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Can I run an LED at a high voltage?
I want to create a discharge indicator for a capacitor bank. I planned to do this with a simple switch-resistor-LED setup.
My LED has a forward voltage rating (as well as max reverse), and it has a max current rating. My capacitor bank is 330V, so once I calculated the resistance I needed for the 20mA I plan to use, I created a board of resistors that will give the required current and dissipate >10W. My 20mA is 10mA less than my LED's max current rating. Its forward voltage is 2.8V.
Even though I have proper current levels and power dissipation, will the 330V burn out the LED? I didn't think it would, but I wanted to look around and make sure. I couldn't find any definite answers.
Thanks!
Comments
Best Answer 8 years ago
No it won't burn out the led. The resistor will be doing a lot of work though.....
Answer 8 years ago
+1
Perhaps consider a high dc panel voltmeter to be sure what the bank's voltage is at.
Answer 8 years ago
Definitely. The high volts and high resistance makes this thing essentially a pretty good constant current source !! So the LED won't vary in brightness much at all.....