The difference between the common cathode and common Anode

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The direction of the current flow

&#; In common anode mode, the current of LED displays flows from PCB to LED diodes, and the RGB LEDs are powered with the same power source at the same power rate, and therefore the forward voltage drop is increased.

&#; In common cathode mode, the LED display&#;s current first passes through LED diodes with R, G, and B LEDs separately powered. Voltage and current are precisely distributed based on individual needs, then to the negative ends of ICs. The forward voltage drop is reduced, and as a result, there is less internal conduction resistance.

The supply voltage

&#; In common anode mode, the LED display provides RGB LEDs with a unified voltage higher than 3.8V (such as 5V), therefore the power consumption is high.

&#; In common cathode mode, the LED display provides RGB LEDs with separate voltage based on actual needs (2.8V for the red LED, and 3.8V for the green and blue LEDs). Because of this separate and precise power supply, the power efficiency is higher. Consequently, less heat is produced as less power is consumed.

 

Energy efficiency and cooling effect

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&#; Based on accurate power control, common cathode technology can reduce the power consumption of the entire system by reducing the red LEDs&#; supply voltage. Moreover, there are no extra line-scanning devices needed to achieve this. By using common cathode technology, LED displays can reduce excessive heat and power consumption, pixel failure rate, and ghost lines (tailing effect), thus improving LED displays&#; overall performance

Supply chain

&#; Common cathode technology reduces forward voltage drop by reducing the supply voltage of red LEDs, however, this requires the use of more power supplies, which further increases the complexity of the component layout on PCBs. Currently, the key supporting components related to common cathode technology are LED diodes, power supplies, and driver ICs. These components have market-proven solutions for common anode technology but are still in the early stages of common cathode technology.

The CATHODE lead is always the lead to be identified with ALL LEDs, including surface-mount LEDs.
The cathode of a surface mount LED is very difficult to locate as the device is very small.
There are 3 different identification-marks:
1. A "chamfer" or "cut corner" at one end of the chip
2. A dot on the top left-corner of the device.
3. A mark in the centre of the underside of the chip as shown in the following diagram:

The cathode of  LEDs in the following shape can be identified by firstly looking for a small protrusion called a "Lead Frame." It has a hole in it. The lead near it is the ANODE. The opposite lead is the CATHODE.

A "normal" LED (3mm or 5mm) has a small "flat" on the skirt of the LED. This indicates the cathode (k) lead. The cathode lead is the shorter lead.
If both leads have been cut to the same length, and the "flat" is difficult to locate, the LED can be tested by connecting to a battery (6v - 9v) and including a 470R resistor in series.
The LED will illuminate when placed as shown in the diagram. It will not illuminate when around the other way and it will not get damaged during the test.

Every LED has a different characteristic voltage drop.
The value depends on the color of the LED, the manufacturer, the batch-number and the type (such as HIGH-Bright, Super-High-Bright etc).
The voltage also changes very slightly according to the current.
When using the LED Resistor Calculator below,  the following characteristic voltages can be used:
Red LED = 1.7v
Orange LED = 2.1v
Yellow LED = 2.1v
Green LED = 2.3v
High Bright Red = 2v
White LED = 3.4v
Super Bright LED - white (6cd) = 3.4v to 4v
Super Bright LED - blue (3cd) = 3.5v to 4v
Super Bright LED - red (8cd) = 2.2v to 2.6v
Super Bright LED - yellow (8cd) = 2.2v to 2.5v
High Intensity Blue = 4.5v
InfraRED Laser (27mW) = 1.2v to 1.6v
Flashing LED (no dropper resistor needed if connected to a supply: 3v - 12v)

(cd = candela    6cd = 6,000mcd)

If you are not sure about a characteristic voltage for a particular LED, use the values above, fit the LED to a circuit and measure the voltage across it.
You can then re-calculate the resistor-value.
Always use 20mA for the allowable current in the calculator below, unless you are informed otherwise. All LEDs will operate for their full operating life (100,000 hrs) @ 20mA.

 

LED RESISTOR CALCULATOR

Supply Voltage: Total LED voltage: LED Current (mA):

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Resistor value: Power dissipated by resistor: