Flat LEDs have an appearance similar to the traditional 5mm LED format but with a particularity. Just as the name implies, its head is flat, allowing the opening angle to reach a wide range of approximately 100 degrees. They also have a significant light power (2,000 mcd). Inside they contain three pieces: reflector cup, semiconductor and conductive wire. 

Two legs extend below: the longest is positive polarity and is called anode, the shortest is negative polarity and is called cathode. These pins will indicate the way the LED should be connected to the circuit.

They reflect a green color light and their wide degree of aperture allows them to create wide lighting effects, which is why they are usually used for indirect lighting.

How do they work?

LEDs can be used in three different ways:

• Individual: direct LED power from the power supply, either by means of a regulated source or with the use of resistors or regulators. The desired voltage must be supplied to the LED within the working values.

• Parallel configuration: powering a group of LEDs connecting all the anodes together and all the cathodes together, using the required voltage regulated by a single resistor in series.

• Series configuration: powering a group of LEDs connected sequentially. The number of LEDs to be used per series will be limited by the voltage delivered by the power supply. In most cases, a resistor is required to compensate for the differences in supply voltage per series of LEDs, being able to carry out different series in parallel with the same power supply.