Light and fade five LED colours
Fade red, yellow, green, blue and white LEDs together using PWM on D3, D5, D6, D9 and D10. Each LED has its own 330 ohm resistor.
Fade red, yellow, green, blue and white LEDs together using PWM on D3, D5, D6, D9 and D10. Each LED has its own 330 ohm resistor.
Use the Uno R3 Learning Kit. Build with power disconnected, check the labelled connections, then upload the supplied sketch. Drag or zoom the 3D model to inspect it from any angle.
Step 1 — Watch the complete build
Press Play for the narrated build. You can rotate and zoom the model while it plays, or follow the individual steps below.
Loading assembly…
Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around. Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail. Add the Red L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 3 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the Yellow L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 8 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the Green L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 13 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the Blue L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 18 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the White L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 23 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 4 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 9 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 14 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 19 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 24 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes. Connect Arduino digital pin 3 to the other end of the resistor. Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail. Connect Arduino digital pin 5 to the other end of the resistor. Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail. Connect Arduino digital pin 6 to the other end of the resistor. Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail. Connect Arduino digital pin 9 to the other end of the resistor. Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail. Connect Arduino digital pin 10 to the other end of the resistor. Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail. Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 2 — Understand the breadboard
Keep USB disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
Loading assembly…
Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
Step 3 — Connect Uno GND → T- rail 1
Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno GND | T- rail 1 |
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Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
Step 4 — Place Red LED · 5 mm
Add the Red LED · 5 mm. Its cathode lead goes into column 3 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- led-red · cathode → column 3 row C
- led-red · anode → column 4 row C
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Add the Red L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 3 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 5 — Place Yellow LED · 5 mm
Add the Yellow LED · 5 mm. Its cathode lead goes into column 8 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- led-yellow · cathode → column 8 row C
- led-yellow · anode → column 9 row C
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Add the Yellow L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 8 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 6 — Place Green LED · 5 mm
Add the Green LED · 5 mm. Its cathode lead goes into column 13 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- led-green · cathode → column 13 row C
- led-green · anode → column 14 row C
Loading assembly…
Add the Green L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 13 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 7 — Place Blue LED · 5 mm
Add the Blue LED · 5 mm. Its cathode lead goes into column 18 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- led-blue · cathode → column 18 row C
- led-blue · anode → column 19 row C
Loading assembly…
Add the Blue L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 18 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 8 — Place White LED · 5 mm
Add the White LED · 5 mm. Its cathode lead goes into column 23 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- led-white · cathode → column 23 row C
- led-white · anode → column 24 row C
Loading assembly…
Add the White L E D · 5 millimetres. Its cathode lead goes into column 23 row C; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 9 — Place 330 Ω resistor
Add the 330 Ω resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 4 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- r0 · Pin 0 → column 4 row E
- r0 · Pin 1 → column 4 row H
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Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 4 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 10 — Place 330 Ω resistor
Add the 330 Ω resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 9 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- r1 · Pin 0 → column 9 row E
- r1 · Pin 1 → column 9 row H
Loading assembly…
Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 9 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 11 — Place 330 Ω resistor
Add the 330 Ω resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 14 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- r2 · Pin 0 → column 14 row E
- r2 · Pin 1 → column 14 row H
Loading assembly…
Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 14 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 12 — Place 330 Ω resistor
Add the 330 Ω resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 19 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- r3 · Pin 0 → column 19 row E
- r3 · Pin 1 → column 19 row H
Loading assembly…
Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 19 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 13 — Place 330 Ω resistor
Add the 330 Ω resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 24 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Exact breadboard holes
- r4 · Pin 0 → column 24 row E
- r4 · Pin 1 → column 24 row H
Loading assembly…
Add the 330 ohms resistor. Its Pin 0 lead goes into column 24 row E; the highlights show the remaining holes.
Step 14 — Connect Uno D3 PWM → column 4 row J
Connect Arduino digital pin 3 to the other end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno D3 PWM | column 4 row J |
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Connect Arduino digital pin 3 to the other end of the resistor.
Step 15 — Connect column 3 row A → T- rail 3
Connect the LED’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 3 row A | T- rail 3 |
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Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
Step 16 — Connect Uno D5 PWM → column 9 row J
Connect Arduino digital pin 5 to the other end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno D5 PWM | column 9 row J |
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Connect Arduino digital pin 5 to the other end of the resistor.
Step 17 — Connect column 8 row A → T- rail 8
Connect the LED’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 8 row A | T- rail 8 |
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Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
Step 18 — Connect Uno D6 PWM → column 14 row J
Connect Arduino digital pin 6 to the other end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno D6 PWM | column 14 row J |
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Connect Arduino digital pin 6 to the other end of the resistor.
Step 19 — Connect column 13 row A → T- rail 13
Connect the LED’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 13 row A | T- rail 13 |
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Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
Step 20 — Connect Uno D9 PWM → column 19 row J
Connect Arduino digital pin 9 to the other end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno D9 PWM | column 19 row J |
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Connect Arduino digital pin 9 to the other end of the resistor.
Step 21 — Connect column 18 row A → T- rail 17
Connect the LED’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 18 row A | T- rail 17 |
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Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
Step 22 — Connect Uno D10 PWM/SS → column 24 row J
Connect Arduino digital pin 10 to the other end of the resistor.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno D10 PWM/SS | column 24 row J |
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Connect Arduino digital pin 10 to the other end of the resistor.
Step 23 — Connect column 23 row A → T- rail 23
Connect the LED’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 23 row A | T- rail 23 |
Loading assembly…
Connect the L E D’s cathode lead to the ground rail.
Step 24 — Place USB-A to USB-B cable · Uno
Check all wiring. Connect the square USB-B plug to the Uno and the USB-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Loading assembly…
Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 25 — Program your Uno
Choose Arduino Uno. Verify, pair the board and Upload this sketch. Keep USB connected. Fade red, yellow, green, blue and white LEDs together using PWM on D3, D5, D6, D9 and D10. Each LED has its own 330 ohm resistor.
Step 26 — Try it and troubleshoot
All five colours brighten and dim. Compare their brightness; different LED colours have different forward voltages. Keep 330 ohms in this multi-LED build. The supplied 200 ohm resistors are identified in the resistor lesson.
If it does not work
An unlit LED may be reversed. Check its flat cathode edge, the resistor path and the exact numbered columns.
Parts List
Required Parts (1)
Use the components named in this tutorial. A computer and any additional power supply are not included.
x1
$64.70
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