How to Make LEDs Glow With a 6V Battery

LED is an acronym for light emitting diode.  These semiconductor devices convert electricity into light.  Resistors prevent too much electricity from flowing through the low resistance LED, thus preventing overload and burning out the unit.  The resistor allows energy control enabling power sources such as a 6V battery to work quite well with LED technology.

1. Calculate OHM's law.
   Voltage / Current=Resistance. LED's use two volts, the battery is six volts.  Therefore, the resistor should be 240 ohms.  You will need to use 220 ohms, as the circuit tolerance is not critical in this case.


2. Clip two alligator jumper cables to the lead wires of the LED.  The alligator clamps are spring loaded so they grip the terminals.
   * Put the positive (+) long-lead alligator clamp to the positive (+) terminal on the LED.
   * Put the negative (-) short-lead alligator clamp to the negative (-) terminal on the LED.


3. Clip the opposing ends to the appropriate connections on the 220-ohm resistor--positive-to-positive, negative-to-negative.  Necessary redundancy--do not cross poles. This will fry your battery and will destroy the electronics you are working with. 


4. Attach the free ends of the jumper cables to respective poles of the battery on the 6V battery side: --positive-to-positive, negative-to-negative.  Again, just as in jumping a car battery, do not cross poles.


5. LED will work as long as there is charge in the battery. 

This is a simple circuit and is perfect for K-12 school science experiments or for youth clubs.