5mm Straw Hat LED - High Brightness Wide Angle Clear Lens (White/Purple Glow, Short Legs)

Specifications

• Lens Size / Type: 5mm / Straw Hat (Helmet)

• Lens Colour: Water Clear

• Emitting Colour: White with Purple Glow

• Forward Voltage: 3.0V to 3.4V (Typical for White/Purple/Blue LEDs)

• Continuous Forward Current: 20mA (Max)

• Viewing Angle: Approx. 120 Degrees

• Leg Style: Short-Legged Through-Hole

Key Applications and Projects

• Custom Control Panels: Using a wide viewing angle so indicator lights can be easily seen by an operator standing off to the side of the machine.

• Model Making & Dioramas: Lighting up the interior of scale buildings, sci-fi spaceships, or fantasy displays where a wide wash of unique white/purple light is required from a single diode.

• Keyboard Backlighting: The low profile of the straw hat lens and the wide dispersion make these excellent for DIY mechanical keyboard underglow or key backlighting.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution)

• Microcontroller Fading Effects: LEDs don't just have to be statically ON or OFF. Connect this LED (in series with a resistor) to a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) capable pin on an Arduino or ESP32. By rapidly pulsing the power, you can write a simple script to make the white/purple LED "breathe" or smoothly fade in and out, creating a premium, high-tech standby indicator for your custom electronics!

Package Includes:

• 1 x 5mm Straw Hat LED Light (High Brightness, White/Purple Glow, Short-Legged)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What does "straw hat" mean? It refers to the physical shape of the plastic lens. Instead of a tall, round dome, it is squashed down with a wide brim, resembling a straw hat.

2. Why choose a straw hat LED over a standard round one? The flattened lens spreads the light out over a much wider angle (typically 120 degrees) rather than shooting it straight forward in a tight, narrow spotlight beam.

3. What color does this LED emit? This specific model emits a high-brightness white light with a distinct purple/UV edge glow.

4. How do I tell which leg is positive? Out of the box, the slightly longer metal leg is the Anode (Positive +).

5. How do I tell which leg is negative? The shorter metal leg is the Cathode (Negative -).

6. What if I cut the legs to the same length? How do I find the negative side? Look at the plastic rim at the base of the LED; there will be a flat spot on the negative (cathode) side. Also, look inside the clear plastic: the larger metal flag/anvil holding the LED chip is the negative side.

7. What is the voltage required to light this LED? White and purple LEDs typically have a forward voltage requirement of 3.0V to 3.4V.

8. How much current should I provide? Standard 5mm LEDs are designed to run safely at 20mA (milliamps) of continuous current.

9. Do I need to use a resistor? Yes, almost always. Unless your power supply perfectly matches the forward voltage and current limits of the LED (like a 3V coin cell), you must use a current-limiting resistor to prevent the LED from burning out instantly.

10. Can I connect this directly to a 9V battery? No! A 9V battery will push too much current through the LED and destroy it with a loud pop. You must use a resistor (e.g., 330 ohm to 470 ohm for 9V).

11. Can I connect this to a 3V CR2032 coin cell battery directly? Yes, you can usually do this safely. Coin cell batteries have high internal resistance, which naturally limits the current, making them perfect for simple LED "throwie" projects without a resistor.

12. Is this a flashing/blinking LED? No, this is a standard solid-state LED. It will remain solidly lit as long as power is applied.

13. Is this LED dimmable? Yes. You can dim it by adjusting the current using a potentiometer, or more commonly and efficiently, by using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) via a microcontroller.

14. What does "short-legged" mean? It simply means the factory cut the through-hole wire leads slightly shorter than standard length. This is common for LEDs intended to be soldered immediately flat against a PCB.

15. Can I bend the legs? Yes, the metal legs are flexible and can be bent to fit your circuit board. Just avoid bending them sharply right at the plastic base to prevent cracking the epoxy seal.

16. Are these waterproof? The plastic epoxy resin body is waterproof, but the bare metal legs will short out or corrode if exposed to water. You must seal the connections with heat shrink tubing or silicone if using them outdoors.

17. Can I use this with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi? Yes, absolutely. Just ensure you place a resistor (like a 220 ohm or 330 ohm) in series with the LED when connecting it to a 5V or 3.3V GPIO pin.

18. Why is the LED plastic clear if it lights up white/purple? The color comes from the specific semiconductor crystal and phosphor coating inside the LED chip, not from dyed plastic. Water-clear lenses allow maximum brightness to escape unhindered.

19. What happens if I wire it backward? LEDs are diodes; they only allow electricity to flow in one direction. If you wire it backward (reverse polarity), it simply won't light up. (However, applying extremely high reverse voltage can break it).

20. Is this an RGB LED? No, it is a single-color LED. While the light has a complex white/purple hue, you cannot change the color dynamically with code.