Beginner 1 hour

RGB LED Light Show with Pico

Create a dazzling programmable LED strip light show controlled by a Raspberry Pi Pico.

Overview

Use a Raspberry Pi Pico to control an RGB LED strip and create custom lighting animations. This is a great first project for learning about microcontrollers and addressable LEDs.

What You Will Learn

Programming a Raspberry Pi Pico with MicroPython
Controlling WS2812B (NeoPixel) LED strips
Creating animation patterns and colour effects

Step 1: Wire It Up

Connect the LED strip data pin to GPIO pin 0 on the Pico. Connect the strip power to VBUS (5V) and ground to GND. For longer strips, use an external 5V power supply.

Step 2: Flash MicroPython

Download the MicroPython UF2 firmware for the Pico. Hold BOOTSEL while plugging in via USB, then drag the UF2 file to the drive that appears.

Step 3: Code Your Animations

Using Thonny IDE, write MicroPython scripts to create rainbow cycles, colour chases, breathing effects, and more. The neopixel module is built into MicroPython.

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