Newbie resistor question

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March 19, 2010, 02:09:34 AM

linear1 forums | LED discussion | LED questions and discussion | Topic: Newbie resistor question

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Topic: Newbie resistor question (Read 746 times)

seanyiya

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Newbie resistor question

« on: December 11, 2005, 06:22:59 AM »

Sorry about the newbie questions.... but does resistor go before the LED or after the LED??
I've never really pay attention to it but now I realize that from resistor calculator wiring diagram it shows that resistor is connected after the LED....
I thought that it suppose to go before the LED... it seems to work on my array....


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justDIY

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UFOric

Re: Newbie resistor question

« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2005, 09:12:12 AM »

its not really a question of 'before' or 'after' ... in most cases, it doesn't matter one bit ... a resistor is a passive component, so it will resist the flow of current wherever you put it in the circuit. for a valid thermal design, the resistor should go on the anode side of the LED ... as the cathode side is attached to the die cup / heatsink of the LED, so you don't want heat from the resistor to be transmitted into the LED.


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