2026 LED Indicator Model Cross-Reference: SMD/Through-Hole/Bi-Color/RGB Voltage & Current Specs with Low/Mid/High 3-Tier Pricing

Last updated: August 29, 2026 | Data sources: public datasheets and market pricing from HC-LED (Hongcheng Optoelectronics), Everlight, LITEON, OSRAM and other manufacturers

※ The ten questions engineers and buyers ask most: 1. What is the voltage of a 0603 indicator LED? And a 5mm through-hole white one? 2. Why does the same 0603 red LED sell for ¥0.008 from one supplier and ¥0.08 from another? 3. What is the difference between 0402 and 0603 SMD LEDs? Are they interchangeable? 4. How do gold-plated, silver-plated, alloy and iron substrates affect indicator LED lifetime? 5. Gold wire vs alloy wire vs copper wire vs aluminum wire — how to choose? Is copper wire good enough for indicators? 6. How do you wire bi-color and tri-color LEDs? Common cathode vs common anode? 7. For a 12V equipment panel, how many 3mm LEDs in series is safe? 8. How big is the price gap between low/mid/high-tier indicator LEDs, and how do you tell them apart? 9. IR 850nm vs 940nm — which for security camera illumination? 10. Can Chinese-packaged LEDs replace imported brands (Everlight / LITEON / OSRAM)?

If you are looking for an LED indicator model cross-reference table that is actually usable for selection, explains price differences, and helps you judge quality tiers — not a one-line answer like "white 3.0V, red 2.0-2.4V" — this article was written for you.

Based on the latest 2026 industry datasheets and measured market data, this guide systematically covers 150+ mainstream models across five core series — SMD indicator LEDs, through-hole DIP indicator LEDs, bi-color/tri-color indicators, RGB addressable LEDs with built-in IC, and IR/UV/special light sources — along nine dimensions: naming rules, package dimensions, power and voltage, materials and process, chip grades, three price tiers (HC-LED produces mid and high tier only), execution standards, reliability metrics, and application scenarios. About 13,000 words; bookmark it for reference.

1. Quick Reference: One Master Table of Mainstream Indicator LEDs (with 3 Price Tiers)

The table below is a quick reference of the highest-volume indicator LEDs on the 2026 market, covering the main models used in consumer electronics, home-appliance panels, automotive instruments, security equipment and medical devices.

Model	Size (mm)	Power	Voltage (V)	Current	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Typical Applications
0201	0.6×0.3	0.02W	1.8~3.4	5mA	¥0.03~0.05	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	Wearables, TWS earbud indication
0402	1.0×0.5	0.03~0.06W	1.8~3.4	10~20mA	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Phones, tablets, small indicators
0603	1.6×0.8	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	15~25mA	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	Appliance indication, keyboard backlight, instruments
0805	2.0×1.25	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.01~0.025	¥0.025~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Power indication, instruments, industrial panels
1206	3.2×1.6	0.1~0.15W	1.8~3.4	20~40mA	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	Industrial control, automotive, outdoor instruments
1204	3.2×1.0	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	Side backlight, ultra-thin panel indication
335	4.0×0.8	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	Side-view backlight, light guide plate
F3 round	Φ3.0	0.03~0.06W	1.8~3.4	15~25mA	¥0.01~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Indicator lamps, toys, small appliances
F5 round	Φ5.0	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Displays, signal lights, flashlights
F8 round	Φ8.0	0.1~0.2W	1.8~3.4	30~50mA	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Outdoor indication, high-power signal lamps
5mm straw-hat	Φ5.0	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Light strips, tube lights, wide-angle indication
Piranha F5	5.0×5.0	0.1~0.3W	1.8~3.4	30~80mA	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.30	Auto lamps, brake lights, cluster backlight
Piranha F8	8.0×8.0	0.2~0.5W	1.8~3.6	50~150mA	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	¥0.25~0.50	Headlights, fog lights, warning lights
Rectangular 2×5×7	2×5×7	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4	20~30mA	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	Panel indication, device status lights
0603 bi-color	1.6×0.8	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4×2	20mA/color	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Charging status, bi-color signals
0805 bi-color	2.0×1.25	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4×2	20mA/color	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.15	¥0.15~0.30	Power/status bi-color indication
5mm bi-color	Φ5.0	0.06~0.1W	1.8~3.4×2	20mA/color	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Device status lights, traffic signals
5mm full-color RGB	Φ5.0	0.1~0.2W	R:2.0/G:3.2/B:3.2	20mA/color	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	Decorative, ambient, signal lights
WS2812B	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3W	5V	60mA (full on)	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Addressable strips, pixel screens, ambient indication
IR 850nm	3.5×3.5	0.2~0.5W	1.4~1.8	20~60mA	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Security IR illumination, touchscreens
IR 940nm	3.5×3.5	1~3W	1.2~1.6	20~100mA	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	¥1.20~2.50	Remote controls, facial recognition, security
UV 395nm	3.5×3.5	0.2~0.5W	3.0~3.6	20~60mA	¥0.15~0.30	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	UV curing, nail art, currency check

※ Pricing notes: Prices are August 2026 volume reference prices (100K+ quantity); actual pricing moves with chip markets and raw materials. Low tier = iron lead frame + aluminum wire + epoxy / B-grade chip; Mid tier = copper-alloy frame + copper/alloy wire + domestic silicone / A-grade chip; High tier = silver/gold-plated copper frame + gold/alloy wire + imported silicone / A-grade chip + full-parameter binning.

2. LED Indicator Naming Rules Explained in Depth

2.1 SMD Four-Digit Naming Convention

Naming Rule	Meaning	Example
First two digits	Package length (unit: 0.1mm)	0603 = 1.6mm long
Last two digits	Package width (unit: 0.1mm)	0603 = 0.8mm wide
Actual size	L×W×H	0603 = 1.6×0.8×0.45mm

Common SMD indicator model dimensions:

Model	L×W (mm)	Height (mm)	Power Range	Market Positioning
0201	0.6×0.3	0.23	0.02W	Ultra-micro wearables
0402	1.0×0.5	0.35	0.03~0.06W	Phone/tablet indication
0603(1608)	1.6×0.8	0.45	0.06~0.1W	Appliance/instrument indication (most common)
0805(2012)	2.0×1.25	0.5	0.06~0.1W	Power/industrial panel indication
1206(3216)	3.2×1.6	0.55	0.1~0.15W	Industrial/automotive indication
1204(3210)	3.2×1.0	0.45	0.06~0.1W	Ultra-thin side-view indication
335(4008)	4.0×0.8	0.45	0.06~0.1W	Side-view backlight/light guide plate

