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Originally posted by jeff1500:
http://www.bit-tech.net/review/82/2
Here's a nice review of a Luxeon Star with optics. Interesting close-up photos and details.

It makes this statement:
" Solder pads on the PCB allow you to make electrical connections, and the anode is marked with a dot. "

Which is the correct wire to hook to the anode and what happens if you get it wrong?
 

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In an LED (this includes the LS), the anode goes to the (+) side of the battery or power supply. The cathode (sometimes marked "K") always goes to the (-) side.

What happens if you hook it up wrong depends a great deal on the type of Luxeon and the open circuit supply voltage. With red & amber Luxeons, usually nothing happens at all with normal battery voltages (6 volts or less).
With the others, nothing bad usually happens unless the supply voltage is more than 3 or 4 volts, then you'll usually smoke the LED unless it's protected by a zener or something. That dot is there for a reason, and it's a pretty cool idea to know what it's there for (to indicate which side goes to the +) and to try to get your connections right the first time around.

I don't care what the guy at the restaraunt says, smoked LEDs don't taste like chicken.

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"The purple light will bring you scientific technical mystery and emergency light."
 

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Posts: 2650 | From: Seattle, Wa., land of thrown fish & wheelchair LEDs | Registered: Aug 2000  |  IP: Logged