The table below shows typical technical data for some 5mm diameter round LEDs with diffused packages (plastic bodies). Only three columns are important and these are shown in bold. Please see below for explanations of the quantities.
Type | Colour | IF max | VF typ. | VF max | VR max | Luminous intensity | View angle | Wavelength |
Standard | Red | 30mA | 1.7V | 2.1V | 5V | 5mcd @ 10mA | 60° | 660nm |
Standard | Bright red | 30mA | 2.0V | 2.5V | 5V | 80mcd @ 10mA | 60° | 625nm |
Standard | Yellow | 30mA | 2.1V | 2.5V | 5V | 32mcd @ 10mA | 60° | 590nm |
Standard | Green | 25mA | 2.2V | 2.5V | 5V | 32mcd @ 10mA | 60° | 565nm |
High intensity | Blue | 30mA | 4.5V | 5.5V | 5V | 60mcd @ 20mA | 50° | 430nm |
Super bright | Red | 30mA | 1.85V | 2.5V | 5V | 500mcd @ 20mA | 60° | 660nm |
Low current | Red | 30mA | 1.7V | 2.0V | 5V | 5mcd @ 2mA | 60° | 625nm |
VF typ.: Typical forward voltage, VL in the LED resistor calculation. This is about 2V, except for blue and white LEDs for which it is about 4V.
VF max: Maximum forward voltage.
VR max: Maximum reverse voltage. You can ignore this for LEDs connected the correct way round.
Luminous intensity: Brightness of the LED at the given current, mcd = millicandela.
Viewing angle: Standard LEDs have a viewing angle of 60°, others emit a narrower beam of about 30°.
Wavelength: The peak wavelength of the light emitted, this determines the colour of the LED. nm = nanometre.