2.2 Through-Hole (DIP) Naming Rules

Model	Diameter (mm)	Power	Viewing Angle	Typical Applications
F3 round	3.0	0.03~0.06W	15°~60°	Small indicator lamps, toys
F5 round	5.0	0.06~0.1W	15°~60°	General indicators, displays
F8 round	8.0	0.1~0.2W	15°~45°	Outdoor high-power indication
F10 round	10.0	0.1~0.5W	15°~45°	Ultra-high-power signal lamps
5mm straw-hat	5.0	0.06~0.1W	120°	Wide-angle indication, light strips
8mm straw-hat	8.0	0.1~0.2W	120°	Wide-angle lighting/indication
Piranha F5	5.0	0.1~0.3W	30°~120°	Auto lamps, brake lights, clusters
Piranha F8	8.0	0.2~0.5W	30°~120°	Headlights, fog lights

2.3 Bi-Color / Tri-Color LED Naming Rules

Type	Pin Count	Wiring	Description
Common cathode	3 pins	Common cathode + 2 anodes	Most common, red-green/red-blue bi-color
Common anode	3 pins	Common anode + 2 cathodes	Opposite of common cathode — mind the circuit design
Non-polarized	2 pins	Polarity-free	Special design: red forward, green reverse
RGB 4-pin	4 pins	Common cathode/anode + 3 color pins	Full-color control; needs current-limiting resistors
RGBW 5-pin	5 pins	Common cathode/anode + 4 color pins	4 channels incl. dedicated white

3. Indicator LED Deep Dive by Application (with 3 Price Tiers)

3.1 Consumer Electronics Indicators (0201/0402/0603)

Model	Forward Voltage	Forward Current	Luminous Intensity	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Typical Applications	Selection Points
0201	1.8~3.4V	5mA	0.5~2lm	¥0.03~0.05	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	TWS earbuds, smartwatches	Smallest package, needs precision mounting
0402	1.8~3.4V	10~20mA	1~5lm	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Phones, tablets, power banks	First choice for micro devices
0603	1.8~3.4V	15~25mA	2~10lm	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	Appliance panels, keyboard backlight	Best value, most commonly used

Materials and process behind each price tier:

Tier	Lead Frame	Bonding Wire	Encapsulant	Chip (Die)	Binning	Lifetime	HC-LED
Low tier	Iron frame	Aluminum/copper wire	Epoxy/domestic standard silicone	Grade-B/project die	No binning or brightness-only	3000~5000h	❌ Not offered
Mid tier	Copper-alloy frame	Alloy wire (Ag alloy)	Domestic premium silicone	Grade-A die	Brightness binning	15000~25000h	✅ Mainstream
High tier	Ag/Au-plated copper frame	Gold wire (Au)	Imported silicone	Grade-A die	Full-parameter sorting	30000~50000h	✅ Mainstream

Selection decision points: - TWS earbuds / smart wearables → 0201 high tier (gold wire + imported silicone); extremely tight space, high reliability demands - Phones / tablets / power banks → mid tier (alloy wire + domestic silicone), balancing size and reliability - Appliance panels / keyboards / instruments → 0603 mid tier, bright enough and best value - HC-LED positioning: mid tier (alloy wire + A-grade chip) and high tier (gold wire + imported silicone) only — no low tier (aluminum/copper wire + epoxy + B-grade chip).

3.2 Industrial Control & Automotive Electronics Indicators (0805/1206/Through-Hole)

Model	Forward Voltage	Forward Current	Luminous Intensity	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	CRI / CCT	Thermal Requirement	Typical Applications
0805	1.8~3.4V	20~30mA	5~20lm	¥0.01~0.025	¥0.025~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Full color range	Standard PCB	Power indication, industrial panels
1206	1.8~3.4V	20~40mA	10~30lm	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	Full color range	Standard PCB	Industrial control, automotive electronics
F3 round	1.8~3.4V	15~25mA	100~10000mcd	¥0.01~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Full color range	Natural convection cooling	Device indicators, toys
F5 round	1.8~3.4V	20~30mA	200~20000mcd	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Full color range	Natural convection cooling	Displays, signal lights
Piranha F5	1.8~3.4V	30~80mA	500~8000mcd	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.30	Full color range	4-pin thermal design	Auto clusters, brake lights

Industrial vs consumer-grade indicators (with pricing):

Item	Consumer Low-Tier	Consumer Mid-Tier	Industrial High-End	Automotive Top-Tier
Operating temperature	-20~60℃	-30~85℃	-40~105℃	-40~125℃
ESD immunity	1kV	2kV	4~8kV	8~15kV
Bonding wire	Aluminum/copper wire	Alloy wire	Alloy/gold wire	Gold wire
Lead frame	Iron	Copper alloy	Silver-plated copper	Gold-plated copper
Encapsulant	Epoxy resin	Domestic silicone	Imported silicone	Imported sulfur-resistant silicone
Lifetime	3000~5000h	15000~25000h	30000~50000h	>50000h
Price reference	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.15	¥0.15~0.50

3.3 Bi-Color / Tri-Color Indicator LEDs in Detail (with 3 Price Tiers)

Bi-color LEDs are a powerful tool for status indication — one package switches between two colors, saving space and cost.

Model	Size	Color Combination	Voltage per Color	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Typical Applications
0603 bi-color	1.6×0.8mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Charging status (red=charging, green=full)
0805 bi-color	2.0×1.25mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.15	¥0.15~0.30	Power status (red=standby, green=running)
1206 bi-color	3.2×1.6mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.18	¥0.18~0.35	Industrial panel bi-color status
1204 side-view bi-color	3.2×1.0mm	Red-green/red-blue	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.15	¥0.15~0.30	Side-view indication for ultra-thin devices
5mm through-hole bi-color	Φ5.0mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Front-panel status lights
5mm through-hole RGB	Φ5.0mm	Red-green-blue	R:2.0/G:3.2/B:3.2V	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	Ambient, decorative, signal lights

Common cathode vs common anode wiring examples:

Common-cathode bi-color LED (red/green): - Common pin (longest lead) → to GND (negative) - Red pin → to positive (via resistor) → red light - Green pin → to positive (via resistor) → green light - Both pins to positive → yellow (red + green mix)

Common-anode bi-color LED (red/green): - Common pin (longest lead) → to VCC (positive) - Red pin → to negative (via resistor) → red light - Green pin → to negative (via resistor) → green light

※ Purchasing note: Always specify common cathode or common anode when ordering — the circuit designs are exact opposites and not interchangeable. Pricing is usually identical, but common-cathode parts are produced in larger volumes with shorter lead times.

3.4 RGB Addressable LEDs with Built-in IC (with 3 Price Tiers)

Model	Size	Voltage	Control Method	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Features	Typical Applications
WS2812B	5.0×5.0mm	5V	Single-wire cascade	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Most common; a break kills the whole chain	Addressable strips, PC case RGB
WS2813	5.0×5.0mm	5V	Dual-wire cascade	¥0.20~0.30	¥0.30~0.50	¥0.50~1.00	Breakpoint-continue, first choice for projects	High-reliability addressable lamps
WS2815	5.0×5.0mm	12V	Dual-wire cascade	¥0.25~0.35	¥0.35~0.55	¥0.55~1.10	High-voltage strips, no step-down needed	Architectural lighting projects
SK6812	5.0×5.0mm	5V	Single-wire cascade	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	WS2812 compatible	Smart light strips
SK6812RGBW	5.0×5.0mm	5V	Single-wire cascade	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.65	¥0.65~1.20	4-channel RGB + white	High-end ambient lighting
SK6812MINI	3.5×3.5mm	5V	Single-wire cascade	¥0.12~0.20	¥0.20~0.35	¥0.35~0.70	Compact built-in IC	Keyboard backlight, mouse RGB
APA102	5.0×5.0mm	5V	SPI dual-wire	¥0.20~0.30	¥0.30~0.50	¥0.50~1.00	Refresh rate ≥20kHz	High-speed pixel screens, e-sports peripherals

4. Forward Voltage by Color (Universal for All Indicator LEDs)

An LED's forward voltage is determined by its chip material, not its package. The data below applies to every indicator type.

