RGB LED 5 mm - wired, 4 connections, 20 mA per color channel, common anode or cathode

Product Overview

• RGB LED with three color chips in a 5 mm housing
• Four leads, common terminal plus three individual color connections
• Common-anode or common-cathode version
• Color mixing through PWM control of the individual channels
• Common lead made longer for reliable polarity identification
• Three external series resistors required

Product Description

This RGB LED combines three separate light-emitting diodes (red, green, and blue) in a single 5 mm housing. The four leads consist of one common terminal and three individual connections, one for each color. This reduces the number of leads from six to four, simplifying assembly.

Depending on the version, the common connection is either the negative terminal of all three color diodes (common cathode) or the positive terminal (common anode). The common lead is made longer, making it easier to identify the polarity without further reference. The color channels are controlled separately via the PWM-capable outputs of a microcontroller. This allows the brightness of each individual color to be adjusted continuously and produces a wide spectrum of shades through additive color mixing.

Status indicators benefit from the compact design and the many color combinations. Dynamic lighting effects in electronics projects and decorative lighting in hobby projects can be implemented just as easily. A separate series resistor is required for each of the three color channels because the component does not have an integrated resistor. The LED is therefore suitable for all microcontrollers with PWM outputs and standard 5 V logic.

Safety Information

The RGB LED must not be operated without protective resistors. This component is intended exclusively for building prototypes and for testing and development purposes and is not suitable for installation in household mains circuits.

Scope of Delivery

• 1x RGB LED