Published December 25, 2024 © CERN-OHL2

Simple Running Lights

A simple project suitable for beginners to get started with.

BeginnerProtip2 hours41

Things used in this project

Hardware components

5 mm LED: Yellow

Arduino UNO

Resistor 10k ohm

Software apps and online services

PCBX Online Simulation

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Arduino Materia 101

Story

In the ever-evolving world of power electronics, innovation is the key to staying ahead. At the heart of this transformation lies a groundbreaking project: an inverted buck-boost converter with adjustable output voltage. Designed to power the next generation of energy systems, this novel creation stands testament to relentless innovation and technological advancement.The conventional buck-boost converter is celebrated for its ability to seamlessly manage electrical energy, adjusting voltage to meet the demands of various applications. But as industries continue to evolve, the demand for more versatile and efficient power management solutions has grown. Enter the inverted buck-boost converter—a next-level innovation that not only adjusts but inverts the output voltage, paving the way for new applications and efficiencies.This cutting-edge device offers something unique: it can adapt the magnitude of its output voltage with precision simply by varying its duty cycle. This feature is crucial in modern applications where power sources and loads can vary dramatically, and precision control is paramount.

To implement this project, we need:

Some LEDs;
Resistors with appropriate resistance values to limit the current passing through the LEDs;
A switch to get the project running.

Here, four yellow LEDs with a Forward Voltage of 2.4V and a Max Current of 0.03A are selected. To limit the current in the circuit to below 0.03A, the resistance value should be greater than 86Ω, hence R2 is set to 100Ω.

When the switch is closed, UNO detects a high level input on pin A0, and the running lights start to operate. If the switch is opened, no LEDs will be lit after the end of this cycle.

Code

Simple Running Lights

int led_pins[] = {2,3,4,5}, button_pin = A0;

void setup() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) 
        pinMode(led_pins[i], OUTPUT);
    pinMode(button_pin, INPUT);
}

void loop() {
    if (digitalRead(button_pin) == HIGH)
        for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
            digitalWrite(led_pins[i], HIGH);
            delay(250);
            digitalWrite(led_pins[i], LOW);
            delay(250);
        }
}