1.8mm / 2mm Round Top UV / Purple LED - Ultra Bright

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

In stock

SKU
1.8MMROUNDTOPLEDUVPURPLE
Color
UV / Purple
Size
1.8mm / 2mm Round Top Clear
$0.40
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Description / 1.8mm / 2mm Round Top UV / Purple LED - Ultra Bright

The 1.8mm / 2mm Clear UV Purple 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 Voltage3.0-3.4v
Brightness1,000-1,500mcd
Viewing Angle20-30 Degrees
LensClear
Package2mm through-hole DIP
Drive Current20mA typical

Who uses these?

  • N scale model railroad (1:160): N scale model railroad lighting and miniature indicator applications. 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. tight-space indicators, micro builds.

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
5V100Ω1/4W
9V300Ω1/4W
12V470Ω1/4W
15V*620Ω1/2W
18V750Ω1/2W

*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).

About true UV LEDs: This LED emits genuine ultraviolet light at 395–405nm. To the human eye, true UV often appears as a deep blue or blue-violet hue rather than a vivid purple — this is normal and expected. The perceived color can change depending on what the UV light is shining on (fluorescent materials will glow brightly) and the ambient lighting in the room. In a dark room, the LED looks blue-violet; in a lit room it may appear dimmer than other colors because most of the output is in the invisible UV spectrum. True UV LEDs also have lower visible light intensity than other colors — this is inherent to the wavelength, not a defect. If you want a visibly bright purple without UV properties, see our diffused purple LEDs.
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 UV / Purple
Luminosity/Brightness 1,000-1,500 mcd
Forward Voltage 3.0-3.4v
Current 20mA
Wavelength 395-405nm
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 UV / Purple LED Datasheet / Specifications

Customer Images

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Lighthouse LED is the best source for small lights and this seller is in the United States!
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shipped fast, highly recommended seller, thanks!
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Review by Brandon
Arrived, worked. Legs not bent which is great.

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