Published December 11, 2024

Creating an Arduino LED Running Light: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to create a dynamic Arduino LED running light with our step-by-step guide.

BeginnerFull instructions provided284

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

LED (generic)

Resistor 220 ohm

Breadboard (generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

Software apps and online services

PCBX Online Simulation

Story

Introduction

The running light project is a simple electronic project based on the Arduino Uno that creates dynamic visual effects by sequentially lighting up and turning off LEDs. This project is not only suitable for beginners to learn how to control hardware with Arduino but also helps understand basic programming logic and circuit knowledge. In this project, we will use 7 LEDs and write code to control them to light up in sequence, forming a flowing effect. This project can serve as an introductory practice for learning digital electronics and microcontroller programming.

Materials Needed:

1 x Arduino UNO board
7 x LEDs
7 x 220Ω resistors (one for each LED to limit the current flowing through the LED)
1 x Breadboard (optional, for easy connections)
Assorted jumper wires (for connecting components)

Online Simulation

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Connection Steps:

Connecting LEDs and Resistors:

Connect the long leg (anode) of each LED to a digital pin on the Arduino Uno ( pins 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
Connect the short leg (cathode) of each LED through a220Ω resistor to the GND pin.

Connecting Resistors to GND:

The other end of each 220Ω resistor should be connected to the GND pin.

Running Light Effects:

The program implements several different LED display modes within the `loop()` function.

Individual Lighting: First, the program lights up each LED individually, with each LED staying on for 100 milliseconds before turning off and moving on to the next LED.

All On: Then, the program lights up all LEDs at the same time, maintaining this for 1 second.

Individual Extinguishing: Next, the program turns off each LED individually, with each LED staying on for 100 milliseconds before extinguishing.

Individual Blinking: Finally, each LED blinks on its own three times, staying on for 300 milliseconds each time, with a 300-millisecond interval between blinks.

Loop Delay: After each mode ends, the program waits for 1 second before repeating the above modes, forming a loop.

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Code

ARDUINO_led running light

// Define the pins connected to the LEDs
const int ledPins[] = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9};
const int ledCount = sizeof(ledPins) / sizeof(ledPins[0]);

void setup() {
  // Initialize each pin as an output
  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
  }
}

void loop() {
  // Loop through and light up each LED individually
  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH); // Turn on the current LED
    delay(100);                     // Wait for 100 milliseconds
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);  // Turn off the current LED
  }
  delay(100); // Wait for 100 milliseconds

  // Turn on all LEDs simultaneously
  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH); // Turn on all LEDs
  }
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second

  // Turn off LEDs one by one
  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW); // Turn off the current LED
    delay(100);                    // Wait for 100 milliseconds
  }
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second

  // Each LED lights up individually 3 times, with a 500ms interval
  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) { // Each LED lights up 3 times
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH); // Turn on the current LED
      delay(300);                    // Wait for 300 milliseconds
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);  // Turn off the current LED
      delay(300);                    // Wait for 300 milliseconds
    }
  }
  // Ensure there is a delay at the end of the loop to provide enough time before the next loop starts
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
}

Credits

PCBX

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Comments

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Creating an Arduino LED Running Light: A Step-by-Step Guide

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Materials Needed:

Online Simulation

Connection Steps:

Schematics

098432b0ef1d4fa4b72dbe747284ee6c_kGGgbKu8Zw.png

Code

ARDUINO_led running light

Credits

PCBX

Comments

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Creating an Arduino LED Running Light: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating an Arduino LED Running Light: A Step-by-Step Guide

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Materials Needed:

Online Simulation

Connection Steps:

Schematics

098432b0ef1d4fa4b72dbe747284ee6c_kGGgbKu8Zw.png

Code

ARDUINO_led running light

Credits

PCBX

Comments

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