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Through-hole indicator LED · Kingbright WP7113 family

LED (5 mm) Working Principle

Learn how LED (5 mm) works with an illustrated explanation and practical readings.

LED (5 mm) at a glance

Follow the labeled connections and functional stages

LED (5 mm) working principle: illustrated functional stages, basic circuit and connections
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How it works

3 stages · Explore one step at a time

Step 1 / 3

Forward bias the junction

With the anode more positive than the cathode by about the forward voltage, electrons and holes cross the junction and recombine.

Step 2 / 3

Recombination makes light

Each recombination releases a photon. The band gap of the chip material sets its energy, and so the colour: GaAlAs red, AlGaInP yellow, GaP green, InGaN blue; white adds a phosphor to a blue chip.

Step 3 / 3

Limit the current

Above Vf the current rises exponentially, so a series resistor (or a constant-current driver) must set it. Brightness follows the current; heat follows current × voltage.

Component view