LED Power?

Gate28

Ok, sorry to sound like a nub, but I got this infrared LED and i need for a little experiment with my Wii and I have no idea how to power it. Its got a blue glass ball on to of two long silver prongs, any help?

Your-Amish-Daddy

1.5v to 3v usually. Doesn't really matter which way the power goes in I think, but look at it and find the top of the diode in the ball, and follow that down out of the bulb to the stems and that SHOULD be positive.

shwaip

it does matter which way the power goes, and you need a current limiting resistor. the voltage required depends on the led.

the led should have a flattened edge somewhere on the "bulb" (it's not really a bulb). This is the negative side.

tmh88

The longer leg is the positive side.

broady81

Same with all diodes. Gate, may I enquire into what you are doing ? Just curious about Wii mods

mmonnin

LED - Light Emitting Diode. Diodes dont work backwards. Same way with caps.

shwaip

mmonnin wrote:

LED - Light Emitting Diode. Diodes dont work backwards. Same way with caps.

that depends on your definition of "work".

edcentric

work = emit light
Hook it up backward and it will do nothing.
apply too much voltage and it will smoke. once.

shwaip

edcentric wrote:

work = emit light
Hook it up backward and it will do nothing.
apply too much voltage and it will smoke. once.

what i mean is that a diode hooked up backwards will work properly. It will do nothing.

Gate28

broady81 wrote:

Same with all diodes. Gate, may I enquire into what you are doing ? Just curious about Wii mods

IR LEDs + Wiimote + reflective tape = OMGFINGERWIIMOTES