LED information

[DVR V8]

Hi everyone. Could anyone help. I've managed to break A LED on my car heater panel when fitting the new veneer. I've ordered new ones but could someone tell me which leg of the LED (anode and cathode) goes to which joint. Kind regards.

[SS2.]

Can you not tell the orientation from the damaged LED ?

If not, try holding the legs of the replacement LED on to the solder points. If the LED doesn't light up, it's the wrong way round.

[thebraketester]

Complete guess but it looks like the left legs are joined so I would say they are the cathodes.

[DVR V8]

Sadly no, it fell off when I stripped it down. I resoldered it and it didn't work so probably got it the wrong way round and blown it. Regards.

[SS2.]

The purpose of a diode is to only allow current to flow in one direction which means it should simply block current flow if connected in reverse - it shouldn't blow.

Do you have a multimeter with a diode test function ?

Edited by SS2. on Saturday 28th March 10:53

[DVR V8]

Hi. Just used my fluke and have continuity between every LED on one post. Does that mean all the ones joined together are anodes or cathodes. Regards.

[DVR V8]

DVR V8 said:

Hi. Just used my fluke and have continuity between every LED on one post. Does that mean all the ones joined together are anodes or cathodes. Regards.

[SS2.]

DVR V8 said:

Hi. Just used my fluke and have continuity between every LED on one post. Does that mean all the ones joined together are anodes or cathodes. Regards.

Probably cathodes (common negative).

[DVR V8]

Hi again. Just done a search using ai and apparently all positives (anodes)on a circuit board are joined together and all negatives (cathodes) remain separate. May be useful info to anyone. Regards.

[SS2.]

Why rely on a general Google answer when you have an actual PCB in front of you with working LEDs and a DMM to hand ?

DVR V8 said:

Hi again. Just done a search using ai and apparently all positives (anodes)on a circuit board are joined together and all negatives (cathodes) remain separate.

It could be either.

[DVR V8]

Thanks. I'm going to wait till the kit (10 LEDs) arrives as i only need 3 triangle ones so have plenty of spares to play with. Regards.