limiting current on LED''s (slightly off topic)
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Posts: 46,084
Hi
Basically I agree with others saying that you can use a single
current limiting resistor with more than one LED.
However there are two caveats:
1) LEDs of different colors have different forward voltages and
different current needs. E.g: reds are about 1.6V, yellows 2.2V
and greens may have 2.4V - exact values may vary. So a red
LED might short out a green one.
2) If you light up all LEDs (same brand and color) sharing a common
resistor at one time it may be ok. But if the LEDs are lit up
individually, the current will be to high for a single LED or
to low for all LEDs together.
After all I recommend providing each LED with its own resistor.
Regards
Adrian
Basically I agree with others saying that you can use a single
current limiting resistor with more than one LED.
However there are two caveats:
1) LEDs of different colors have different forward voltages and
different current needs. E.g: reds are about 1.6V, yellows 2.2V
and greens may have 2.4V - exact values may vary. So a red
LED might short out a green one.
2) If you light up all LEDs (same brand and color) sharing a common
resistor at one time it may be ok. But if the LEDs are lit up
individually, the current will be to high for a single LED or
to low for all LEDs together.
After all I recommend providing each LED with its own resistor.
Regards
Adrian