Asked by: Mark Harvey
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Description
This 5mm RGB LED contains three LED elements (red, green and blue). Each element can be controlled independently. By varying the amount by which each element is turned on any colour can be created. They are ideal for design colour controlled lighting effects.
This LED has a common cathode which is the longest leg (negative).
Download datasheet for this part 
| Forward voltage, red element: | 1.9 - 2.5V |
| Brightness, red element: | 1500 - 2300 mCd |
| Forward voltage, green element: | 2.9 - 3.5V |
| Brightness, red element: | 2000 - 2700 mCd |
| Forward voltage, blue element: | 2.9 - 3.5V |
| Brightness, blue element: | 1500 - 2200 mCd |
| Angle: | 45 degrees |
| Lens: | Water clear |
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Q:
Hi, could I please ask how the energy levels of each led is controlled as per your description. Thank you.
A:
Hi Mark, An RGB works in a similar way to a colour changing LED, however you can control which LED is turned on and for how long. As such you would use a microcontroller to determine which LED is turned on and you would use PWM to then alter the amount of time it is on for, the following explains how this works in a normal colour changing LED, how-colour-changing-leds-work
Answered by: Michael Lockhart
26-Apr-17
Q:
Hello, I have just bought some of these LEDs, but I was wondering what common cathode means. Please could someone help me? Thank you!
Asked by: Bradley Michael Collins
A:
Hi Bradley, Common Cathode simply means that all three LED’s within the package all share the same negative leg. As such you would connect the common cathode to the negative of the circuit, then you would connect each remaining leg through a resistor to the input of what device you are using to turn the signal high and low. We have used an RGB in the inventor’s kit in this experiment, inventors-kit-experiment-10-help
Answered by: Michael Lockhart
22-Feb-17
Q:
Hi
I understand that single colour leds should normally be connected in series with an appropriate resistor. Does the same apply to these rgb leds and if so what is the appropriate value for the resisitor for each 'leg' of the led assuming a 3v battery?
Thank you.
I understand that single colour leds should normally be connected in series with an appropriate resistor. Does the same apply to these rgb leds and if so what is the appropriate value for the resisitor for each 'leg' of the led assuming a 3v battery?
Thank you.
Asked by: Paul
A:
Hi Paul, Yes you would still need to put a resistor in line will each leg of the RGB LED apart from the common leg. We use a similar RGB LED in the inventor’s kit (this uses a between 3 and 5V’s as a supply) and use a 470 Ohm resistor to protect each leg of the LED.
Answered by: Michael Lockhart
09-Dec-16
Q:
Hi Kitronic,
I have built a model ferris wheel and wish to add 5mm led lights, where I can select the colour I want.
In addition to the led I will require some form or chrome mount or bezel. I intend to use a battery supply as the wheel stands alone.
As you can guess I am far from an electronic engineer and would be most grateful for any advice.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Trev
I have built a model ferris wheel and wish to add 5mm led lights, where I can select the colour I want.
In addition to the led I will require some form or chrome mount or bezel. I intend to use a battery supply as the wheel stands alone.
As you can guess I am far from an electronic engineer and would be most grateful for any advice.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Trev
Asked by: Trevor Thomas
A:
Hi Trevor, the easiest way to probably do this so you can select which colour you have on is to use three toggle switches, so you would connect the one switch to each leg associated to turning a colour on and off. This way when you switched the toggle on you would turn that colour of the LED on. The fourth leg of the LED would be connected to ground on the circuit and this would need to be constantly connected.
Answered by: Michael Lockhart
10-Feb-16
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