10/09/2024 4:46 am
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Hello everyone,
I'm working on a school project where I need to control 15 LEDs using an Arduino, and I'm considering directly connecting them to the digital/analog pins with resistors. However, I'm concerned about potential overcurrent issues. Can anyone advise if it's safe to connect all 15 LEDs directly to the Arduino pins, or should I consider alternative methods to avoid damaging the Arduino?
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12/09/2024 5:15 am
Yes, you can connect more than 15 LEDs directly, even 20. The only thing that matters is whether you are under the current limit or not.
See, the current limit of one Arduino UNO pin is 40mA max. And of the ATmega328p is 200mA.
So, if all of your LEDs' combined current is less than 200mA, you are safe. But how do we achieve this? Just use a resistor value big enough so that the current drawn from each pin is around 10mA to 12mA.
One downside to this is that your LEDs may not light up properly or remain entirely OFF because of the low current.
So the best way would be to use a driver like ULN2003.
Hope this helps.
Admin 23/09/2024 4:50 am
1. Yes you can. But then you have to turn ON only one LED at a time. 2. It is simple. If each LED consumes 12mA we get, total current= 12X15 = 180mA, which is below the maximum rating. Now resistor value = 5V/12mA = 416 ohms.
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11/09/2024 4:50 am
Hello Tristan,
You see directly connecting 15 LEDs to Arduino pins can lead to overcurrent issues, potentially damaging the Arduino. This is because each LED draws a certain amount of current, and the combined current draw can easily exceed the maximum current rating of the Arduino's pins.
Additionally, the resistors used to limit current will also dissipate power, which can overheat the Arduino or the resistors themselves. To avoid these problems, it's recommended to use LED driver such as ULN2003.
These drivers and controllers can handle higher currents without overloading the Arduino pins. By employing these methods, you can safely control 15 LEDs with your Arduino without risking damage.
hope this will help
