LED Polarity

[bamabill]

I bought a sea choice led stern light. Which would be positive, the black lead or the gray lead? Or does it matter?

 

[Y_J]

If it's a pole light, it doesn't matter.

 

[Captain Ahab]

It does matter b/c it is LED - black should be negative (but if you get it wrong it will not hurt the light - just switch it) test it 1st before you do you permanent install

 

[PSG-1]

Black is negative, and gray is positive. But most 12V lights, whether incandescent or LED, aren't affected by polarity.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Led lights are affected by polarity and will only work if connected currectly

 

[DaleH]

Led lights are affected by polarity and will only work if connected currectly

Exactly, the 'D' in LED is diode, from Light Emitting Diode, and a diode is a 1-way directional current device.

 

[bamabill]

thanks guys, you saved me a lot of research.

 

[bamabill]

well, it works the same either way

 

[DaleH]

well, it works the same either way

I'm guessing, like you found out, that some of the newer ones have a circuity built into them to allow either connection scheme.

But I do know that on earlier ones, or say just the bulb itself, had to be hooked up right or you'd fry the device. I didn't want to steer you wrong ...

 

[Skiffing]

Yeah.

They're bipolar - just like my ex.

Never use them - they're trouble from day one.

ETA -

Nevermind. There must be too many bipolar relationships here for the above to be humorous.

 

[bamabill]

Dale, that was my guess too. I talked to my stepson who's an EE. He said checking with a meter in diode mode, one direction should give .7V and OL the other direction. But that would be just for the LED alone I presume because I got crazy numbers both directions. I'm just checking the leads coming out of the mounting socket that the pole lite goes into. So I was trying to get a reading thru all that circuitry.