Basic LED circuit

This circuit is live in Circuit Canvas. Open it to explore every part and wire, or make your own copy to change values, swap parts and build your own version. Free, right in your browser.

Never built a circuit before? Then start here. You can build this in a couple of minutes. It's a simple LED circuit that's powered by a 9V battery.

Basic LED circuit Schematic

The resistor limits the current to the LED so that it doesn't break. This value could be a little bit lower (ex 330 ohm) or higher (ex 1000 ohm) without any problems.

Basic LED circuit Parts List

Resistor
470
Battery
9V
LED
Red

How to Build the Basic LED circuit

You can connect this circuit directly with wires since it's so simple. But make sure you check out How To Use a Breadboard if you want to learn more about connecting circuits on a breadboard instead.

Make it your own

Every circuit here is a live project in Circuit Canvas, not just a picture. Copy this one and change a value, swap a part or move it to a stripboard: the schematic and the breadboard layout are linked, so a part added to one appears in the other.

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