LEDs make great indicator lights. They use very little electricity and they pretty much last forever.
You cannot directly connect an LED to a battery or voltage source. Firstly, because the LED has a positive and a negative lead and will not light if they are the wrong way around and secondly, an LED must be used with a resistor to limit or 'choke' the amount of current flowing through the LED - otherwise the LED could burn out!
LEDs are ideal indicators, and our diffused LEDs are fairly bright and we use them in our projects all the time. They go easily into a breadboard and will add that extra zing to your project.
- Pack of 10 diffused red LEDs
- 5mm diameter
- 1.85-2.5V Forward Voltage, at 20mA current
- 250 mcd typical brightness