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Testing LEDs with a Multimeter

by ColorBomb on August 10, 2012

Table of Contents

Testing LEDs with a Multimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Testing LEDs with a Multimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Testing-LEDs-with-a-Multimeter/
 Author:ColorBomb author's website
I am an Electronic Optics Technician by trade, although I have worked in the field of electronics for 12 years. I am in love with electricity. I have been
fortunate enough to work with a variety of green technology including fuel cells, High capacity battery banks,modded gensets and of course solar cells. I like
to hack and mod things. I am also a tattoo artist . I have been tattooing for 9 years and yes in a professional shop. I have combined the two fields and am in
the middle of developing my own tattoo machine power supply. I am an IPC 7711/7721 Specialist as well as IPC 610 certified

Intro: Testing LEDs with a Multimeter

I have been using this method for many years. It is a quick and simple way to test LED. I buy LEDs in bulk, when they come in the colors aren't marked so this i the
method I use to sort them out(yes I buy clear bodied LED)

Materials

Digital Multimeter with diode function

resistor (I used a 1K )
Test clips ( you do not have to use these, I did so I could take the photos usually I just used the DMM leads)

Testing

Determine the Anode and Cathode sides of the LED, if it is a new LED the long leg should be the anode(+)and the short side is the cathode (-). You can also look inside
of the LED and see the larger electrode which is your cathode and the smaller electrode is the anode (+).

Take you resistor and wrap it around the positive(+) lead of your meter, wrap it tight so it does not come off.

Take your test clips, if you are using them, and clip the positive(+) to the predetermined anode(+) of the LED and the negative(-) to the cathode(-)

Turn your meter on and set it to diode scale, should be marked by a diode symbol. If you used the clips you should see your diode emitting otherwise touch the
positive(+) lead of the meter(which should have the resistor) to the anode (+) and the negative (-) lead to the cathode(-) and you should have light!

If your diode does not light up make sure that you have you polarity correct and you meter is set to the proper function.

I will admit that I have done this test without a resistor and have had no problems. This meter only outputs 3VDC on the diode scale, my fluke outputs 8VDC. It is rule of
thumb when working with LED to limit the current with a resistor.

I hope you found this helpful, until next time.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Testing-LEDs-with-a-Multimeter/
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http://www.instructables.com/id/Testing-LEDs-with-a-Multimeter/