LED Polarity

I bought a sea choice led stern light. Which would be positive, the black lead or the gray lead? Or does it matter?

If it's a pole light, it doesn't matter.

It does matter b/c it is LED - black should be negative (but if you get it wrong it will not hurt the light - just switch it) test it 1st before you do you permanent install

Black is negative, and gray is positive. But most 12V lights, whether incandescent or LED, aren't affected by polarity.

Led lights are affected by polarity and will only work if connected currectly

Captain Ahab said:

Led lights are affected by polarity and will only work if connected currectly

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Exactly, the 'D' in LED is diode, from Light Emitting Diode, and a diode is a 1-way directional current device.

thanks guys, you saved me a lot of research.

well, it works the same either way

bamabill said:

well, it works the same either way

Click to expand...

I'm guessing, like you found out, that some of the newer ones have a circuity built into them to allow either connection scheme.

But I do know that on earlier ones, or say just the bulb itself, had to be hooked up right or you'd fry the device. I didn't want to steer you wrong ...

Yeah.

They're bipolar - just like my ex.

Never use them - they're trouble from day one.

ETA -

Nevermind. There must be too many bipolar relationships here for the above to be humorous.

Dale, that was my guess too. I talked to my stepson who's an EE. He said checking with a meter in diode mode, one direction should give .7V and OL the other direction. But that would be just for the LED alone I presume because I got crazy numbers both directions. I'm just checking the leads coming out of the mounting socket that the pole lite goes into. So I was trying to get a reading thru all that circuitry.