Belgium
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
COMMON CATHODE OR COMMON ANODE
Both boards have different chips and are differently powered. In the common anode example,
the positive lead of the power supply goes to the LEDs. With the common cathode version, the
LEDs are joined to the negative or GND of the power supply.
If you need to connect led’s which you will wire yourself, it does’nt matter which
version you use.
If you have a annunciator or panel from a supplier where you have to connect the
LEDs, then it is important to know if the LEDs on the board are wired “Common
Anode” or “Common Cathode”.
+ 5 Volt DC
GND
Each LED can be controlled separately
because each LED is driven by a separate
port
each wire goes to a digital
output port on the microcontroller
each wire goes to a digital
output port on the microcontroller
Common cathode example
Common anode example
each LED can be controlled
separately
5 Vdc
Follow the markings
on the board
5 Vdc
Follow the markings
on the board
