1.8mm / 2mm Round Top Amber / Orange LED - Ultra Bright

The 1.8mm / 2mm round top amber / orange led is one of the most popular sizes out there for a large percentage of projects and products.

In stock

SKU
1.8MMROUNDTOPLEDORANGE
Color
Orange/Amber
Size
1.8mm / 2mm Round Top Clear
$0.18
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  • Buy 100 for $0.16 each and save 11%
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Description / 1.8mm / 2mm Round Top Amber / Orange LED - Ultra Bright

The 1.8mm / 2mm Clear Amber/Orange LED is the smallest standard through-hole LED — small enough to hide inside N scale (1:160) model structures where even a 3mm LED would be too large. At just 2mm in diameter, it represents a realistic-sized light fixture at N scale and disappears completely inside the structure. Also known as a “grain of wheat” LED in model railroad circles.

The clear lens produces a focused, bright point of light — ideal for signal heads, marker lights, and indicator positions where a directed beam is needed.

Size1.8mm / 2mm (2mm tower)
Forward Voltage1.9-2.1v
Brightness6,000-6,500mcd
Viewing Angle20-30 Degrees
LensClear
Package2mm through-hole DIP
Drive Current20mA typical

Who uses these?

  • N scale model railroad (1:160): N scale crossing signals, caution indicators, vintage lantern simulation. At this scale, a 2mm LED represents roughly a 12-inch (30cm) light fixture — the most realistic size match available in through-hole. Wire to your layout accessory bus or decoder function output.
  • Z scale (1:220): The only through-hole LED small enough for Z scale structures. Even 3mm is oversized at this scale.
  • Military dioramas (1:72, 1:48): Cockpit instrument panels, vehicle headlights, navigation lights on aircraft. Small enough to fit inside 1:72 scale model interiors without being visible through transparent parts.
  • Architectural models: Interior room lighting for 1:100 and 1:200 scale presentation models. Invisible inside the structure, visible only as the light output through windows.
  • Tight-space indicators: When 3mm is too large — avionics panels, micro enclosures, dense PCB builds. warning indicator.

The tower body style is taller than it is wide, allowing it to be mounted through a panel hole with the LED head protruding above the surface — like a miniature lighthouse or signal post.

Resistor quick reference (20mA):
SupplyResistorRating
5V150Ω1/4W
9V360Ω1/4W
12V510Ω1/4W
15V*680Ω1/2W
18V820Ω1/2W

*Use 15V instead of 12V for vehicle/alternator sources to account for charging voltage (13.8–14.4V).

Full LED Resistor Calculator → for other voltages, series strings, and parallel configurations. Or skip the math with our 20mA Current Limiter (2–45V DC).

Frequently Asked Questions

The 1.8mm/2mm tower is the smallest standard through-hole LED. For even smaller options, consider our 0402 SMD LEDs (1.0 x 0.5mm) — these require SMD soldering skills but are virtually invisible at N and Z scale.
Grain of wheat is a model railroad community term for ultra-small LEDs (1.8-2mm) that are about the size of a grain of wheat. The name has been used since the era of incandescent grain-of-wheat bulbs, and now refers to the LED equivalent.

DC power recommended: LEDs are designed for DC. Running on AC will cause flickering and reduce lifespan. If you're using a low-voltage AC source — such as a model railroad transformer output or DCC track voltage — convert it to DC first with a bridge rectifier.

Sold individually (1 LED per quantity ordered).

PCB Design: KiCad footprint: LED_THT:LED_D1.8mm (built-in with KiCad). EasyEDA: search “LED_D1.8mm” in the built-in library. Download KiCad files ↓

Specifications are sourced from manufacturer data and may be updated without notice. While we work to keep product information accurate, always verify critical parameters against the manufacturer's datasheet for production designs. Found an error or discrepancy? Let us know — we genuinely appreciate the correction.

More Information

Size 1.8mm / 2mm Round Top Clear
Color Orange/Amber
Luminosity/Brightness 6,000-6,500 mcd
Forward Voltage 1.9-2.1v
Current 20mA
Wavelength 600-610nm
Viewing Angle 20-30 Degrees
Mount Style Through Hole (DIP)
Lens Color Clear
LED Brightness Class Super/Ultra/Extreme
Documentation Link Documentation: 1.8mm Round Top Amber / Orange LED Datasheet / Specifications

Customer Images

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Customer Reviews

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As described. Great seller!
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As described. Great seller!
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As described, nicely packaged.
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As described, nicely packaged.
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Lighthouse is the best supplier of LED's of all types fro...
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Lighthouse is the best supplier of LED's of all types from reds to UV purples in all the available sizes even the rarer 1.8mm small that are very bright with the best pricing, shipping and packing!
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Great Item!
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Great Item!
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Just what I needed for my project
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Just what I needed for my project
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Review by Nathaniel
Great seller. Thanks again
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Review by Gary
excellent

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