electrical theory questions

FeRaL · 11-December-02, 11:16 PM

Can someone explain to me what Foreward Voltage is and what Reverse Voltage is, how they relate to each other etc...?

NoSlak · 11-December-02, 11:43 PM

It is all simple math Feral.... that I can't explain.

FeRaL · 11-December-02, 11:55 PM

Ah, I see... Reason I was asking is that I was looking at the specs on some LED's and it mentioned both those types of voltages...

Damion · 12-December-02, 12:31 AM

Been a long time, but it is talking about the voltage loss as the power flows through anode and cathode. Atleast thats the best I can remember from basic electronics.

Rafiki · 12-December-02, 12:34 AM

as far as led's go,i dont know the exact math,but here's a great link that i got from one of the fine pimps here
led calculator

BrokenArrow · 12-December-02, 02:01 AM

Ok, I'm an electronics technician by trade, so I'll take a shot at this one. In reference to a diode, the Foreward voltage would be the minimum voltage required to foreward bias, or "turn on" the diode, so that current flows through it. The foreward voltage would be the (+) voltage on the annode of the diode when it is on. The reverse voltage is what it would take to reverse bias the diode, or 'turn off' the diode. Now i'm not sure exactly what kind of LED you are referring to, is it one of those dual colored leds? If so, I have never used one, so I'm not 100% sure how they work. Perhaps they operate with a foreward voltage for one color, and reverse for the other. Someone chime in if you have used these dual colored LEDs before.

FeRaL · 12-December-02, 02:46 AM

Thaks for all the replies. BrokenArrow, here is a link to what I am refering to. http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/b_specs.htm

11-December-02, 11:16 PM		#1 (permalink)
FeRaL Mutant Moderator	electrical theory questions Can someone explain to me what Foreward Voltage is and what Reverse Voltage is, how they relate to each other etc...?

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11-December-02, 11:43 PM		#2 (permalink)
NoSlak Gridiron	It is all simple math Feral.... that I can't explain.

11-December-02, 11:55 PM		#3 (permalink)
FeRaL Mutant Moderator	Ah, I see... Reason I was asking is that I was looking at the specs on some LED's and it mentioned both those types of voltages...

12-December-02, 12:31 AM		#4 (permalink)
Damion Apex Advanced Techie	Been a long time, but it is talking about the voltage loss as the power flows through anode and cathode. Atleast thats the best I can remember from basic electronics.

12-December-02, 12:34 AM		#5 (permalink)
Rafiki Apex Tech Maniac	as far as led's go,i dont know the exact math,but here's a great link that i got from one of the fine pimps here led calculator

12-December-02, 02:01 AM		#6 (permalink)
BrokenArrow Apex Advanced Techie	Ok, I'm an electronics technician by trade, so I'll take a shot at this one. In reference to a diode, the Foreward voltage would be the minimum voltage required to foreward bias, or "turn on" the diode, so that current flows through it. The foreward voltage would be the (+) voltage on the annode of the diode when it is on. The reverse voltage is what it would take to reverse bias the diode, or 'turn off' the diode. Now i'm not sure exactly what kind of LED you are referring to, is it one of those dual colored leds? If so, I have never used one, so I'm not 100% sure how they work. Perhaps they operate with a foreward voltage for one color, and reverse for the other. Someone chime in if you have used these dual colored LEDs before.

12-December-02, 02:46 AM		#7 (permalink)
FeRaL Mutant Moderator	Thaks for all the replies. BrokenArrow, here is a link to what I am refering to. http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds/b_specs.htm