Adafruit
Round Semi-Circle Backlight LED - 50mm Diameter
A 50mm diameter plastic diffused backlight LED that produces near-uniform white illumination from a slim semi-circle of acrylic. Originally designed for LCD ...
A 50mm diameter plastic diffused backlight LED that produces near-uniform white illumination from a slim semi-circle of acrylic. Originally designed for LCD gauge displays, these backlights are encased in a 2.2mm thick diffusing acrylic that spreads light evenly from just two internal white LEDs.
A built-in reflector on the flat side directs all light output through the top surface, maximising brightness. Drive it just like a standard LED at approximately 3V and 30mA. The diffused surface can be masked with vinyl, drawn on with markers, or tinted with colour gels for creative effects — making it a great alternative to EL panels for wearables without needing an inverter.
Key Features
- Uniform Diffused Light – Special acrylic evenly spreads light from two internal white LEDs
- Built-In Reflector – Flat-side reflector directs all light upward for maximum brightness
- Simple to Drive – Operates like a standard LED at ~3V / 30 mA
- Customisable – Mask with vinyl, draw with markers, or use colour gels to change the hue
- Brighter Than EL – Higher brightness and lower power consumption than electroluminescent panels, with no inverter required
Specifications
- Diameter – 50 mm
- Thickness – 2.2 mm
- Shape – Semi-circle (dome top, flat reflector bottom)
- LED Colour – White
- Operating Voltage – ~3V
- Operating Current – 30 mA
Ideal For
- Wearable electronics and costumes
- Custom indicator lights and gauge displays
- Art installations and light-up projects
- Backlighting for small LCD panels
Package Contents
- 1× Round Semi-Circle Backlight LED (50mm)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
Find this product in
Brands
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
