4-Pin Common Cathode RGB LED Module

Key Features

• Full Spectrum Control: Integrates three individual LEDs (Red, Green, and Blue) to be mixed for a nearly limitless range of colors.
• Intuitive “Common Cathode” Logic: All three LEDs share a single negative (ground) pin. You apply a HIGH signal to the color pins to activate them, which is a perfect match for most microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP32.
• Brightness & Color Mixing: Easily control brightness and create precise color shades by applying a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal to the R, G, and B pins.
• Standard 4-Pin Layout: Allows for easy breadboarding and prototyping. The longest pin is the common cathode (ground).

Technical Specifications

• Configuration: Common Cathode (Shared Ground)
• Pinout (4 Pins):
  1. Red
  2. Common Cathode (GND) – Longest Pin
  3. Green
  4. Blue
• Forward Voltage (Typical):
  • Red: ~2.0V
  • Green: ~3.2V
  • Blue: ~3.2V
• Recommended Current: 20mA per color (max)

Important: To use this LED, you must connect a separate current-limiting resistor to each of the R, G, and B pins to prevent damage. Do not use a single resistor on the common pin.

Applications

• Status Indicators: Show complex states (e.g., Green for “OK,” Red for “Error,” Blue for “Processing”).
• Mood Lighting: Create custom-colored ambient light for your desk or room.
• Educational Projects: An essential component for learning about electronics and color mixing with PWM.
• Custom Displays: Build small-scale information panels or light-up art.