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Blinking LED

The basic idea behind the blinking LED Arduino project is to introduce beginners to programming and electronics by creating a simple circuit that controls an LED (Light Emitting Diode)

Materials Anchor

Materials

Blinking LED

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To build a simple LED blinking project with an Arduino Uno, you'll need the following materials:

Components:

 

1) Arduino Uno 

  •  The microcontroller board you'll use to control the LED.


2) LED

  • Light Emitting Diode that you want to blink.


3) 220Ω Resistor

  • To limit the current going through the LED and prevent it from burning out.


4) Breadboard

  • A tool for prototyping circuits without soldering.


5) Jumper Wires

  • To connect the components on the breadboard to the Arduino.

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6) USB Cable:

  • Connects the Arduino to your computer for programming and power.

Setup Anchor

Basic Setup

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Basic_Setup_Schematic.png

1) Connect the LED:

  • Insert the LED into the breadboard. The longer leg (anode) is the positive side, and the shorter leg (cathode) is the negative side.


2) Add the Resistor:

  • Connect one end of the 220Ω resistor to the anode (long leg) of the LED, and the other end to a row on the breadboard.


3) Wire the LED to Arduino:

  • Connect a jumper wire from the row on the breadboard where the resistor connects to the anode of the LED to a digital output pin on the Arduino (e.g., pin 13).

 

  • Connect another jumper wire from the cathode of the LED to one of the GND (ground) pins on the Arduino.

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4) Power the Arduino:
 

  • Connect the Arduino to your computer using the USB cable. This will provide power to the Arduino and allow you to upload the code.

Code

CODE

CODE BREAK-DOWN

Code Break Down

  • Declaring the LED Pin

    int ledPin = 13;

    Here, we define a variable ledPin with a value of 13. This specifies the pin on the Arduino board where the LED is connected.

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  • The setup Function

    The setup function runs once when the Arduino is powered on or reset.

    • pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); sets pin 13 as an output. This means we’re configuring this pin to send a signal (HIGH or LOW) to the LED.

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  • The loop Function

    The loop function runs continuously after setup is completed.

    • digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); sends a HIGH signal (5V) to pin 13, turning the LED on.

    • delay(1000); pauses the program for 1000 milliseconds (1 second). During this delay, the LED stays on.

    • digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); sends a LOW signal (0V) to pin 13, turning the LED off.

    • Another delay(1000); keeps the LED off for 1 second.

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