Connecting SMD LEDs

Projects General Guidance
1

I have a project with about 8 LEDs. They are SMD which Im actually NOT going to mount on a pcb. The reason I got them is cause they are small.

So I want to wire up about 8 of these using copper wire (Im thinking from a ethernet cable). So I could run a single + wire and a single - wire and just solder 8 leds and hook up the ends of the wires to a power source. Is this feasible? Kinda like this:

+++++++++++^+++++++++++^+++++++++++^+++++++++++^+++++++++to 5V (Resistor)
--------------------=--------------------=--------------------=--------------------=--------------- to GND

Assuming:

    • is a strand of wire connected to the + terminal
    • is a strand of wire connected to the - terminal
  3. ^ is the + side of the LED
  4. = is the - side of the LED
2

If the LEDs are well matched it will probably work. Remember that putting them in parallel means more current. If they need 5mA each you will need to size the resistor for 40 mA.

If the LEDs are not well matched then they will tend to share the current unevenly. This might cause premature failure on some and insufficient light from others.