What it does:
This circuit allows you to control the brightness of each color in the RGB LEDs using potentiometers. You have 6 RGB LEDs, and each RGB LED is controlled by its own set of three potentiometers (one for Red, Green, and Blue). You can also turn two or the three potentiometers at once to mix and match the colors and achieve different color combinations.
Components Needed:
- RGB LED (6)
- Potentiometer (1k) x3
- Battery (1)
- Breadboard (1)
- Jumper Wires
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Insert 6 RGB LEDs onto the breadboard as shown below, making 3 sections of two LED on the same row. Ensure that the same legs are lined up in the same row.
- Connect the anode of each color LED to a common row, effectively connecting all the red, green, and blue color channels together in parallel. (This means all the RGB LEDs share the same positive voltage for their red, green, and blue pins).
- Now, connect all the cathodes of the RGB LEDs together and link them to the negative terminal of the battery. (This forms a common return path for the current from the LEDs).
- Take three potentiometers (1kΩ each). For each RGB LED, connect:
- The wiper (middle leg) of the first potentiometer to any of the red to control the Red channel.
- The wiper of the second potentiometer to any of the green to control the Green channel.
- The wiper of the third potentiometer to any of the blue to control the Blue channel.
- Connect the two other sides of each potentiometer in parallel, similar to how you connected the LEDs. Connect any of the first side to the negative terminal of the battery and the other to the positive side.
- Adjust Potentiometers to Control Color Brightness:
- Each potentiometer will control the brightness of the corresponding color (Red, Green, or Blue).
- Adjusting a potentiometer changes the current flowing through the associated color channel, allowing you to dim or brighten that color.
How It Works:
- Each RGB LED has three separate color channels: Red, Green, and Blue.
- The potentiometers control the current flowing to each color channel by adjusting the resistance.
- When a potentiometer connected to a specific color is turned to a lower resistance, more current flows, making that color brighter.
- When the potentiometer is turned to a higher resistance, less current flows, making the color dimmer.
- Since all RGB LEDs are connected in parallel, turning the potentiometers will adjust the brightness of the same colors across all LEDs, allowing you to mix the colors.
This setup creates a dynamic RGB control where you can mix Red, Green, and Blue to generate different colors for all the LEDs by adjusting the potentiometers.