Check out this awesome 5mm diffused tri - color LED! It has separate red, green, and blue LED chips inside. It's not only a great indicator but also super fun for creating color - swirl effects. With a 60 - degree viewing angle, it offers wide visibility. We love these diffused RGB LEDs because they mix colors internally, unlike those that look like three distinct LEDs. These are Common - Anode type. You just connect one pin to around 5V and then connect the other three legs to the ground through a resistor. We use CA more often than CC as many multi - LED driver chips, like the TLC5940/TLC5941, are made for CA and don't work with Common - Cathode. The LED has a 5mm diameter. The red has a 630 nm wavelength, green is 525 nm, and blue is 430 nm. At 20mA current, the red has a forward voltage of 2.1 - 2.5V, green is 3.8 - 4.5V, and blue is 3.8 - 4.5V. The typical brightness is 500 mcd for red, 600 mcd for green, and 300 mcd for blue. There's also a datasheet available. If you need help using LEDs, check our 'Introduction to using LEDs' tutorial for your electronics projects.
Using this 5mm diffused tri - color RGB LED is easy. First, connect one pin to around 5V. Then, connect the other three legs to the ground through a resistor. This is a Common - Anode type LED, so make sure you follow this connection method. When you're working on your electronics project, you can use it as a cool indicator or create some really neat color - swirl effects. The 60 - degree viewing angle means you can see the colors from a wide range. As for maintenance, keep it in a dry place and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures. If you're new to using LEDs, don't forget to read our 'Introduction to using LEDs' tutorial. It will give you more tips and tricks for your project.
