Component LEDs

Component LEDs are the building blocks of virtually every custom lighting project.

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Component LEDs are the building blocks of virtually every custom lighting project. We stock 700+ varieties across 8 subcategories: through-hole DIP LEDs, diffused LEDs, SMD LEDs, Piranha / superflux LEDs, animated LEDs, RGB LEDs, 12V built-in resistor LEDs, and pre-wired LEDs.

Whether you're a model railroader adding 3mm indicator lights to a locomotive cab, a guitar pedal builder dropping in a 5mm panel indicator LED, an automotive enthusiast replacing dash bulbs with crisp white LEDs, or a prop builder who needs a convincing blinking effect, you'll find the right emitter here. We stock colors across the visible spectrum: red, orange, amber, yellow, green, blue, white, UV, pink, and RGB. Each product page lists the peak wavelength in nanometers — essential for color-matched indicator panels and scientific applications.

White LEDs deserve special mention: warm white (~3000–4000 K) gives a soft, incandescent-like glow well suited for accent lighting and warm-toned displays. Cool white (~5500–6500 K) produces a crisp, blue-leaning white ideal for task lighting, instrument panels, and anywhere you want a clean, bright appearance. Color temperatures listed are approximate and vary by manufacturer lot.

Forward voltage ranges by color: red/orange/yellow/amber ≈ 2.0–2.2 Vf; blue/green/white/UV/RGB ≈ 3.0–3.2 Vf. Standard drive current is 20 mA max. Pair any bare LED with the correct current-limiting resistor and browse subcategories to find the exact package, size, and brightness you need. New to LEDs? Pre-wired LEDs are the easiest starting point — the resistor is already built in, so you just connect power and ground.

Diffused vs. clear top LEDs: Diffused LEDs have a frosted lens that spreads light over a wide angle (typically 120–160°) — ideal for panel indicators and ambient effects where the LED needs to be visible from the side. Clear top DIP LEDs have a water-clear lens that focuses light into a tight beam (typically 15–30°), maximizing on-axis brightness. Most indicator applications use diffused; spotlight and fiber-optic coupling applications use clear.

Animated LEDs contain a built-in controller IC that drives automatic flashing, flickering, or color-cycling sequences — no external circuit needed. Animated LEDs are popular for model railroad signal lights, prop building, and anywhere you need eye-catching movement without a microcontroller. They run on standard 2–3.3 V (add a resistor for 5 V or 12 V circuits). If your source is 12V AC (landscape transformer) or DCC track power, you will also need a bridge rectifier and 100µF smoothing capacitor — see the AC wiring guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Forward voltage (Vf) depends on the LED color. Red, orange, amber, and yellow LEDs typically need 2.0–2.2 V. Blue, green, white, UV, and RGB LEDs typically need 3.0–3.2 V. The exact Vf is listed on each product page. Always design your circuit around Vf — using a supply voltage below Vf means the LED won’t light up at all.
Yes — unless the LED already has one built in. Without a current-limiting resistor, an LED will overdraw current and burn out in seconds. The only exceptions are 12V built-in resistor LEDs and pre-wired LEDs, which already include the resistor on the wire. If you’re new to LEDs, pre-wired LEDs are the easiest starting point — just connect power and ground, no math required.
The number is the diameter of the LED lens. 5mm is the most popular size — bright, available in every color, and compatible with standard panel-mounting hardware. 3mm is used for tight spaces, miniature model railroad layouts, and applications where a smaller footprint matters. 10mm gives a larger viewing area and higher perceived brightness for decorative displays and automotive indicator replacements. All three use the same circuit — same resistor formula, same forward voltage ranges by color.
DIP LEDs (through-hole) have two wire leads that pass through holes in a PCB or plug into a breadboard — easy to hand-solder, swap, and panel-mount. They are the standard choice for prototyping, hobby projects, and any build where you need to physically fit the LED into a bezel or holder. SMD LEDs are flat, leadless components soldered directly to pads on a PCB surface. They are much smaller (down to 0402 package), used in high-density PCB layouts, LED strips, and production assemblies. SMD requires either reflow soldering or careful hand-soldering under magnification.
Diffused LEDs have a frosted lens that spreads light across a wide 120–160° viewing angle. The LED is visible from the side and gives a soft, even glow — ideal for panel indicators, signal lights, and anywhere the LED needs to be seen from multiple directions. Clear top DIP LEDs concentrate light into a tight 15–30° beam, making them appear much brighter on-axis. Use clear top when you need maximum point brightness, spotlight effects, or are coupling light into a fiber optic strand.
Standard component LEDs require DC power — AC will cause them to flicker at line frequency (or simply not light at lower voltages). If your power source is a 12V AC landscape transformer or DCC model railroad track power, you need a bridge rectifier to convert AC to DC, plus an electrolytic smoothing capacitor to flatten the waveform. See the AC/DCC wiring guide for a complete wiring diagram and component values.