED,the50%viewingangleisabout20degrees.
Dimensions
Finally,themechanicaldrawing.Thispicturecontainsallofthemeasurementsyou’llneedtoactually
mounttheLEDinanenclosure!Noticethat,likemostLEDs,thisonehasasmallflangeatthebottom.
Thatcomesinhandywhenyouwanttomountitinapanel.Simplydrillaholetheperfectsizeforthe
bodyoftheLED,andtheflangewillkeepitfromfallingthrough!
Nowthatyouknowhowtodecipherthedatasheet,let’sseewhatkindoffancyLEDsyoumight
encounterinthewild…
TypesofLEDs
Congratulations,youknowthebasics!Maybeyou’veevengottenyourhandsonafewLEDsand
startedlightingstuffup,that’sawesome!Howwouldyouliketostepupyourblinkygame?Let’stalk
aboutmakin'itfancy.
Here’sthecastofcharacters: