SteveScott
Member
Just wondering, is there any difference, sonically speaking, between using 3mm red LED's versus using 5mm red LED's?
3mm LED vs 5mm LED for clipping diode
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SteveScott
Member
That's what I figured, but I wasn't sure. Thank you so much.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Color, on the other hand, makes a big difference because they all have a different forward voltage.
SteveScott
Member
I had heard that. Everyone seems to use red. I'll have to try some others just to hear the difference. Are the LED's that have colored lenses actually white and just getting their color from the lens? The only clear LED's I have are red and ultra violet.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
The actual diode radiates a single color. White LEDs are red, green & blue LEDs running in parallel. Find a prism & check it out! I have used white LEDs in solid-state amp distortion circuits. For fun, I popped various color LEDs into my transistor tester. The test current is higher than we would see in most pedal diode clipping circuits. These were all 5mm LEDs.
red - 1.58V
yellow - 1.91V
green - 2.72V
blue - 2.67V
violet - 3.03V
white - 2.94V
red - 1.58V
yellow - 1.91V
green - 2.72V
blue - 2.67V
violet - 3.03V
white - 2.94V
SteveScott
Member
Well that explains why red is the color to go with. Thanks for the explanations.
reubenreub
Active member
Another fun option is infrared LEDs which have a forward voltage of around 1.2V, so even lower than red ones.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
I'm putting green LEDs in my Frost Drive (VFE Ice Scream) because hey, it's a TS and they're green. I used yellow LEDs in my Teddy Rupture mod. Lower diode voltage = more compression. The various BMP derivatives use everything from germanium diodes to yellow LEDs and anything in between. Red LEDs are the most common (at one time they were the cheapest), but there's a place for all of the LED colors.
Last edited:
Mourguitars
Well-known member
brokenwizard
Member
Sorry to necro this. Looking at different Diodes for clipping.
This tayda one has a blue shroud https://www.taydaelectronics.com/led-3mm-blue-diffuse-lens.html
This is clear blue https://www.taydaelectronics.com/led-3mm-blue-water-clear-ultra-bright.html
In the specs they both say emitting colour "blue". Does this mean they are both genuinely blue LEDs, and not just a white LED with a blue lens? Can you trust Tayda when it comes to stuff like this?
This tayda one has a blue shroud https://www.taydaelectronics.com/led-3mm-blue-diffuse-lens.html
This is clear blue https://www.taydaelectronics.com/led-3mm-blue-water-clear-ultra-bright.html
In the specs they both say emitting colour "blue". Does this mean they are both genuinely blue LEDs, and not just a white LED with a blue lens? Can you trust Tayda when it comes to stuff like this?
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
I have had no problem buying LEDs from Tayda. Or AliExpress for that matter.
White LEDs are essentially blue LEDs with a "white lens." Seriously. There are two ways to make a white LED:
1. The hard way, Use red, green & blue LEDs and mix the light in the correct proportions so it looks white to the human eye. You can check for this with a prism.
2. The easy way. Use a blue LED to illuminate a phosphor coating inside the lens that absorbs the blue light and emits white light. I've checked a few white LEDs and they all did it this way.
White LEDs are essentially blue LEDs with a "white lens." Seriously. There are two ways to make a white LED:
1. The hard way, Use red, green & blue LEDs and mix the light in the correct proportions so it looks white to the human eye. You can check for this with a prism.
2. The easy way. Use a blue LED to illuminate a phosphor coating inside the lens that absorbs the blue light and emits white light. I've checked a few white LEDs and they all did it this way.
brokenwizard
Member
Ah ok cool. So all the"diffused" LEDs will have the clipping / vf characteristics that you would expect?
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Correct. The only thing that influences Vf is color. Some "super-brights" have higher Vf.
swelchy
Well-known member
my favs for led clippersAnother fun option is infrared LEDs which have a forward voltage of around 1.2V, so even lower than red ones.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Note that IR LEDs come in more than one wavelength. Longer wavelength LEDs have lower Vf. The ones MadBean recommended are the ones I like
Ginsly
Well-known member
Are you talking about the Tayda ones? I don’t see Bean mentioning them, so wanted to make sure! I love red LEDs, so I’ll certainly be trying infrared.
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
The short answer you want 940nm IR LEDs. Their Vf is around 1.1 to 1.2V.
The long answer is if you back up to post #9, Bean provided a link to Tayda.
The long answer is if you back up to post #9, Bean provided a link to Tayda.
Ginsly
Well-known member
Thanks Chuck! Good to know. Saw the post, but didn’t realize that account was also Bean.
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