The 10mm Diffused RGB LED (Common Cathode) is a heavy-duty, multi-color light source designed for high-visibility indicators and decorative lighting. At Electrapac, we recommend this 10mm version over standard 5mm LEDs when you need a larger "glow" area and a softer, more even light distribution for your custom enclosures.

Product Overview

This LED contains three independent chips (Red, Green, and Blue) inside a single 10mm frosted (diffused) housing. Because it is a Common Cathode (CC) type, all three internal LEDs share a single negative pin (GND), while each color is controlled by its own positive pin. By using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), you can mix these three primary colors to create over 16 million different shades, including white.

Key Features for Electrapac Customers

• Diffused Lens: The "milky" white housing scatters the light perfectly. This prevents "hot spots" and ensures that the colors blend together smoothly inside the lens rather than appearing as three separate dots.

• Common Cathode Design: Simplifies wiring for most microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP32. You only need one GND connection and three PWM-capable pins for full color control.

• High Visibility: The 10mm size is nearly twice the diameter of standard LEDs, making it perfect for status indicators on large control panels or as a "mood lamp" light source.

• Full Color Spectrum: Capable of producing any color imaginable by varying the duty cycle of each pin.

Pin Identification & Connection Guide

Looking at the pins of the Electrapac RGB LED (with the flat side of the rim or the longest pin as your reference):

1. Pin 1 (Short): Red Anode (+)

2. Pin 2 (Longest): Common Cathode (-)

3. Pin 3 (Short): Green Anode (+)

4. Pin 4 (Short): Blue Anode (+)

⚠️ Electrapac Tech Tip: Never connect this LED directly to a 5V power supply. You must use current-limiting resistors for each color. Because Red has a lower forward voltage, it usually requires a slightly higher resistance (220) than Green and Blue (150Ω) to achieve equal brightness.

Primary Applications

• Status Indicators: Large, color-coded alerts for industrial machinery or smart home hubs.

• Mood Lighting: Building DIY "Glow Cubes" or nightlights where a soft, diffused light is required.

• Educational Tools: Teaching color theory and PWM programming in STEM classrooms.

• Gaming Setups: Adding custom RGB accents to PC cases or desk peripherals.

• Art Installations: Using multiple LEDs to create interactive light-up sculptures.

Why Shop at Electrapac?

We source our 10mm Diffused LEDs with high-quality phosphor coatings to ensure color consistency across every batch. Visit us at for the bright, bold components that add a splash of color to your engineering.