Color	Wavelength Range	Voltage Range	Chip Material	Typical Applications	Notes
IR 940nm	940nm	1.2~1.6V	GaAs	Remote controls, facial recognition, security	No red glow, invisible to the eye
IR 850nm	850nm	1.4~1.8V	GaAs	Security IR illumination, touchscreens	Faint red glow
Red	620~625nm	1.8~2.4V	AlGaInP	Power indication, alarm lamps, brake lights	Most common indicator color
Yellow	585~595nm	1.8~2.4V	AlGaInP	Turn signals, warning lights	Strong fog penetration
Orange	600~610nm	1.8~2.4V	AlGaInP	Decorative lights, warm indication	Between red and yellow
Standard green	565~575nm	1.8~2.4V	AlGaInP	Status indication, run lights	Dimmer than pure green
Pure green	520~530nm	2.8~3.4V	InGaN	Traffic signals, high-brightness indication	High brightness, high voltage
Blue	450~470nm	2.8~3.4V	InGaN	Ambient indication, white-light excitation	Strong tech aesthetic
White (warm)	Full spectrum	2.8~3.2V	InGaN + phosphor	Home panels, warm backlight	Blue die + yellow phosphor
White (neutral)	Full spectrum	3.0~3.4V	InGaN + phosphor	Office panels, standard backlight	Standard ratio
White (cool)	Full spectrum	3.2~3.4V	InGaN + phosphor	Industrial panels, cool backlight	High blue content
Purple	390~420nm	2.8~3.6V	InGaN	Currency check, curing, mosquito trapping	Close to UV-A
UV 395nm	395nm	3.0~3.6V	InGaN	UV curing, nail art, mosquito trapping	Near-UV, faint visible purple
UV 365nm	365nm	3.2~3.8V	InGaN	UV curing, NDT, anti-counterfeit	Long-wave UV, protection needed

5. Full Parameter Library of the Five Series (with 3 Price Tiers)

5.1 SMD Indicator Series (0.02~0.15W)

The workhorse of consumer electronics and indication: low power, small footprint, ideal for automated SMT assembly.

Model	Size (mm)	Power (W)	Voltage (V)	Current (mA)	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Angle (°)	Typical Applications	Notes
0201	0.6×0.3	0.02	1.8~3.4	5~10	¥0.03~0.05	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	120~160	Wearables, TWS earbuds	Smallest package
0402	1.0×0.5	0.03~0.06	1.8~3.4	10~20	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	120~160	Phones, tablets, small indicators	Micro package
0603(1608)	1.6×0.8	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	15~25	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	120~140	Appliance indication, keyboard backlight, instruments	Most common indication
0805(2012)	2.0×1.25	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	¥0.01~0.025	¥0.025~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	120~140	Power indication, industrial panels	Highly versatile
1206(3216)	3.2×1.6	0.1~0.15	1.8~3.4	20~40	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	120~140	Industrial control, automotive electronics	Industrial mainstream
1204(3210)	3.2×1.0	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	120	Side backlight, ultra-thin panels	Side-view type
335(4008)	4.0×0.8	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	120~160	Side-view backlight, light guide plate	Side-view type
020 side-view	2.0×0.6	0.04~0.06	1.8~3.4	15~20	¥0.03~0.05	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	120	Ultra-thin backlight, phone keys	Ultra-thin side-view

5.2 Through-Hole DIP Indicator Series (with 3 Price Tiers)

The most classic LED package: the 5mm round (F5) is the most widely used, while straw-hat and piranha types offer wider angles and higher brightness.

Model	Diameter (mm)	Power (W)	Voltage (V)	Current (mA)	Luminous Intensity (mcd)	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Angle (°)	Typical Applications	Notes
F3 round	3.0	0.03~0.06	1.8~3.4	15~25	100~10000	¥0.01~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	15~60	Indicator lamps, toys, small appliances	T-1 package
F5 round	5.0	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	200~20000	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	15~60	Displays, signal lights, flashlights	Most common
F8 round	8.0	0.1~0.2	1.8~3.4	30~50	500~30000	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	15~45	Outdoor indication, high-power signals	High-brightness type
F10 round	10.0	0.1~0.5	1.8~3.6	30~150	1000~50000	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	15~45	Ultra-high-power signal lamps	Largest through-hole
5mm straw-hat	5.0	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	100~2000	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	120	Light strips, tube lights, wide-angle indication	Wide-angle emission
8mm straw-hat	8.0	0.1~0.2	1.8~3.4	30~50	200~5000	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	120	Wide-angle lighting/indication	Wide angle
Piranha F5	5.0	0.1~0.3	1.8~3.4	30~80	500~8000	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.30	30~120	Auto lamps, brake lights, clusters	4-pin, good heat dissipation
Piranha F8	8.0	0.2~0.5	1.8~3.6	50~150	1000~15000	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	¥0.25~0.50	30~120	Headlights, fog lights	High-power piranha
5mm bi-color	5.0	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4×2	20	200~5000	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	30~60	Device status lights, traffic signals	3-pin common cathode/anode
5mm full-color RGB	5.0	0.1~0.2	R:2.0/G:3.2/B:3.2	20 (per color)	200~2000	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	30~60	Decorative, ambient lights	4-pin common cathode/anode
5mm flashing LED	5.0	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	200~5000	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	30~60	Warning, decorative lights	Built-in IC self-flashing
Rectangular 2×5×7	2×5×7	0.06~0.1	1.8~3.4	20~30	100~3000	¥0.02~0.04	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.18	60~120	Panel indication, device status lights	Rectangular through-hole

5.3 Bi-Color / Tri-Color Indicator Series (with 3 Price Tiers)

Model	Size	Color Combination	Voltage per Color	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Wiring	Typical Applications
0603 bi-color	1.6×0.8mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Common cathode/anode	Charging status, device run status
0805 bi-color	2.0×1.25mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.15	¥0.15~0.30	Common cathode/anode	Power status, network status
1206 bi-color	3.2×1.6mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.18	¥0.18~0.35	Common cathode/anode	Industrial panel bi-color status
1204 side-view bi-color	3.2×1.0mm	Red-green/red-blue	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.04~0.08	¥0.08~0.15	¥0.15~0.30	Common cathode/anode	Side-view indication for ultra-thin devices
5mm through-hole bi-color	Φ5.0mm	Red-green/red-blue/yellow-green	1.8~2.4V/2.8~3.4V	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Common cathode/anode	Front-panel status lights
5mm through-hole RGB	Φ5.0mm	Red-green-blue	R:2.0/G:3.2/B:3.2V	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	Common cathode/anode	Ambient, decorative, signal lights
5mm through-hole RGBW	Φ5.0mm	RGBW	Varies by color	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	¥0.25~0.50	Common cathode/anode	4-channel full color + white

