Determine polarity of LEDs on PCB?

Some circuit boards have the polarity marked on them in either the silkscreen or the copper. I don't know if the Atlas board is marked. Some LED packages has a small flat area on the side at the + lead. Sometimes, you can find documentation on the board that tells connections and polarities of components.

In the electronic devices department, an ohm meter may allow you to determine the polarity but it may not. The high forward drop (3.3 V) of most white LEDs is too high for many analog meters. Meters with 9 V batteries may damage reverse connected LED. A simple testor can be created with two 4.7 v to 5.6 V zener diodes connected in parallel but in opposite directions, a resistor connected in series with the zener diode combination, and either a 9 V battery or a 12 v dc supply (a good power pack for the track) to apply power across the entire assembly. The cost of the circuit less battery or power supply may be $3 or less from a Radio Shack. The unknown led is marked to identify which lead is connected where to the board. The unknown LED is removed and connected across the zener diodes and power is applied. If the LED lights, the positive lead of the led is towards the positive of the power source. If the LED does not lights, the negative lead of the led is towards the positive of the power source.

The theory of operation is simple. The paralleled opposing zener diodes clamp the voltage to avoid damaging the LED with excessive reverse voltage while allowing the LED to light at 3.3 v if it is properly connected. The resistor to limit the current through the LED to a safe value. For a 20 mA LED current, a 3.3 V led voltage, and a 12 volt power supply, the resistor would be: (12-3.3)/(0.020) = 435 ohms I'd recommend a 470 ohm resistor since it it the nearest standard value in a

10% tolerance. The power dissipation on the resistor would be (12-3.3)*(12-3.3)/470 = 0.16 watts. I'd use a 1/2 watt resistor.

If you need more information or want a simple circuit diagram, let me know and I'll email a .PDF of the circuit and sample calculations to you.

Reply to
Raildavid
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The polarity of LEDs can also be determined by the shape of their internals.

The terminal on the right of the image in the link is the Anode or Positve and is also the longer lead of the device.

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One note: For phototransistors, the opposite is true as the terminal on the right would be the Collector or Negative.

Rob.

Model Railroad & Misc. Electronics

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Reply to
Rob Paisley

Frank,

Be very careful using batteries, or even an ohm meter on installed components. You can send current flowing all through the circuit, not just the component you think you are testing. At best you get inaccurate results and at worst you fry other components on the board. The safe thing is to look for a mark or just de-solder it to test it.

MacIndoe

Reply to
MacIndoe

Yes. You are right. I checked the DigiKey site and the flat indicates the cathode which is the shorter lead.

Sorry for the confusion. I haven't worked with these for a very long time.

Ian

a typical LED....

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Reply to
Ian G. Mathers

What's needed is a "mindsticker." Just as a mental picture, imagine snipping a tiny bit off the cathode lead, and gluing it tangent to the rim of the LED on the cathode side. It would make a small flat area. And the cathode lead, which is now "minus" a bit of its length, would be shorter.

Reply to
John Miller

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