How to Create a 12V Breathing/Fading LED Circuit with My Current Components?

[StrayDoggo]

Hi everyone,



I'm working on a project to make an LED that fades in and out (breathing effect) and operates on a 12V power source. I have the following components:



12v strip led
3x 3.7v batteries connected in series = 12v (with added extra voltage when fully charged resulting in 12v)

BC547 NPN Transistor
NE555 Timer
C817 Optocoupler
330uF 50V Capacitor
330uF 25V Capacitor
1000uF 25V Capacitor
1000uF 50V Capacitor
100k Potentiometer
15K Ohm 1/4W Resistor
10K Ohm 2W Resistor
100K Ohm 1/4W Resistor
1K Ohm 1W Resistor
4.7K Ohm 1/4W Resistor


Could someone guide me on how to wire these components to achieve the breathing effect? If any additional components or specific values are needed, I'd love some advice. I’d also appreciate any example circuits or explanations on how to calculate the timing for smooth fading.



Thanks in advance for any help!

I am not very good with circuit diagrams I am a visual learner, I also checked youtube but it didn't help me much and it was over complicated.

 

[stefanodel]

To better understand what you ask, you have only one piece of NE555, only one piece of BC547 and so on. Or for example can you use more than one NE555 or BC547?
Do you have any possibility to use components other than those listed?

 

[Lightium]

What make you think it is possible with the components you have?

 

[StrayDoggo]

To better understand what you ask, you have only one piece of NE555, only one piece of BC547 and so on. Or for example can you use more than one NE555 or BC547?
Do you have any possibility to use components other than those listed?

I only have 1 piece of NE555. But plenty of BC547 and resistors.

I just have those.

I need a working circuits that is easy and not too complicated. If I need to add new components it's not a problem.

 

[danadak]

Easy with a simple micro -

https://support.makeblock.com/hc/en-us/articles/6291523166487-Case-6-Breathing-LEDs

Block programming if you have no C background.

You can do this with a $3 Nano board or use 8 pin ATTINY85 and program it
with a Nano board.


Regards, Dana.

 

[StrayDoggo]

What make you think it is possible with the components you have?

I saw few videos on youtube and bough the components they used.

 

[StrayDoggo]

Easy with a simple micro -

https://support.makeblock.com/hc/en-us/articles/6291523166487-Case-6-Breathing-LEDs

Block programming if you have no C background.

You can do this with a $3 Nano board or use 8 pin ATTINY85 and program it
with a Nano board.


Regards, Dana.

Sorry but I don't think I can buy those things where I am right now. And I also have no understanding of C or other programming languages.

 

[Lightium]

I saw few videos on youtube and bough the components they used.

A quick search of "led fade circuit" turns up a few possibilities.

 

[danadak]

Sorry but I don't think I can buy those things where I am right now. And I also have no understanding of C or other programming languages.

That was why I showed link to block languages. 6'th graders are using it to program robots.

Its visual. If you know how to use a simple calculator you are already a programmer. You
understand temporary/intermediate variables, how to add/sub/mul/div, your head modifies
program flow based on data......you get results -like "omg I am bankrupt ".....lots of videos on
web starting folks out.

Go down the path you are familiar with but when you get a chance watch a couple of videos and
try it out, lots of fun and enjoyable to work with. Then if that works out you can think about tackling
C or python or.....When you program in block you can look at the C/C++ it generates and start to see
basic language typing and constructs.......


Regards, Dana.

 

[ChrisP58]

I saw few videos on youtube and bough the components they used.

Soooo-- the video showed the parts list, but not the schematic? ???

Please post links to the videos.

 

[StrayDoggo]

Soooo-- the video showed the parts list, but not the schematic? ???

Please post links to the videos.

even if they did, wouldn't have helped me much. I can't understand schematic

 

[AnalogKid]

even if they did, wouldn't have helped me much. I can't understand schematic

But we can.

Given the amount of fake / false information out there, you might be chasing something that won't / can't work. That's where we come in.

ak

 

[StrayDoggo]

But we can.

Given the amount of fake / false information out there, you might be chasing something that won't / can't work. That's where we come in.

ak

Okay thank you very much. can you help me with the circuit? I would appreciate if it's simple and requires only basic components which is available world wide.
Since I am not in the west, it's harder to get complicated parts and they will cost a lot.

I can get all the basic components like capacitors. transistors and etc. I hope you can help me and I can finish this project.

 

[stefanodel]

The two circuits on youtube could be defined as junk, they use the sawtooth voltage across the capacitor of the astable oscillator realized with a NE555. This voltage, that varies from 4 to 8 volts with the NE555 powered at 12 V, is sent to the base of a transistor in common collector configuration so at the emitter output the voltage varies between about 4.3 and 7.3 V. To correctly drive two white LEDs in series even without a limiting resistor you have to hope for a miracle.
So straydoggo you can't drive a 12 V LED strip it with those circuits.
If you want to drive a 12 V led strip you have to use a pwm circuit that can be made with a NE555 and other components but it's not so trivial.

 

[ZipZapOuch]

If you want to drive a 12 V led strip you have to use a pwm circuit that can be made with a NE555 and other components but it's not so trivial.

Pretty trivial once you think about it.