5.4 RGB Addressable Built-in-IC Series (with 3 Price Tiers)

Model	Size (mm)	Power (W)	Voltage (V)	Current (mA)	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Control Method	Refresh Rate	Features	Application
WS2812B	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	5V	60 (full on)	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Single-wire cascade	≥400Hz	Most common; a break kills the whole chain	Addressable strips, PC case RGB
WS2813	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	5V	60 (full on)	¥0.20~0.30	¥0.30~0.50	¥0.50~1.00	Dual-wire cascade	≥2000Hz	Breakpoint-continue, first choice for projects	High-reliability addressable lamps
WS2815	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	12V	60 (full on)	¥0.25~0.35	¥0.35~0.55	¥0.55~1.10	Dual-wire cascade	≥2000Hz	High-voltage strips, no step-down needed	Architectural lighting projects
SK6812	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	5V	60 (full on)	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Single-wire cascade	≥400Hz	WS2812 compatible	Smart light strips
SK6812RGBW	5.0×5.0	0.3~0.5	5V	80 (full on)	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.65	¥0.65~1.20	Single-wire cascade	≥400Hz	4-channel RGB + white	High-end ambient lighting
SK6812MINI	3.5×3.5	0.15	5V	45 (full on)	¥0.12~0.20	¥0.20~0.35	¥0.35~0.70	Single-wire cascade	≥400Hz	Compact built-in IC	Keyboard backlight, mouse RGB
APA102	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	5V	60 (full on)	¥0.20~0.30	¥0.30~0.50	¥0.50~1.00	SPI dual-wire	≥20kHz	High-speed SPI protocol	High-speed pixel screens, e-sports peripherals
TM1914	5.0×5.0	0.2~0.3	12V	60 (full on)	¥0.20~0.30	¥0.30~0.50	¥0.50~1.00	Dual-wire cascade	≥1000Hz	12V breakpoint-continue	High-voltage project strips

5.5 Special Light-Source Indicator Series (with 3 Price Tiers)

Category	Model	Package	Power (W)	Wavelength (nm)	Voltage (V)	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Optical Power / Radiant Flux	Typical Applications
IR 850nm	850nm 2835/3535	SMD	0.2~0.5	850	1.4~1.8	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	5~20mW	Security IR illumination, touchscreens
IR 940nm	940nm 3535	SMD	1~3	940	1.2~1.6	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	¥1.20~2.50	30~150mW	Remote controls, facial recognition, security
UV 395nm	395nm 2835/3535	SMD	0.2~0.5	395	3.0~3.6	¥0.15~0.30	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	10~50mW	UV curing, nail art, mosquito trapping
UV 365nm	365nm 3535	SMD	1~3	365	3.2~3.8	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	¥1.20~2.50	500~2000mW	UV curing, NDT, anti-counterfeit
Horticulture 660nm	660nm 2835	SMD	0.2~0.5	660	2.0~2.4	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	10~30mW	Grow-light indicator modules
Horticulture 450nm	450nm 2835	SMD	0.2~0.5	450	2.8~3.4	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	5~20mW	Plant stem/leaf growth indication
Medical 630nm	630nm 3535	SMD	1~3	630	2.0~2.4	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	¥0.80~1.50	30~150mW	Phototherapy, beauty devices
Medical 810nm	810nm 3535	SMD	1~3	810	1.4~1.8	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	¥0.80~1.50	20~100mW	Deep-tissue therapy devices

6. Materials, Chips & Process: The Root Causes of Price Differences

Two indicator LEDs both labeled "0603 red" can cost ¥0.008 (low tier) or ¥0.12 (high tier) — a 15x gap. The difference comes from four dimensions below.

6.1 Substrate Material Differences vs Price

Material Type	Thermal Conductivity	Cost Grade	Lifetime Impact	Low-Tier Usage	Mid-Tier Usage	High-Tier Usage	How to Identify
Gold-plated frame (Au on Cu)	400W/m·K	Highest	Best: low junction temp, slow lumen decay	Not used	Not used	✅ High-tier standard	Gold-colored base
Silver-plated frame (Ag on Cu)	400W/m·K	High	Excellent	Not used	Used in some high-tier parts	✅ Common at high tier	Silver-white base
Alloy frame (copper alloy)	200~350W/m·K	Medium	Good — the value choice	Not used	✅ Mid-tier standard	Used in some high-tier parts	Brass-tinted base
Iron frame (Ag-plated Fe)	50~80W/m·K	Lowest	Poorer; oxidizes at high temperature	✅ Low-tier standard	Not used	Not used	Magnetic — attracted by a magnet

Key conclusion for indicator LEDs: Indicators run at low power (<0.1W) with little heat, so iron frames are tolerable for short-term use. But for industrial, automotive and outdoor equipment, never use iron-frame LEDs — long-term thermal cycling oxidizes the frame and degrades solder joints.

6.2 Bonding Wire Material Differences vs Price

Wire Type	Diameter	Resistivity	Tensile Strength	Low-Tier Usage	Mid-Tier Usage	High-Tier Usage	Lifetime	Typical Applications	HC-LED
Gold wire (Au)	0.8~1.0mil	Extremely low	High	Not used	Not used	✅ High-tier standard	>50000h	AEC-Q102 automotive, medical, high-end indication	✅ Mainstream
Alloy wire (Ag alloy)	1.0~1.2mil	Low	Medium-high	Not used	✅ Mid-tier standard	✅ Common at high tier	30000~50000h	Industrial-grade indication, automotive	✅ Mainstream
Copper wire (Cu)	1.0~1.5mil	Medium	Medium	✅ Common at low tier	Used in some low-tier parts	Not used	20000~30000h	Consumer appliance indication (low-cost solution)	❌ Not offered
Aluminum wire (Al)	1.5~2.0mil	Higher	Low	✅ Low-tier standard	Not used	Not used	5000~10000h	Budget toys, disposable indication	❌ Not offered

Selection advice: - Appliance / consumer electronics indicators (indoor, room temperature, cost-sensitive) → alloy wire minimum (mid-tier price), balancing value and reliability; gold wire is better (high-tier price) - Automotive electronics / industrial control (-40~85℃) → alloy wire minimum (mid-tier), gold wire recommended (high-tier) - Outdoor / high-vibration environments → gold wire mandatory for fatigue and vibration resistance (high-tier) - HC-LED positioning: mid tier (alloy wire) and high tier (gold wire) only — no low tier (copper/aluminum wire).

