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Hello everyone,

I hope this post finds you well. Today, I’d like to delve into a topic that’s often a source of confusion for many electronics enthusiasts and professionals alike: choosing the right resistor for a 24V LED. This is a critical decision that can significantly impact the performance and lifespan of your LED.

Firstly, it’s important to understand why we need a resistor in the first place. LEDs are diodes, which means they allow current to flow in one direction only. They have a characteristic called forward voltage (Vf), which is the voltage required for them to light up. If the applied voltage exceeds this Vf, the current through the LED will increase exponentially, potentially leading to its destruction. This is where the resistor comes in, acting as a current limiter to protect the LED.

Now, let’s get to the crux of the matter: how to choose the right resistor for a 24V LED. The key to this lies in Ohm’s Law, which states that Voltage (V) equals Current (I) times Resistance (R).

Assuming that the LED’s forward voltage is 2V and it requires a current of 20mA (0.02A) to operate optimally, the voltage across the resistor would be the supply voltage (24V) minus the LED’s forward voltage (2V), which equals 22V.

Using Ohm’s Law, the required resistance would be Voltage (V) divided by Current (I), which in this case is 22V divided by 0.02A, giving us a resistance of 1100 Ohms.

However, this is a theoretical value. In practice, it’s advisable to use a slightly higher value to account for variations in the LED’s forward voltage and to provide a safety margin. A 1.2K Ohm resistor would be a good choice in this case.

Remember, the power rating of the resistor is also important. The power dissipated by the resistor can be calculated using the formula P=I^2R. In this case, it would be (0.02)^21200 = 0.48W. Therefore, a resistor with a power rating of at least 0.5W should be used.

In conclusion, choosing the right resistor for a 24V LED involves understanding the LED’s forward voltage and current requirements, applying Ohm’s Law, and considering practical factors such as the resistor’s power rating.

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