How to Ballast an LED with a Series Resistor

該当する場合

For indicator LEDs, a series resistor sets current given your supply and the diode forward drop. Use it as a first-pass check before you confirm with datasheets, temperature, and drive topology.

使うツール

電源電圧・Vf・目標電流から直列抵抗。

LED抵抗 を開く →

手順

  1. 1Read target forward current and typical Vf from the LED datasheet (or lab guess for hobby parts).
  2. 2Enter supply voltage, Vf, and desired current in mA.
  3. 3Note the resistor value and power dissipation; pick the next standard value with margin.
  4. 4For networks, check series/parallel equivalents separately from a single ballast.
  5. 5For divider taps, remember loads draw current—unloaded Vout is an upper bound.

  • 5 V supply, 2 V Vf, 20 mA target → ballast in the hundreds of ohms.
  • Two resistors in parallel for equivalent R when you only have standard values.

避けること

  • Using peak PWM current as if it were DC average.
  • Ignoring resistor power rating and overheating at small packages.
  • Treating a loaded voltage divider like an unloaded calculator output.

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よくある質問

Constant-current driver?

This flow is for resistive ballast. CC drivers need a different design checklist.

Multiple LEDs?

Series strings share current; parallel branches need their own limiting.

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