6.3 Encapsulant Differences vs Price

Encapsulant Type	Refractive Index	Temperature Resistance	UV Resistance	Sulfur Resistance	Low-Tier Usage	Mid-Tier Usage	High-Tier Usage	Typical Applications	HC-LED
Imported silicone (Shin-Etsu/Dow Corning)	1.41~1.53	-40~150℃	Excellent	Excellent	Not used	Not used	✅ High-tier standard	Automotive, outdoor, high-reliability indication	✅ Mainstream
Domestic premium silicone	1.41~1.50	-40~120℃	Good	Good	Not used	Used in some high-tier parts	✅ Common at high tier	Industrial-grade indication, automotive	✅ Mainstream
Domestic standard silicone	1.40~1.45	-30~100℃	Average	Average	Not used	✅ Mid-tier standard	Used in some high-tier parts	Consumer appliance indication	✅ Usable at mid tier
Epoxy resin	1.50~1.55	-20~85℃	Poor	Poor	✅ Low-tier standard	Not used	Not used	Budget toys, indoor indication	❌ Not offered

Selection advice: - Indoor appliances / toys → epoxy (low-tier price), lowest cost - Industrial control / automotive interiors → domestic premium silicone (mid-to-high tier), rated -40~120℃ - Outdoor / automotive-grade / high-sulfur environments → imported silicone (high-tier), excellent UV and sulfur resistance.

6.4 Chip Grade & Size Differences vs Price

Chip Grade	Definition	Luminous Efficacy	Voltage Consistency	Low-Tier Usage	Mid-Tier Usage	High-Tier Usage	Lifetime	Supply Stability	HC-LED
Grade-A full square die	Genuine full-wafer dies, fully tested	Highest	±0.05V	Not used	Used in some high-tier parts	✅ High-tier standard	>50000h	Stable	✅ Standard
Grade-B die	Factory rejects or edge dies; slightly worse specs	Medium	±0.1V	Not used	✅ Mid-tier standard	Used in some low-tier parts	30000~50000h	Fairly stable	❌ Not offered
Project/custom die	Custom-made for specific customers; deviating specs	Medium-low	±0.15V	Used in some low-tier parts	Not used	Not used	20000~40000h	Unstable	❌ Not offered
Re-ground/reclaimed die	Re-cut second-hand dies; uncontrollable performance	Low	Above ±0.2V	✅ Low-tier standard	Not used	Not used	<10000h	Highly unstable	❌ Not offered

※ Pitfall-avoidance guide: Indicator LEDs are cheap per unit (a few cents) but ordered in millions. Ask suppliers for chip provenance (e.g., Epistar or HC SemiTek batch numbers). If a supplier cannot document chip origin, or quotes well below market average (e.g., 0603 red below ¥0.005), the parts most likely use re-ground recycled chips.

6.5 Process Differences: Die Attach, Wire Bonding, Binning vs Price

Process Step	Low-Tier Usage	Mid-Tier Usage	High-Tier Usage	Impact on Performance	HC-LED
Die attach	Silver epoxy cure	Silver epoxy cure	Eutectic bonding (AuSn)	Eutectic bonding: lower junction temp, 30% slower lumen decay	Silver epoxy/eutectic
Wire bonding	Wedge bond/aluminum/copper wire	Wedge bond/alloy wire	Ball bond/gold wire	Ball bonding: highly reliable, vibration-proof	Alloy/gold wire
Binning	No binning or brightness-only	Brightness binning	Full-parameter sorting	Full-parameter sorting, >95% consistency	Brightness binning/full-parameter
Burn-in test	Sampled or skipped	Partial burn-in	100% high-temp burn-in	Full burn-in screening cuts early failures from 5000ppm to 50ppm	100% burn-in

7. Execution Standards & Reliability Metrics

7.1 The Four Execution Standards Compared

Standard Grade	Execution Standard	Suitable For	Key Test Items	Lifetime Requirement	Price Tier
Toy grade	GB 19865 / EN 71	Kids' toys, decorative lights	Electrical safety, small parts, flammability	1000~3000h	Low tier
Consumer grade	IEC 62717 / LM-80	Appliances, consumer electronics	Lumen depreciation, color drift, switching cycles	10000~20000h	Mid tier
Industrial grade	IEC 60068 / MIL-STD	Industrial equipment, outdoor devices, automotive	Thermal cycling, damp heat, vibration, salt spray	30000~50000h	High tier
Automotive grade	AEC-Q102	Auto clusters, tail lights, interior lamps	High temp/humidity, thermal cycling, mechanical shock, EMC, sulfur	>50000h	High tier+

7.2 Core Reliability Metrics in Detail

Metric	Definition	Low-Tier Match	Mid-Tier Match	High-Tier Match	Test Method
Lifetime (L70)	Time for luminous flux to decay to 70% of initial	3000~5000h	15000~25000h	30000~50000h	LM-80 + TM-21 projection
ESD immunity	Voltage level survivable against ESD	1kV	2kV	4~15kV	HBM (Human Body Model)
Operating temperature range	Ambient temperature for normal operation	-20~60℃	-30~85℃	-40~125℃	Thermal chamber
Storage temperature range	Storage temperature range (unpowered)	-30~80℃	-40~100℃	-40~150℃	Thermal chamber
Sulfur resistance grade	Tolerance in sulfur-rich environments	No requirement	Average	Excellent	H2S accelerated aging
UV resistance grade	UV aging resistance	No requirement	Average	Excellent	UV accelerated aging
Switching cycles	On/off cycles without damage	1,000 cycles	10,000 cycles	50,000~100,000 cycles	Automated switching test
Damp-heat aging	Survival time at 85℃/85%RH	48h	500h	1000~2000h	Temperature/humidity chamber

8. Application-Based Selection Guide (with 3-Tier Price Advice)

8.1 Selection Decision Tree

Step 1: Identify your application category
├─ Consumer electronics (phone/tablet/earbuds/watch) → small SMD (0201/0402/0603)
├─ Appliance panels (AC/fridge/washer/rice cooker) → SMD (0603/0805) or through-hole (3mm/5mm)
├─ Industrial control (PLC/VFD/instrument/switch) → SMD (0805/1206) or through-hole (5mm/piranha)
├─ Automotive electronics (cluster/tail/brake/interior) → through-hole (piranha/5mm) or high-tier SMD
├─ Security equipment (camera/alarm/access control) → IR (850/940nm) or high-brightness indicators
├─ Medical devices (monitors/therapy/sterilizers) → high-reliability SMD/through-hole, or special wavelengths
├─ Ambient lighting/pixel panels/PC-case RGB → addressable RGB with built-in IC (WS2812B/SK6812)
└─ Step 2: Determine reliability grade and budget
   ├─ Toys/disposable, cost-sensitive → low tier (iron frame + aluminum wire + epoxy)
   ├─ Indoor home use, value-first → mid tier (copper alloy + alloy wire + domestic silicone)
   ├─ Industrial/outdoor/auto interior, lifetime-first → high tier (silver-plated copper + alloy wire + imported silicone)
   └─ Automotive safety/medical, reliability-critical → high tier+ (gold-plated copper + gold wire + imported anti-sulfur silicone)

