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How to connect 1206 Side View LED in parallel?

by jon•

Hey there, fellow electronics enthusiasts! I’m a supplier of 1206 Side View LEDs, and I often get asked how to connect these little guys in parallel. So, I thought I’d put together this blog post to share some tips and tricks on the topic. 1206 Side View LED

First off, let’s talk about why you might want to connect 1206 Side View LEDs in parallel. There are a few reasons. One is that it allows you to increase the overall brightness of your lighting setup. When you connect LEDs in parallel, the voltage across each LED remains the same, but the current is divided among them. This means that you can use multiple LEDs to achieve a brighter light output without having to increase the voltage.

Another reason to connect LEDs in parallel is that it can provide redundancy. If one LED fails, the others will still continue to work. This can be especially important in applications where reliability is key, such as in automotive lighting or emergency lighting.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to connect 1206 Side View LEDs in parallel. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1206 Side View LEDs
  • A power supply
  • Wires
  • A soldering iron and solder (optional, but recommended for a more permanent connection)

Here are the steps to connect the LEDs in parallel:

  1. Determine the voltage and current requirements of your LEDs. You can usually find this information in the datasheet provided by the manufacturer. Make sure your power supply can provide the appropriate voltage and current for your LEDs.

  2. Prepare your wires. Cut the wires to the appropriate length and strip the ends of the wires to expose the metal.

  3. Connect the positive terminals of all the LEDs together. You can do this by soldering the wires to the positive terminals of the LEDs or by using a connector.

  4. Connect the negative terminals of all the LEDs together in the same way.

  5. Connect the positive wire from the power supply to the positive terminal of the LED array, and the negative wire from the power supply to the negative terminal of the LED array.

  6. Double-check your connections to make sure they are secure and there are no short circuits.

  7. Turn on the power supply and test your LEDs. If everything is working correctly, your LEDs should light up.

It’s important to note that when connecting LEDs in parallel, you need to make sure that the forward voltage of each LED is the same. If the forward voltage of one LED is significantly different from the others, it may draw more current than the others, which can cause it to overheat and fail. To ensure that the forward voltage of each LED is the same, you can use a current-limiting resistor for each LED.

Here’s how to calculate the value of the current-limiting resistor:

  1. Determine the forward voltage of your LED. This can usually be found in the datasheet provided by the manufacturer.

  2. Determine the desired current for your LED. This can also be found in the datasheet.

  3. Calculate the resistance of the current-limiting resistor using Ohm’s Law: R = (V – Vf) / I, where R is the resistance of the resistor, V is the voltage of the power supply, Vf is the forward voltage of the LED, and I is the desired current for the LED.

  4. Choose a resistor with a value close to the calculated value. Make sure the resistor can handle the power dissipated by the LED.

For example, let’s say you have a 1206 Side View LED with a forward voltage of 2.2V and a desired current of 20mA, and you’re using a 5V power supply. Using Ohm’s Law, we can calculate the resistance of the current-limiting resistor as follows:

R = (5V – 2.2V) / 0.02A = 140 ohms

So, you would need to choose a resistor with a value close to 140 ohms.

In addition to using a current-limiting resistor for each LED, you can also use a constant current driver to ensure that each LED receives the same amount of current. A constant current driver is a device that regulates the current flowing through the LEDs, regardless of the voltage across them. This can be especially useful in applications where the voltage may vary, such as in battery-powered devices.

Well, that’s about it for how to connect 1206 Side View LEDs in parallel. I hope this blog post has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you’re in the market for high-quality 1206 Side View LEDs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for a quote. I’d be happy to help you find the right LEDs for your project.

2mm DIP LED References:

  • LED Datasheets
  • Electronics Textbooks

Dongguan Zhiding Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Dongguan Zhiding Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional 1206 side view led manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality customized products. We warmly welcome you to wholesale bulk 1206 side view led in stock and get free sample from our factory.
Address: No. 8, Xiaqiao Yinling Industry Zone, Dongcheng Dist., Dongguan, Guangdong, China
E-mail: sales@zhidingled.com
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