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Calculating An LED Resistor Value

To calculate the resistor value needed for an LED: 1) Use Ohm's law formula R = (Vsupply - VLED) / ILED where Vsupply is the power source voltage, VLED is the LED voltage, and ILED is the desired current through the LED. 2) Convert the desired LED current in mA to amps by dividing by 1000. 3) Choose the nearest standard resistor value that is greater than the calculated value to ensure the LED current does not exceed the desired level.

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135 views

Calculating An LED Resistor Value

To calculate the resistor value needed for an LED: 1) Use Ohm's law formula R = (Vsupply - VLED) / ILED where Vsupply is the power source voltage, VLED is the LED voltage, and ILED is the desired current through the LED. 2) Convert the desired LED current in mA to amps by dividing by 1000. 3) Choose the nearest standard resistor value that is greater than the calculated value to ensure the LED current does not exceed the desired level.

Uploaded by

kish007rd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Calculating an LED resistor value

An LED must have a resistor connected in series to


limit the current through the LED, otherwise it will burn
out almost instantly.
The resistor value, R is given by:
R = (V
S
- V
L
) / I
V
S
= supply voltage
V
L
= LED voltage (usually 2V, but 4V for blue and white LEDs)
I = LED current (e.g. 10mA = 0.01A, or 20mA = 0.02A)
Make sure the LED current you choose is less than the maximum permitted
and convert the current to amps (A) so the calculation will give the
resistor value in ohms ( ).
To convert mA to A divide the current in mA by 1000 because 1mA =
0.001A.
If the calculated value is not available choose the nearest standard resistor
value which is greater, so that the current will be a little less than you
chose. In fact you may wish to choose a greater resistor value to reduce
the current (to increase battery life for example) but this will make the LED
less bright.
For example
If the supply voltage V
S
= 9V, and you have a red LED (V
L
= 2V), requiring a current
I = 20mA = 0.020A,
R = (9V - 2V) / 0.02A = 350 , so choose 390 (the nearest standard value which is
greater).
Working out the LED resistor formula using Ohm's law
Ohm's law says that the resistance of the resistor, R = V/I, where:
V = voltage across the resistor (= V
S
- V
L
in this case)
I = the current through the resistor
So R = (V
S
- V
L
) / I

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