Leds which side is positive

Learn more about Electrical Circuit Symbols. There are a few indicators that can help you work out which pin of the LED is the cathode and which pin of the LED is the anode. We hope this helps you over come a basic first hurdle when using your LEDs! Monthly Archive. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.

LED Polarity. Failing this - most Multimeter will have a 'diode setting' to test for polarity. When the positive probe usually red is touching the anode and the negative probe usually black is touching the cathode the multimeter will light up or show a reading. Please make a donation to help cover our hosting and other costs. Click the donate button to send a donation of any amount.

LEDs are like small light bulbs and are available in different sizes and colours. An LED has a positive lead know as the anode and a negative lead known as the cathode. The cathode is marked on the rim of the LED body with a flat area shown in the diagram. LEDs are diodes which are elecronic devices that only allow current to go through them in one direction. For an LED to work it needs to be connected to a voltage source with the correct side. The negative side is called the cathode.

Because diodes are made of semiconductor material, they have a very specific voltage where they will turn on. The amount of resistance needed depends on how much current the LED will use to be bright enough to see but not so much that it burns itself out.