5mm Common Anode Diffused RGB LED - 4-Pin Tri-Color Red Green Blue LED Diodes (5/10/25 Pieces)

📋 Overview

These 5mm diffused-lens RGB LEDs combine red, green, and blue LEDs into a single 4-pin package. The frosted diffused lens scatters light evenly across a wide 120° viewing angle, producing smooth, well-blended colors that are easy on the eyes. This makes them perfect for mood lighting, decorative displays, and any project where the LED is directly visible.

These are common anode LEDs — the longest pin is the shared positive (+) connection, and each color is activated by pulling its cathode pin LOW through a current-limiting resistor. By controlling each color with PWM, you can produce virtually any color in the visible spectrum. Sold in convenient 5-, 10- & 25-piece packs.

⭐ Key Features

• Three Colors in One — Red, green, and blue LEDs in a single 5mm package
• Common Anode Configuration — Shared positive pin for simplified wiring
• Diffused Lens — Frosted lens for smooth, even color blending and wide 120° viewing angle
• Full Color Mixing — Combine RGB values via PWM to create any color
• High Brightness — Up to 5000 mcd (green channel)
• Standard 5mm (T1-3/4) Package — Fits standard LED holders and breadboards
• Low Power — 20mA per color channel
• Arduino & Microcontroller Compatible — Works with any platform that supports PWM output

📊 Specifications

📌 Pinout

The LED has 4 pins. The longest pin is the common anode (+V). With the LED facing you (lens on top) and the flat side of the lens to the right:

🔌 Wiring

Connect the common anode (longest pin) to your +5V supply. Each color cathode connects to a PWM-capable GPIO pin on your microcontroller through a current-limiting resistor. The LED turns on when the cathode pin is pulled LOW.

Recommended Resistor Values (5V Supply, 20mA)

💡 Tip: A 220Ω resistor on all three channels is a safe, universal choice if you don't need maximum brightness.

🚀 Getting Started

Connect the LED to an Arduino using PWM pins (e.g., D9, D10, D11). Since this is a common anode LED, the PWM logic is inverted — a value of 0 = full brightness and 255 = off.

// Common Anode RGB LED — Quick Test
const int redPin = 9, greenPin = 10, bluePin = 11;

void setup() {
  pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(bluePin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  analogWrite(redPin, 0); analogWrite(greenPin, 255); analogWrite(bluePin, 255); // Red
  delay(1000);
  analogWrite(redPin, 255); analogWrite(greenPin, 0); analogWrite(bluePin, 255); // Green
  delay(1000);
  analogWrite(redPin, 255); analogWrite(greenPin, 255); analogWrite(bluePin, 0); // Blue
  delay(1000);
  analogWrite(redPin, 0); analogWrite(greenPin, 0); analogWrite(bluePin, 0);     // White
  delay(1000);
}

🔌 Compatible With

• Arduino (Uno, Mega, Nano, etc.)
• ESP32 / ESP8266
• Raspberry Pi Pico
• STM32 and other microcontrollers with PWM output
• Any 3.3V–5V digital logic system (5V recommended for full brightness)

🎯 Typical Applications

• Mood and ambient lighting
• Decorative LED displays and art installations
• Status indicators with smooth color transitions
• Wearable electronics and costumes
• Night lights and color-changing lamps
• Educational projects for learning PWM and color theory
• Prototyping color feedback systems

📦 What's in the Box

• 5/10/25x 5mm Common Anode Diffused RGB LED Diodes - package quantity chosen above

Current-limiting resistors are not included. See the Wiring section above for recommended values.

💡 Tips

• Diffused LEDs blend colors much more smoothly than clear LEDs — they're the better choice when the LED is directly visible to the viewer.
• The green channel is significantly brighter than red — reduce green/blue PWM values when mixing to achieve balanced white or pastel colors.
• On 3.3V systems, the green and blue channels (Vf = 3.5V) may not light reliably. Use a 5V supply for full-color operation.
• Use a helper function to invert PWM values so you can write standard 0–255 logic: analogWrite(pin, 255 - value);

⚠️ Important Notes

• Always use current-limiting resistors — driving an LED without one will destroy it.
• Do not exceed 20mA forward current per color channel.
• Observe correct polarity — the common anode pin connects to positive voltage, not ground.
• These LEDs are not waterproof.

📄 Documentation & Resources

For detailed wiring diagrams, resistor calculations, Arduino code examples, and color mixing tutorials, see our full User Guide:

• 5mm Common Anode RGB LED User Guide
• All LED, Laser & Light Source User Guides

Sold and supported by Envistia Mall. Ships from the USA. For wiring diagrams and troubleshooting, see the User Guide. The manufacturer and Envistia LLC (dba Envistia Mall) are not responsible for any damages or losses resulting from the use of this product. Always follow proper electrical safety practices when working with electronic components. Specifications are based on manufacturer data and are subject to change without notice.