S
TEP
5: LED
S
101 -
OR
“H
OW
SILICON
LIGHTS
UP
MY
LIFE
”
Light Emitting Diodes (”LEDs”) make the light. The ones in your kit are
sooper-dooper bright, designed for maximum PUM. Some have a flat top,
which makes them spread their light even wider than the regular type.
Important things to learn about LEDs: They have a cathode (-) and an
anode (+), which means you have to learn which is which. There are 3
easy ways:
1) The anode is the longer leg. Remember this by thinking of
the + sign as two legs ( “|” and a ” –” ). Add these lengths up,
and it’s longer than the cathode (just “ –” ).
2) If you look carefully at the LED itself, you will see it has a
flat shoulder, which marks the cathode ( – ).
3) Look carefully into the LED. The cup side is always the
cathode ( – ).
Method 1:
Longer lead =
Anode ( + )
Method 2:
Flat spot =
Cathode ( – )
Method 3:
LED Cup =
Cathode ( – )
www.solarbotics.com
1-866-276-2687
Page 7
Your PumLantern lights the LEDs up in pairs LED1 & LED3, and LED2 &
LED4, so if you want to colour-arrange your LEDs, here is an easy way to
check them.
Step 1: Arrange LED so
anode (+) matches solar
cell’s oval pad, and
cathode (–) matches
rectangular pad
Step 2: Pinch down
the leads to the pads
hard with your thumb
and finger.
Step 3: Hold up to lamp.
Look at the pretty colour!
