Hey All ...
I'm new to electronics and need help understanding something. I have a circuit (attached to this post) with a SPDT switch and 2 LEDs.
When the switch is in position S1, only LED L1 must be on. When the switch is in position S2, both L1 and L2 must be on.
Now, I realise a diode must be used but I didn't have one available. So instead, I tried using another LED (D1) that's exactly the same as L1 and L2. However, when I toggled the switch, either L1 or L2 lit up, but never both simultaneously. I later replaced D1 with a proper diode and everything works as expected.
So, why didn't the LED work as a normal diode? Isn't a LED just a shiny diode? I read that the voltage drop on a LED is greater than on a normal diode, but a LED and a diode are the same otherwise. I also read that LEDs don't have "resistance", but "voltage drop". I don't understand this either.
Any clarification will be appreciated. Thanks
I'm new to electronics and need help understanding something. I have a circuit (attached to this post) with a SPDT switch and 2 LEDs.
When the switch is in position S1, only LED L1 must be on. When the switch is in position S2, both L1 and L2 must be on.
Now, I realise a diode must be used but I didn't have one available. So instead, I tried using another LED (D1) that's exactly the same as L1 and L2. However, when I toggled the switch, either L1 or L2 lit up, but never both simultaneously. I later replaced D1 with a proper diode and everything works as expected.
So, why didn't the LED work as a normal diode? Isn't a LED just a shiny diode? I read that the voltage drop on a LED is greater than on a normal diode, but a LED and a diode are the same otherwise. I also read that LEDs don't have "resistance", but "voltage drop". I don't understand this either.
Any clarification will be appreciated. Thanks
Attachments
-
12.1 KB Views: 59