LED Components — Through-Hole SMD LED Diodes, Holders & Light Bars

LED Components — Through-Hole & SMD LED Diodes, Holders & Light Bars for PCB & Panel Indicator Applications

LED (Light Emitting Diode) components are the fundamental building blocks of electronic indicator lighting, display backlighting, status indication, and decorative lighting in virtually every electronic device. This collection provides the complete LED component ecosystem for PCB design, panel mounting, and electronic assembly — covering through-hole LEDs (3mm, 5mm, 8mm, 10mm), SMD LEDs (0402, 0603, 0805, 1206), LED panel holders (for mounting through-hole LEDs in chassis panels), and LED light bars and arrays for multi-segment indicator displays.

Through-Hole LED Reference Guide

• 3mm LED (T-1) — 3mm diameter round LED. Compact indicator for PCB status lights, front-panel indicators, and space-constrained designs. Standard lens types: clear (water-clear), diffused. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange, RGB.
• 5mm LED (T-1¾) — 5mm diameter round LED. The most common through-hole LED for general-purpose indicators, breadboard prototyping, Arduino projects, and panel indicators. Standard lens: clear and diffused. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange, pink, UV, RGB (common anode and common cathode).
• 8mm LED — 8mm diameter round LED. Larger, brighter indicator for panel-mount applications requiring high visibility. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white.
• 10mm LED — 10mm diameter round LED. Maximum size through-hole LED for high-visibility panel indicators and decorative lighting. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, RGB.
• Flat-top / square LED — Non-round LED packages for specialized indicator applications: rectangular (2×5mm), flat-top 5mm (wide-angle, 120°+), and square 5mm.

SMD LED Reference Guide

• 0402 (1005 metric) — 1.0mm × 0.5mm. Ultra-compact SMD LED for high-density PCBs. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange.
• 0603 (1608 metric) — 1.6mm × 0.8mm. Standard compact SMD LED for most modern PCB designs. The most commonly used SMD LED size. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange, RGB.
• 0805 (2012 metric) — 2.0mm × 1.25mm. Larger SMD LED for hand-soldering and higher brightness applications. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange, RGB.
• 1206 (3216 metric) — 3.2mm × 1.6mm. Largest standard SMD LED, easiest to hand-solder. High brightness. Colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange.

Key Technical Specifications

• Forward voltage (Vf): 1.8–2.2V (red/yellow/orange) / 2.8–3.4V (blue/white/green)
• Forward current (If): 20mA (standard) / 10mA (low-current) / 50–100mA (high-brightness)
• Luminous intensity: 20–500mcd (standard) / 1,000–20,000mcd (high-brightness)
• Viewing angle: 15°–20° (clear lens, narrow) / 60°–120° (diffused lens, wide)
• Operating temperature: –40°C to +85°C
• Certifications: CE, RoHS

Complete Product Range in This Collection

This collection includes: 3mm through-hole LEDs (red, green, yellow, blue, white, orange, RGB — clear and diffused), 5mm through-hole LEDs (full color range, clear and diffused, standard and high-brightness, common anode/cathode RGB), 8mm and 10mm through-hole LEDs (red, green, yellow, blue, white), SMD LEDs (0402, 0603, 0805, 1206 in full color range), LED panel holders (3mm and 5mm chrome and plastic bezels for panel mounting), LED light bars (single-color and bi-color, 2–8 segment), and LED arrays (common anode/cathode bar graph displays).

Ideal Applications

• 5mm through-hole: Arduino and breadboard prototyping; front-panel status indicators; educational electronics kits; DIY lighting projects
• 3mm through-hole: Compact PCB status indicators; space-constrained panel indicators; model and miniature lighting
• SMD 0603/0805: PCB power and status indicators; backlight for small LCDs; high-density indicator arrays on production PCBs
• LED holders: Mounting through-hole LEDs in chassis panels and enclosure front panels; professional equipment indicator lighting
• LED light bars: Battery level indicators; audio level meters; progress indicators; multi-channel status displays

LED Component Buying Guide

Step 1 — Choose package type: Through-hole (3mm, 5mm) for prototyping, breadboards, and panel mounting. SMD (0603, 0805) for production PCBs and compact designs. Use LED holders to mount through-hole LEDs in chassis panels.

Step 2 — Choose color: Red and green are standard for status indication (error/OK). Yellow/amber for warning. Blue and white for modern aesthetic designs. RGB for multi-color status or decorative applications.

Step 3 — Calculate current limiting resistor: Always use a current limiting resistor in series with LEDs. R = (Vsupply − Vf) / If. Example: 5V supply, red LED (Vf=2.0V, If=20mA): R = (5−2.0)/0.02 = 150Ω. Use the nearest standard resistor value (150Ω or 180Ω).

Step 4 — Clear vs diffused lens: Clear (water-clear) lenses produce a narrow, intense beam — best for directional indicators viewed straight-on. Diffused lenses spread light over a wide angle — best for panel indicators viewed from multiple angles.

Why Choose Yoeruyo for LED Components?

Yoeruyo stocks the complete LED component range — through-hole 3mm to 10mm, SMD 0402 to 1206, LED holders, and light bars — in all standard colors and both clear and diffused lens options. CE and RoHS certified. Available from 10pcs for prototyping to 1000pcs+ for production. Tape-and-reel packaging available for SMD LEDs in quantities ≥500pcs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a resistor with every LED?
A: Yes, always use a current-limiting resistor in series with an LED unless your circuit already includes current limiting (e.g., a constant-current LED driver IC). Without a resistor, the LED will draw excessive current and burn out immediately.

Q: What is the difference between common anode and common cathode RGB LEDs?
A: Common anode RGB LEDs have all three LED anodes connected to a shared positive terminal; each color is controlled by pulling its cathode low. Common cathode RGB LEDs have all cathodes connected to ground; each color is controlled by applying voltage to its anode. Choose based on your microcontroller's GPIO output configuration.

Q: What is the forward voltage of blue and white LEDs?
A: Blue and white LEDs have a forward voltage of approximately 2.8–3.4V, significantly higher than red/yellow/orange LEDs (1.8–2.2V). This means blue/white LEDs cannot be directly driven from a 3.3V supply without careful design — use a 5V supply or a boost converter for reliable operation.

Q: What size LED holder fits a 5mm LED?
A: 5mm LED holders (also called LED bezels or LED clips) have a 5mm inner diameter to accept standard 5mm through-hole LEDs. They are available in chrome metal and plastic, with panel cutout sizes of 6mm–8mm depending on the bezel style.

Q: Are SMD LEDs suitable for hand soldering?
A: 0805 and 1206 SMD LEDs are suitable for careful hand soldering with a fine-tip soldering iron. 0603 LEDs can be hand-soldered with practice. 0402 LEDs are very difficult to hand-solder and are recommended for reflow soldering only.