Everything about LEDs: Learn the basics of LED lighting and how to power it!

LEDs are suitable for a wide range of lighting applications because they are designed to produce a large amount of light from a small form factor while remaining extremely efficient. Here at LED Supply, we have a wide range of LEDs for a wide range of lighting applications; the trick is knowing how to use them. LED technology is distinct from other types of lighting that most people are familiar with. This post will explain everything you need to know about LED lighting, including how to safely power LEDs to get the lightest and the longest lifespan possible.

What is an LED, exactly?

Schematic of a light-emitting diode

An LED is a diode that converts electrical energy into light. A diode, for those who don't know, is an electrical component that only works in one direction. An LED is essentially an electrical component that emits light when electricity flows through it in one direction, from the Anode (positive side) to the Cathode (negative side) (negative side). LED is an abbreviation for 'Light Emitting Diode.' LEDs are tiny light bulbs that use much less power to light up and are much more efficient at producing high light outputs.

LED Varieties

In general, we stock two types of LEDs:

1. 5mm Through-Hole & Surface Mount.

5mm LEDs are diodes contained within a 5mm lens with two thin metal legs on the bottom.

Surface Mount LEDs (SMD) are bare emitters of light-emitting diodes.

Surface Mount LEDs are diodes that can be placed on a substrate (circuit board) and are protected by a silicon dome.

Wiring LEDs: Polarity Is Important

Electronic polarity indicates whether a circuit is symmetric or not. LEDs are diodes, so current can only flow in one direction. When there is no current flow, there is no light. This means that if we were an LED backward, it will not burn out the entire system; it will simply not turn on.

Color Choices

One of the most appealing aspects of LEDs is the variety of light sources available.

LEDs in white

The process of producing different white light at different temperatures is known as Correlated Color Temperature (CCT). Color temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (K), a temperature scale in which zero equals absolute zero and each degree equals one Kelvin. Lower temperatures between 3,000K and 4,500K are generally warmer to neutral white. Cool whites, also known as 'daylight white,' are found at temperatures of 5,000K or higher.

LEDs in various colors

What matters in color is the wavelength in nanometers (nm). In some applications, colors are required for the visual effect, but certain wavelengths are required in others, such as curing, growing reef tank lighting, and many others.

LED luminance

LEDs are well-known not only for their colors but also for being much brighter than other light sources. Because LEDs are measured in Lumens, it can be difficult to predict how bright they will be. A luminous flux, or the total amount of visible light emitted by a source, is measured in lumens. It is worth noting that 5mm LEDs are typically listed in millicandelas.

Why should current events be prioritized...

The amount of light (Lumens) emitted by an LED is determined by the amount of current supplied. Current is expressed in milliamps (mA) or amps (A) (A). LEDs with high power can handle currents ranging from 350mA to 3000mA. LEDs have different current ratings, so keep this in mind when selecting an LED and driver.

Choosing the Brightness

The tricky part now is determining which LED and driver combination will produce the required light. We laid the groundwork in a previous post by measuring the brightness of each high-power LED at various drive currents. T

Optics and Viewing Angle

Our 5mm LEDs all have listed viewing angles, so just find one that works for you. When it comes to surface mount LEDs, most of them have a wide angle of 125 degrees!

How to Power LEDs

LEDs are known to have the highest efficacy of any light source. Efficacy, also known as Lumens per Watt, is a measurement of how well a light source produces visible light. In other words, how much light do we get for each watt of power we use? To determine this, first, determine the wattage of the LED in use. To calculate watts, multiply the forward voltage by the drive current in amps.

This should give you a good start in understanding LEDs and what to look for, but if you have any further questions or would like more information on a specific product and whether it would work for you, we are here to help.

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