Published September 5, 2023 © GPL3+

RGB LED Controller

This project encompasses the control of an RGB LED module using three potentiometers, each one representing red, green, or blue light.

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour306

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Breadboard (generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

RGB LED module

Rotary potentiometer (generic)

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

Procedure:

1. Start by obtaining all materials for the project.

2. Connect the components of the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram.

Attach the three potentiometers and the RGB LED module to the breadboard, ensuring each of the pins runs on a different connection. The ports of a breadboard are connected as shown in Figure 1.
Connect the left pin of the potentiometers to the positive bus, and the right pin of the potentiometers to the negative bus. Connect the positive bus to the Arduino Uno 5V (five volt) port, and the negative bus to the Arduino Uno GND (ground) port. The connection to the GND port and 5V port establishes a path for a signal to flow through the potentiometer. The GND port represents a negative signal connection (signal received), and the 5V port represents a positive signal connection (signal given).
Connect the center pin of each potentiometer (for red, green, and blue) to the analog in ports A0, A1, and A2 respectively. This connection will allow the value of the potentiometer (how much the dial is turned) to be read as input.
Connect the rightmost pin of the RGB LED module to the GND port on the opposite side of the Arduino Uno from previous connections. Again, this port will serve as a negative signal connection (signal received).
Connect the red, green, and blue pins of the RGB LED module to the digital ports 11, 10, and 9 respectively. These ports will allow a signal to be passed to the RGB LED module.

3. Add code to the Arduino circuit using the Arduino Web Editor ( $ https://create.arduino.cc/editor $ ). Sample code is provided for reference. This code initializes and sets up ports, measures input from the potentiometer and scales it, and concludes by outputting this value to the RGB LED module.

4. Test the completed circuit, and enjoy the lights!

Figure 1: Breadboard Connections (Digilent. (2014). Breadboard Basics. Learn.Digilentinc. https://learn.digilentinc.com/Documents/180)

Code

RGB LED Controller Code

/*
CREATED BY SHIV GARG
8/28/2023
*/

//declaring pins for RGB LED module
int LED_pin_red = 11;
int LED_pin_green = 10;
int LED_pin_blue = 9;

//declaring pins for each potentiometer
int pot_pin_red = A0;
int pot_pin_green = A1;
int pot_pin_blue = A2;

//declaring variables used to store the values read from the potentiometers
int readValue_red;
int readValue_green;
int readValue_blue;

//declaring variables used to store the values to be sent to the RGB LED module
int writeValue_red; 
int writeValue_green;
int writeValue_blue;

void setup(){
  //setting up potentiometers as input
  pinMode(pot_pin_red, INPUT);
  pinMode(pot_pin_green, INPUT);
  pinMode(pot_pin_blue, INPUT);
  
  //setting up RGB LED pins as output
  pinMode(LED_pin_red, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED_pin_blue, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED_pin_green, OUTPUT);
}

void loop()   {
  //reading voltage from each potentiometer
  readValue_red = analogRead(pot_pin_red);
  readValue_green = analogRead(pot_pin_green);
  readValue_blue = analogRead(pot_pin_blue);
  
  //calculating the value to write (set) for each color of RGB LED module based on potentiometer value
  writeValue_red = (255.0 / 1023.0) * readValue_red;
  writeValue_green = (255.0 / 1023.0) * readValue_green;
  writeValue_blue = (255.0 / 1023.0) * readValue_blue;
  
  //writing calculated value to set the brightness of each LED
  analogWrite(LED_pin_red, writeValue_red);
  analogWrite(LED_pin_green, writeValue_green);
  analogWrite(LED_pin_blue, writeValue_blue);
}

Credits

Shiv G

1 project • 0 followers

RGB LED Controller

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Schematics