This project is suitable for beginner Arduino users. This is my first Instrucable since acquiring an Arduino kit recently. This project incorporates using adjustable inputs to control color lighting from a RGB LED. This is similar to the mood lamp project found in the Arduino starter kit.
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Step 1: You Will Need...
- An Arduino Uno board
- Jumper wires, 6 short, 4 medium, and 3 long.
- 3 potentiometers
- 3 220 ohm resistors (Red, Red, Purple, Gold Band)
- 1 Red, Blue, Green LED
- One 5V wire (red), and a ground wire (black)
- A bread board
- A Arduino Uno USB connection cable
- A computer with the Arduino software installed
NOTE: Everything depicted above can be found in the official Arduino starter kit
Schematic attached to this step.
Step 2: Wire It Up
Using the schematic attached to the end of the instructions wire up the Arduino accordingly. Note that it should look similar to the picture at the beginning of these instructions.
IMPORTANT NOTES/HELPFUL TIPS:
- Be sure to attach the 220 ohm resistors between the digital outputs and the R, B, G connections of the LED. If you fail to do this you run the risk of damaging the LED.
- Attach the potentiometer with the teeth connections running perpendicular to the spine of the bread board to establish a better connection. This can be accomplished by bending the right tooth out slightly so that it attaches to its own row so that power and ground connections can be established (see pictures above). The middle connection tooth on the opposite end and can then be wired up to the Analog connections (A0, A1, and A2).
- Be sure to line up the long leg (the catheode) with the ground connection you establish with the Arduino. Picture above.
Step 3: Code It
Download the txt file and paste into the Arduino IDE. Then upload the code to the Arduino Uno via USB through the IDE. The LED should then turn on. As you turn the knobs of the potentiometers the red green and blue lights of the LED will light up respectively, changing the LED colour. If you're interested in seeing the values of each potentiometer, open the serial display within the Arduino IDE and watch the values populate on your computer screen.