Operation of a multi-color Common Anode LED

Multi-color LEDs usually consist of several individual, differently colored LEDs, which are interconnected with each other in an LED housing. There are different types of interconnection, which are described in more detail in the chapter Basics of LED technology under Typical designs of multi-color LEDs.

A frequently used method of interconnection of multi-color LEDs is Common Anode. The anodes of the differently colored LEDs are connected to each other. Each LED has its own cathode fed to the outside, via which the individual differently colored LEDs in the multi-color LED can be controlled.

Only Common Anode LEDs can be controlled with the EL2596. In addition, the LED requires an EL2596 for each of its colors. An RGB LED has three colors (red, green, blue) and each color requires its own EL2596 for control, therefore three EL2596s are needed for an RGB LED.

Voltage control in the operation mode “Voltage control PWM” and current control from FW04 in the operation mode “Current Sink PWM” are both possible.

The connection of an RGB LED, which is also symbolic for RGB LED strips or multi-color LEDs with other/more colors, is shown in the following figure.

Operation of multicolor common anode LEDs in voltage mode If a multicolor common anode LED or LED strip is to be voltage controlled, the EL2564 can also be used. This is a 4-channel LED output terminal with flexible output voltage between 5...48 V DC.