MANUAL L E D Characteristics

M/s TEXLA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

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TEXLA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS CAT No: 1155

LED Characteristics
Aim: - To plot VI Characteristics of a LED Diode.

Description: -

LEDs emit light when an electric current passes through them. LED is connected in the circuit as shown
in figure. LED operates only in forward biased condition. Under forward bias condition the anode is
connected to the positive terminal and the cathode is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. It
is like a normal pn junction diode except the basic semiconductor material is GaAs or InP which is
responsible for the color of the light. When it is forward biased the holes moves from p to n and
electrons flow from n to p. In the junction the carriers recombine with each other and released the
energy in the form of light. Thus LED emits light under forward biased condition. Under reverse biased
condition, there is no recombination due to majority carriers, so there is no emission of light.

Connecting and soldering

LEDs must be connected the correct way round, the diagram may be labeled a or + for anode and k or -
for cathode (yes, it really is k, not c, for cathode!). The cathode is the short lead and there may be a
slight flat on the body of round LEDs. If you can see inside the LED the cathode is the larger electrode
(but this is not an official identification method). LEDs can be damaged by heat when soldering, but the
risk is small unless you are very slow. No special precautions are needed for soldering most LEDs.

Testing an LED

Never connect an LED directly to a battery or power supply! It will be destroyed almost instantly
because too much current will pass through and burn it out. LEDs must have a resistor in series to limit
the current to a safe value, for quick testing purposes a 1k resistor is suitable for most LEDs if your
supply voltage is 12V or less. Remember to connect the LED the correct way round!

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 = (VS - VL) / I
VS = supply voltage
VL = LED voltage (usually 2V, but 4V for blue and white LEDs)
I = LED current (e.g. 20mA), this must be less than the maximum permitted.

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TEXLA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS CAT No: 1155

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 VS = 9V, and you have a red LED (VL = 2V), requiring a current
I = 20mA = 0.020A,
R = (9V - 2V) / 0.02A = 350, so choose 390 (the nearest standard value which is greater).

Connecting LEDs in series

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TEXLA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS CAT No: 1155

If you wish to have several LEDs on at the same time it may be possible to connect them in series. This
prolongs battery life by lighting several LEDs with the same current as just one LED. All the LEDs
connected in series pass the same current so it is best if they are all the same type. The power supply
must have sufficient voltage to provide about 2V for each LED (4V for blue and white) plus at least
another 2V for the resistor. To work out a value for the resistor you must add up all the LED voltages
and use this for VL.

Example calculations:

A red, a yellow and a green LED in series need a supply voltage of at least
3 × 2V + 2V = 8V, so a 9V battery would be ideal.
VL = 2V + 2V + 2V = 6V (the three LED voltages added up). If the supply voltage V S is 9V and the
current I must be 15mA = 0.015A,
Resistor R = (VS - VL) / I = (9 - 6) / 0.015 = 3 / 0.015 = 200, so choose R = 220 (the nearest standard
value which is greater).

Avoid connecting LEDs in parallel. Connecting several LEDs in parallel with just one resistor shared
between them is generally not a good idea. If the LEDs require slightly different voltages only the
lowest voltage LED will light and it may be destroyed by the larger current flowing through it. Although
identical LEDs can be successfully connected in parallel with one resistor this rarely offers any useful
benefit because resistors are very cheap and the current used is the same as connecting the LEDs
individually.

Procedure:-

Forward bias:

Reverse bias:

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TEXLA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS CAT No: 1155

 Give the connection as per the circuit diagram.

 Vary the input voltages and note down the corresponding current for the voltages.
 Repeat the procedure for reverse bias condition and tabulate the corresponding voltages and
currents.
 Plot the graph between voltage and current for forward bias and reverse bias.
Tabular Column:

S.No Voltage Current

Graphs:-

Result:
Thus the VI characteristics of LED were studied.

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