PAGE 022 OF 150 · COLOURS, SIZES & TYPES
Warm White vs Cool White
Colour temperature is measured in kelvin.
LED SYMBOLTriangle points from anode to cathode; the arrows show light leaving the part.
Colour temperature
Colour temperature is measured in kelvin (K). Lower numbers look warmer and more orange, and higher numbers look cooler and bluer.
Typical ranges
- 2700 to 3000 K: warm white, cosy, like a filament lamp
- 3500 to 4500 K: neutral white, good for kitchens and offices
- 5000 to 6500 K: cool or daylight white, crisp and bright
Choosing
Warm white suits living areas and evenings. Cool white suits workshops, garages and task lighting. Do not mix temperatures in one room unless it is intentional, because the difference is easy to notice.
REMEMBER
Colour is set by the semiconductor material, not by the plastic lens.Try it yourself
Sketch the circuit on paper first, calculate the values, then build it on a solderless breadboard using a low-voltage supply. Measure with a multimeter before you make anything permanent.
Explore LED clocks, stopwatches and electronics at cosycom.com.