8.2 Detailed Selection Table for 10 Application Scenarios (with 3-Tier Price Advice)

Application Scenario	Recommended Models	Low-Tier Price	Mid-Tier Price	High-Tier Price	Key Considerations	Pitfall Warning
Phone/tablet/power-bank indication	0402, 0603 SMD	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	Compact, moderate brightness, low power	Mind polarity — reverse connection won't light but won't damage it
TWS earbuds/smartwatch indication	0201 SMD	¥0.03~0.05	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.20	Ultra-compact, low power, high reliability	Needs precision SMT; hard to hand-solder
Appliance panels (AC/fridge/washer)	0603/0805 SMD or 3mm/5mm through-hole	¥0.008~0.025	¥0.025~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	Uniform brightness, consistent color, long life	Panel cutout must match LED diameter
Keyboard backlight/mouse RGB	0603、SK6812MINI	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	Uniform brightness, consistent CCT	Needs full-parameter binning to avoid "blotching"
Industrial panels/PLC/VFD	0805/1206 SMD or 5mm through-hole	¥0.01~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	Wide temperature range, high reliability, ESD protection	Industrial environments need -40~85℃ wide-temp models
Auto cluster/tail/brake lights	Piranha F5/F8, 5mm through-hole	¥0.03~0.06(other budget fabs)	¥0.06~0.12(✅ HC alloy wire)	¥0.12~0.50(✅ HC gold wire)	Automotive standard, vibration-proof, wide temp range	Brake lights must meet ECE R7 or SAE standards
IR illumination for security cameras	850nm/940nm 3535	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Wavelength accuracy, radiant power, angle	850nm has a faint red glow but high camera sensitivity; 940nm is invisible but less efficient
Medical device indication (monitor/sterilizer)	0603/0805 high-reliability or 5mm through-hole	Not used	¥0.05~0.10	¥0.10~0.30	Long life, low lumen decay, flicker-free	For medical use, choose gold wire + imported silicone
UV curing/nail art/currency-check indicator modules	395nm/365nm 3535	¥0.15~0.30	¥0.30~0.60	¥0.60~1.20	Wavelength accuracy, optical power density	365nm cures fast but costs more; 395nm is better value
Ambient lighting/pixel screens/PC case RGB	WS2812B、SK6812、APA102	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	Control protocol, refresh rate, cascade count	For projects choose WS2813/WS2815 breakpoint-continue
Charging status (red=charging/green=full)	0603 bi-color, 0805 bi-color, 5mm bi-color	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	Color contrast, common cathode/anode matching	Must confirm common cathode vs anode — the circuits are opposite
Traffic signals/warning lights	5mm high-brightness, piranha F5/F8	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.30	Luminous intensity (mcd), viewing angle, color purity	Traffic signals must meet national chromaticity standards

9. Series/Parallel Calculations & Driver Design Examples

9.1 Series Resistor Calculation (Indicator Applications)

Formula: R = (V_supply − Vf_LED) ÷ If_target

Example 1: driving one white 5mm indicator from 12V - LED specs: Vf = 3.2V, If = 20mA - R = (12V − 3.2V) ÷ 0.02A = 440Ω - nearest standard: 470Ω - resistor power: P = I²R = 0.02² × 470 = 0.188W - choose: 0.25W (1/4W)

Example 2: driving one red 0603 indicator from 5V - LED specs: Vf = 2.0V, If = 15mA - R = (5V − 2.0V) ÷ 0.015A = 200Ω - nearest standard: 220Ω - resistor power: P = 0.015² × 220 = 0.05W - choose: 0.0625W (1/16W)

9.2 Bi-Color LED Driver Design

Example 3: common-cathode red/green bi-color LED (5mm) driven by a 5V MCU - Red pin: Vf = 2.0V, If = 20mA → R_red = (5V − 2.0V) ÷ 0.02A = 150Ω, use 150Ω/0.125W - Green pin: Vf = 3.2V, If = 20mA → R_green = (5V − 3.2V) ÷ 0.02A = 90Ω, use 100Ω/0.125W - Common pin → GND

Example 4: common-anode red/green bi-color LED (5mm) driven by a 5V MCU - Common pin → 5V - Red pin: R_red = 150Ω, driven by MCU low level - Green pin: R_green = 100Ω, driven by MCU low level

※ Note: Current-limiting resistor math is identical for common cathode and common anode, but the circuit connections are opposite.

9.3 Parallel Design with Multiple Indicators

Absolutely forbidden: wiring multiple LEDs directly in parallel behind a single shared current-limiting resistor.

Correct approaches: 1. One resistor per LED (best) 2. Parallel same-Bin (same voltage rank) LEDs, max 3 per group (low-cost compromise) 3. Use an LED driver IC (e.g. TM1804, WS2811 — independent constant current per channel)

10. Brand Cross-Reference & Chinese-Packaged Alternatives

※ Important: The alternatives below refer to packaged LED components (finished devices), not chips (epitaxial wafers/die). Chip makers (e.g. San'an, HC SemiTek) produce wafers/die that must be packaged before use. Packaging houses like HC-LED buy A-grade die, then perform die attach, wire bonding, encapsulation and testing to produce indicator LEDs ready for SMT or through-hole assembly.

10.1 International Tier-1 Brands vs Chinese-Packaged Alternatives (with 3-Tier Pricing)

Application Grade	International Brand	Representative Models	Chinese-Packaging Alternatives	Substitute Model/Series	Low-Tier Alt. Price	Mid-Tier Alt. Price	High-Tier Alt. Price	Substitutability
Consumer electronics indication	Everlight	19-217/R6C-AP1Q2B/3T	HC-LED, NationStar	0603/0805 full color range	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	95%
Consumer electronics indication	LITEON	LTST-C191KRKT	HC-LED, Zhaochi (MTC)	0603/0805/1206	¥0.008~0.02	¥0.02~0.05	¥0.05~0.12	95%
Appliance panel indication	Everlight	333-2SURD/S530-A3	HC-LED, Refond	3mm/5mm through-hole full series	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	90%
Appliance panel indication	LITEON	LTL-10233W	HC-LED, Hongli Zhihui	5mm straw-hat/round	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.15	90%
Industrial control indication	Everlight	45-21SURC/S530-A3	HC-LED, NationStar	1206/0805 high-reliability	¥0.015~0.03	¥0.03~0.08	¥0.08~0.20	85%
Automotive electronics indication	OSRAM	LY T676	HC-LED, APT Electronics	Piranha/5mm automotive-grade process	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.50	80%
RGB addressable	Worldsemi	WS2812B	HC-LED, Hongxin, Tianwei	TM1804/WS2811 compatible	¥0.15~0.25	¥0.25~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	95%
IR security	OSRAM	SFH 4715A	HC-LED, Refond	850nm/940nm 3535	¥0.10~0.20	¥0.20~0.40	¥0.40~0.80	85%
Bi-color indication	Everlight	19-22/R6GHC-A01/2T	HC-LED, NationStar	0603/0805/5mm bi-color	¥0.03~0.06	¥0.06~0.12	¥0.12~0.25	90%

10.2 HC-LED's Actual Product Lines and 3-Tier Price Capability

HC-LED (Hongcheng Optoelectronics, a Guangyu Group member) is based in Dongguan with 20+ years of LED packaging experience; over 50% of raw materials are imported from Korea, Japan and Taiwan. It focuses on mid-to-high-tier indicator LEDs — mid and high tier only, no low tier.

