Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior LED Question, not the typical one...

I've got my LED's done in my instrument panel, and I already have some of a different nature in my AC console, to light it up a somewhat dim shade of blue.

I was looking at Radio Shack, and they have a bunch of LED's that aren't surface mount, but rather a big bulb with two prongs sticking out of the end of it. I know those two prongs have to be attached to wires, so here's where the question comes in...

Do I just solder on two wires, and one goes to ground, while the other goes to the power source? If so, then that will be easy enough. Just wondering if there is a difference in polarity between the two prongs, and one prong HAS to be grounded, while the other HAS to go to the power source.

Does it matter?

Oh fuck, and what about the resistor that has to be added???

As with any diode, LEDs are polarized. The longer lead is the anode (+). The anode must go to the current source, and the cathode to the drain (lower reference voltage, like ground). You'll need to calculate how much current you want to put through the LEDs (a few milliamps) and calculate your resistance for a voltage divider or current splitter.

Ummm, ok. So the long lead is positive, while the short one gets the ground. Does the resistor get soldered onto the long lead?

What size of a resistor will I need.



BTW, thanks for the info. I'm just a little illiterate when it comes to electrical lingo.