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All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

LITE-ON also add a note to every Absolute Maximum Rating Table : Reverse Voltage can't be continued operating

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for almost all NPN/PNP's as the heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors has the same limitation, unlike the lighter doped Vbc diode which provides the high Vce voltage rating

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)

All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

LITE-ON also add a note to every Absolute Maximum Rating Table : Reverse Voltage can't be continued operating

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for almost all NPN/PNP's as the heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors has the same limitation, unlike the lighter doped Vbc diode which provides the high Vce voltage rating

  • (Vce = Vbc reverse + Vbe forward )

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)

All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

LITE-ON also add a note to every Absolute Maximum Rating Table : Reverse Voltage can't be continued operating

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for most heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors.

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)

All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

LITE-ON also add a note to every Absolute Maximum Rating Table : Reverse Voltage can't be continued operating

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for almost all NPN/PNP's as the heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors has the same limitation, unlike the lighter doped Vbc diode which provides the high Vce voltage rating

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)

All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for most heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors.

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)

All of these types of single discrete LEDs has a reverse voltage breakdown threshold of -5V. Never drive more than the absolute maximum specs in the datasheet and also expect > 50kh MTBF.

LITE-ON also add a note to every Absolute Maximum Rating Table : Reverse Voltage can't be continued operating

• This also applies to forward current with a current limiting resistor.

• Typically for Red, Yellow these are tested for -5V @ 1uA Max and for Blue, WHite, Green, -5V @10uA

  • This does not mean they will fail at -6V but that the current exponential rises at some point above -5V and the breakdown voltage and capacitance discharge will destroy the junction.
  • Even if one test worked at -9V you may conclude -9V is OK to use as there is an aging acceleration rate.
  • If they are all identical capacitance and leakage then it may be reasonable to assume if you had 20 in series that you could apply -100 V reverse and the ones which leak more then reduce in voltage drop to equalize.

• By no coincidence this is also the same -5V reverse voltage rating for most heavily doped Vbe junctions in bipolar junction transistors.

I see a difference in Anode gold wirebond in these packages due to the side of the flat D edge and the position of the reflective cup holder, but sometimes the transparent substrate is inverted. (caution)