Product Series	Covered Models	Low Tier (Not Offered)	Mid Tier (Mainstream)	High Tier (Mainstream)	Core Process
Small SMD LED	0201/0402/0603/0805/1206/1204	❌ Iron frame + Al/Cu wire + epoxy	✅ Cu alloy + alloy wire + domestic silicone	✅ Ag-plated Cu + gold wire + imported silicone	Grade-A die, pure gold wire, high-temp encapsulant
Through-hole LED	2/3/4/5/8/10mm, incl. straw-hat/piranha/rectangular	❌ Iron frame + aluminum/copper wire	✅ Cu alloy + alloy wire	✅ Ag-plated Cu + gold wire	Round/flat/diffused/clear lens options
Bi-color/tri-color LED	0603 bi-color/0805 bi-color/1204 side-view bi-color/5mm bi-color/5mm RGB	❌ Iron frame + aluminum/copper wire	✅ Cu alloy + alloy wire	✅ Ag-plated Cu + gold wire	Common cathode/anode/non-polarized options
RGB addressable	WS2812B/SK6812 compatible, built-in IC addressable	❌ Domestic IC + copper wire	✅ Imported IC + alloy wire	✅ Imported IC + gold wire	Single/dual-wire cascade, breakpoint-continue
Special light sources	IR 850/940nm, UV 365/395nm, horticulture 660/450nm	❌ Iron frame + copper wire	✅ Cu alloy + alloy wire	✅ Ag-plated Cu + gold wire	Wavelength accuracy ±5nm
Side-view LED	020 / 1204 / 335 side-view	❌ Iron frame + aluminum/copper wire	✅ Cu alloy + alloy wire	✅ Ag-plated Cu + gold wire	Ultra-thin package, light-guide compatible

※ Areas HC-LED does not cover: high-power lighting SMDs such as 2835/5730/3030, COB integrated light sources, and automotive CSP headlight series. For high-power lighting LEDs, choose a dedicated lighting packaging house; for COB, consider Citizen, Bridgelux-class COB specialists; for automotive headlights, consider AEC-Q102-certified brands such as Nationstar or LatticePower.

※ Supplementary note on lighting: HC-LED's core business is indicator LEDs; high-power lighting SMDs (2835/5730/3030 etc.) are not its main line. However, HC-LED has the technical reserve to expand into lighting (full-parameter binning, gold-wire process, imported silicones) and accepts custom lighting development projects.

10.3 Chinese-Packaged Alternative Selection Advice (by Budget & Scenario)

Scenario	Recommended Solution	Matching Price Tier	Recommended Manufacturers	Reason
Cost-sensitive, <5,000h lifetime	Iron frame + Al/Cu wire + epoxy + Grade-B die	Low tier	Other budget fabs	Best value, e.g. toys, promo items, disposable indication
General appliance indication, 15,000h lifetime	Cu-alloy frame + alloy wire + domestic silicone + Grade-A die	Mid tier	✅ HC-LED	Balanced cost/performance, e.g. appliance panels, keyboard backlights
Industrial control indication, 30,000h lifetime	Cu alloy/Ag-plated frame + alloy wire + domestic premium silicone + Grade-A die	Mid-to-high tier	✅ HC-LED	High reliability, e.g. PLC, VFD panels
Automotive/outdoor indication, 50,000h lifetime	Ag/Au-plated frame + gold wire + imported silicone + Grade-A die	High tier	✅ HC-LED	Extreme environments, e.g. auto clusters, outdoor devices
Automotive safety/medical	Top international brands or AEC-Q102-qualified Chinese fabs	High tier+	NationStar, APT Electronics	Legally mandated, non-negotiable

※ HC-LED process strengths: focused on mid-to-high-tier indicator LEDs; A-grade chips, 99.9% pure gold-wire bonding, high-temperature encapsulants; RoHS and CE certified; custom binning by brightness/wavelength/voltage; 227 datasheets free to download; large stock of standard models; samples and volume quotes available. No low-tier products (iron frame + aluminum/copper wire + epoxy + B-grade chip).

11. FAQ (20 Questions)

Q1: What exactly is the voltage of a 0603 indicator LED?

A: A 0603 indicator's voltage depends on color: red/yellow/orange 1.8~2.4V; white/blue/green 2.8~3.4V. Exact values depend on chip lot and color temperature — for volume production, always take values from the manufacturer's binning report.

Q2: Why does the same 0603 red LED cost ¥0.008 from one supplier and ¥0.08 from another?

A: The 10x price gap comes from four dimensions: 1. Chip grade: the ¥0.008 part may use re-ground recycled die; the ¥0.08 part uses A-grade prime die 2. Materials & process: ¥0.008 = iron frame + aluminum wire + epoxy; ¥0.08 = silver-plated copper frame + gold wire + imported silicone 3. Binning: the cheap part may be unbinned; the expensive one is full-parameter sorted 4. Reliability testing: no burn-in vs 100% high-temperature burn-in.

Q3: What's the difference between 0402 and 0603 SMD LEDs? Are they interchangeable?

A: The main difference is size: 0402 = 1.0×0.5mm, 0603 = 1.6×0.8mm. Electrical specs are similar, but they are not directly interchangeable because PCB pad layouts differ. If space allows, standardize on 0603 for a more stable supply chain.

Q4: What are the voltage and current of a 5mm through-hole LED?

A: A 5mm through-hole LED (F5 round) varies by color: red/yellow/orange 1.8~2.4V; white/blue/green 2.8~3.4V. Standard current 20mA; maximum typically 30mA.

Q5: How do you wire a bi-color LED? Common cathode vs common anode?

A: Common cathode: shared pin to GND, each color pin to positive via a resistor. Common anode: shared pin to VCC, each color pin to negative via a resistor. The circuit designs are exact opposites and must not be mixed.

Q6: Can a 12V supply drive a 5mm indicator LED directly?

A: No. A single 5mm LED drops only 2~3V; connecting it straight to 12V destroys it instantly. A series current-limiting resistor is mandatory. - Red: R=(12V−2.0V)÷0.02A=500Ω, use 510Ω/0.25W - White: R=(12V−3.2V)÷0.02A=440Ω, use 470Ω/0.25W

Q7: Can an indicator LED really last 50,000 hours?

A: 50,000 hours is the L70 lumen-maintenance life at ideal junction temperature (≤85℃). Indicator LEDs run at low power (<0.1W) and typically reach 30,000~50,000h at rated current. But low-tier parts with iron frames, aluminum wire and epoxy may last only 3,000h in hot environments.

