5mm Round Top Yellow / Gold Breathing / Fading LED - Super Bright

The 5mm fading / breathing round top yellow/gold led will begin flickering as soon as you apply power to the led.

In stock

SKU
5MMROUNDTOPFADINGLEDYELLOW
Color
Yellow/Gold
Size
5mm Round Top Fading / Breathing / Pulsing LED
$0.22
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Description / 5mm Round Top Yellow / Gold Breathing / Fading LED - Super Bright

The 5mm Yellow Fading / Breathing LED smoothly ramps brightness up and down in a continuous breathing cycle — a slow, pulsing glow that never fully turns off. No 555 timer, no oscillator, no microcontroller required — just apply DC power through a current-limiting resistor and it starts immediately.

Size5mm (T-1 3/4)
EffectSmooth fade in/out (breathing cycle)
Forward Voltage1.9-2.1v
Brightness7,000-9,000mcd
PackageT-1 3/4 through-hole DIP
Drive Current20mA typical

Built for

  • Cosplay — Iron Man arc reactor: A breathing blue LED achieves the iconic slow-pulse glow with just a coin cell + resistor. Most Instructables builds use an Arduino Nano + PWM code — this LED replaces the Arduino entirely. Documented across therpf.com, Instructables, and r/cosplay.
  • Energy cores and implants: Halo energy core (green), Mass Effect omni-tool (orange), cyberpunk implants, Terminator eye (red), lightsaber crystal chamber ambient glow.
  • Sleep and standby indicators: The “MacBook sleep light” effect — a gentle pulse signaling a device is powered but idle. Use on custom PC builds, project enclosures, or prop electronics.
  • Ambient mood lighting: Inside frosted glass, resin castings, or 3D-printed diffuser housings for a slow-pulse decorative effect. Nightlights, meditation room accents, aquarium scenery.
  • Scale model reactor glow: Sci-fi spaceship engine nacelles, reactor cores, power crystals. The breathing effect suggests active energy without harsh steady-on.

Makeshift controller trick: Wire this fading LED in series with standard LEDs, and the entire string will breathe together in sync. One breathing LED makes a group of regular LEDs pulse without any controller.

Why this instead of Arduino PWM? An Arduino-based breathing effect requires a microcontroller ($5+), code, USB programming, and continuous MCU power. This LED achieves the same visual result with one component + one resistor. Trade-off: you cannot adjust the fade speed or curve.

Polarity matters — long lead is positive (anode). Add a current-limiting resistor matched to your supply voltage. Drop-in replacement for any standard 5mm LED — same footprint, no circuit changes.

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

No. Self-flashing LEDs have a fixed blink rate set by the internal IC (1Hz, 2Hz, or 6Hz depending on the variant). If you need adjustable timing, use a standard LED with a 555 timer circuit or an Arduino.
Wire a self-flashing LED in series with one or more standard LEDs, and the entire string will blink together. The flashing LED acts as a current gate, controlling the pattern for all LEDs in the chain. This lets you animate multiple LEDs with a single flashing LED — no separate controller needed.
No. Animated LEDs with built-in ICs require DC power. On AC, the IC cannot function and the LED will not produce the intended effect. For AC sources, convert to DC first with a bridge rectifier.

DC power required: Animated LEDs (flashing, flickering, fading) require DC — they will not operate correctly on AC power. If you're working from a low-voltage AC source such as a model railroad transformer or DCC output, you must convert to DC first using a bridge rectifier.

Power SourceBridge Rectifier100µF Capacitor
DC power supplyNoNo
12V AC landscape transformer
Required
Required
DCC track power
Required
Required

Full wiring guide with circuit diagrams →

Complete your build

Sold individually (1 LED per quantity ordered).

PCB Design: KiCad footprint: LED_THT:LED_D5.0mm (built-in with KiCad). EasyEDA: search “LED_D5.0mm” 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 5mm Round Top Fading / Breathing / Pulsing LED
Color Yellow/Gold
Animation Type Fading / Breathing Style
Luminosity/Brightness 7,000-9,000 mcd
Forward Voltage 1.9-2.1v
Current 20mA
Wavelength 590-595nm
Viewing Angle 20-30 Degrees
Mount Style Through Hole (DIP)
Lens Color Clear
LED Brightness Class Super/Ultra/Extreme

Customer Images

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Parfait, correspond à la description et envoyé rapidement.
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Parfait, correspond à la description et envoyé rapidement.
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100% Positive, Item New, Mint, Amazing 3D Halo Effect, Su...
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100% Positive, Item New, Mint, Amazing 3D Halo Effect, Super Fast Shipping, First Class Service, All Star Seller! Great Deal! Thank You!
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Exactly as described and shipped fast. Thanks!!
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Exactly as described and shipped fast. Thanks!!
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The LEDs arrived exactly as described.
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The LEDs arrived exactly as described.
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Very bright wide area green LEDs - CHEAP and good quality
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Review by Brent
They work

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