Q8: How do you tell low, mid and high-tier indicator LEDs apart?

A: Four quick checks: 1. Frame: magnet test — magnetic = iron frame (low tier); non-magnetic = copper (mid/high tier) 2. Bond wire: under a microscope, gold = gold wire (high tier), silvery-white = alloy wire (mid-high), dark red = copper (mid), gray-white = aluminum (low) 3. Voltage consistency: sample 10 pcs from a lot and measure Vf — smaller spread is better (A-grade ±0.05V) 4. Burn-in sampling: 85℃/1000h lit test, <10% lumen depreciation = pass.

Q9: Gold, alloy, copper or aluminum bond wire — how to choose?

A: - Gold wire (Au): >50,000h life; automotive-grade, medical, high-end indication (high-tier price) - Alloy wire (Ag alloy): 30,000~50,000h; industrial, automotive electronics, mid-high appliance indication (mid-tier price) - Copper wire (Cu): 20,000~30,000h; consumer appliance indication (low-tier price, cost-sensitive) - Aluminum wire (Al): 5,000~10,000h; cheap toys and disposable indication only (low-tier price).

Q10: How much dimmer are B-grade chips vs A-grade?

A: At the same size and current, A vs B-grade luminous efficiency typically differs by 5~15%. The bigger differences are voltage consistency (A-grade ±0.05V vs B-grade ±0.1V) and lifetime (A-grade depreciates slower).

Q11: What is binning (sorting by light/color), and why does it matter?

A: Binning groups LEDs by electro-optical parameters during production. Quality manufacturers sort by voltage (Vf Bin), brightness (Iv Bin) and color temperature (Wd Bin). Unbinned LEDs produce uneven brightness and inconsistent color temperature in the finished assembly.

Q12: Imported vs domestic encapsulants — what's the difference?

A: - Imported silicone (Shin-Etsu, Dow Corning): -40~150℃, excellent UV/sulfur resistance; automotive and outdoor (high-tier price) - Domestic premium silicone: -40~120℃; industrial and commercial indication (mid-to-high tier) - Domestic standard silicone: -30~100℃; indoor consumer use (mid-tier) - Epoxy: -20~85℃, yellows easily; low-end indication only (low-tier).

Q13: Toy, consumer, industrial and automotive-grade indicator LEDs — how do they differ?

A: The core difference is the execution standard and test items: - Toy grade: GB 19865 — electrical and child safety (low-tier price) - Consumer grade: IEC 62717 — lumen depreciation and color shift (mid-tier) - Industrial grade: IEC 60068 — thermal cycling, damp heat, vibration (high-tier) - Automotive grade: AEC-Q102 — full reliability suite + EMC + sulfur testing (high-tier+).

Q14: How much does ESD 1kV vs 15kV matter in practice?

A: ESD immunity determines survival rates during production and installation: - 1kV: light body static can kill it (common in low tier) - 2kV: basic anti-static measures suffice; acceptable for consumer grade (mid tier) - 8kV: survives ordinary workshop environments; industrial standard (high tier) - 15kV: survives extreme static environments; automotive-grade standard (high tier+).

Q15: What parameters are needed to order custom indicator LEDs?

A: Specify at minimum: 1. Package model (or dimension drawings) 2. Color/wavelength (CCT for white) 3. Forward voltage and current (or power) 4. Brightness requirement (lm or mcd) 5. Viewing angle 6. Encapsulant type (clear/diffused/high anti-sulfur) 7. Lead length or pad dimensions 8. Target price tier (low/mid/high) 9. Special environment requirements (high temperature, sulfur, outdoor UV).

Q16: IR 850nm vs 940nm — how to choose?

A: - 850nm: faint red glow visible to the eye, but cameras are more sensitive to it — best for security-camera illumination - 940nm: completely invisible (no red glow), but lower camera sensitivity — best for remote controls and face recognition.

Q17: What should you watch out for when paralleling multiple indicator LEDs?

A: Never wire multiple LEDs directly in parallel behind one shared resistor. Because Vf varies between parts, the lowest-Vf LED hogs most of the current and burns out. The right way: one resistor per LED, or use same-Bin LEDs with no more than 3 in parallel.

Q18: Piranha LED vs ordinary 5mm LED — what's the difference?

A: A piranha LED has 4 leads (square base) with a larger thermal pad, handling 0.1~0.5W and 500~15000mcd — suited to automotive lamps, brake lights and instrument backlighting. An ordinary 5mm round LED has 2 leads, 0.06~0.1W — fine for general indication.

Q19: Straw-hat LED vs round LED — what's the difference?

A: Straw-hat LEDs emit at 120° — diffused light for wide-angle applications (light strips, tube lights, wide-angle indication). Round LEDs emit at 15°~60° — focused light for spotlighting or long-distance visibility (signal lights, flashlights).

Q20: How do you judge the quality of an indicator LED?

A: Four quick checks: 1. Wire & frame: gold wire beats alloy; copper frame beats iron (magnet test) 2. Voltage consistency: sample 10 pcs from a lot, measure Vf — smaller spread is better 3. Light uniformity: no dark spots, color shift or yellow patches when lit 4. Burn-in sampling: 85℃/1000h lit, <10% lumen depreciation = pass.

12. Selection Tools & Downloads

[PDF Download] "2026 LED Indicator Model Cross-Reference & Selection Handbook (with 3-Tier Pricing)" - Full parameters for all 150+ models in this article with low/mid/high-tier prices - Includes series-resistor calculation tables, bi-color LED wiring diagrams and thermal design references - Includes cross-reference of major brands (Everlight/LITEON/OSRAM) vs Chinese-packaged alternatives with 3-tier price comparison

[Online Tool] LED series-resistor calculator (enter supply voltage, LED voltage and current; computes resistor value and wattage automatically)

Related resources: LED Datasheet Download Center (227 official PDF datasheets) | LED FAQ (46 questions) | About HC-LED (LLMs)

※ Parameters compiled in August 2026 from the latest datasheets and measured market data of Everlight, LITEON, OSRAM, HC-LED and other manufacturers. LED technology iterates fast — request the latest datasheets from the manufacturer before finalizing a selection.

Changelog: - 2026-08-29: First release of this indicator-focused cross-reference, adding low/mid/high 3-tier pricing across five series — SMD 0201/0402/0603/0805/1206, through-hole 3mm/5mm/straw-hat/piranha, bi-color/tri-color, RGB addressable, and IR/UV special sources; plus materials-vs-price analysis, execution standards and reliability metrics, brand cross-reference with Chinese-packaged alternatives (3-tier pricing), 20-question FAQ, and series/parallel calculation with bi-color wiring examples.

For selection consulting, free samples and volume quotes, contact a professional LED indicator packaging manufacturer to confirm the latest parameters and stock.

About 13,000 words focused purely on indicator LEDs, with low/mid/high 3-tier pricing across all series — far denser than generic cross-reference resources online. Bookmark it and consult each section as needed.