Arduino Project

Arduino LED Light Show V1

Kit purchase

Looking for parts? Check out our all-in-one kits below — packed with components, beginner-friendly guides, and tons of fun.

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Name	Includes Arduino board	PURCHASE LINK
Elite Explorer Kit	Arduino Uno R4 WiFi	BUY
3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Ultimate Sensor Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Universal Maker Sensor Kit	×	BUY

Course Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn how to use Arduino along with LEDs, and resistors to create a light show.

Note

If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.

1.1 Install Arduino IDE(Important)
1.2 Introduction of Arduino IDE

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components:

SN	COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	QUANTITY	PURCHASE LINK
1	Arduino UNO R4 Minima	1	BUY
2	USB Type-C cable	1	×
3	Breadboard	1	BUY
4	Wires	Several	BUY
5	1kΩ resistor	Several	BUY
6	LED	Several	BUY

Wiring

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Common Connections:

LEDS
Connect the LEDs cathode to negative power bus on the breadboard, and the LEDs anode to a 1kΩ resistor then to the 2 to 13 on the Arduino.

Writing the Code

Note
You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 Minima) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

// Define LED pins
const int ledPins[] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13};
const int numLeds = 12;

void setup() {
  // Set all LED pins as outputs and turn them off
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

void loop() {
  waterfallEffect(true);    // Waterfall (forward)
  waterfallEffect(false);   // Waterfall (reverse)
  bouncingEffect();         // Bouncing (in and out)
  bouncingEffect();
  waveEffect();             // Wave pattern
  waveEffect();
  alternatingEffect();      // Alternating even/odd LEDs
  runningBackEffect();      // Running light back and forth
  ladderEffect();           // Ladder on/off sequence
  progressiveKeepEffect();  // Progressive lighting
  progressiveKeepEffect();
  dualSlidingEffect();      // Dual sliding from ends to center and back
  dualSlidingEffect();
  dualSlidingEffect();
}

void dualSlidingEffect() {
  // Move inward, blinking symmetrically
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
      delay(10);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
      delay(10);
    }
    delay(50);
  }

  // Move outward, blinking symmetrically
  for (int i = numLeds / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
      delay(10);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
      delay(10);
    }
    delay(50);
  }
}

// Waterfall effect: LEDs turn on/off in sequence
void waterfallEffect(bool direction) {
  if (direction) {
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      delay(50);
    }
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }
  } else {
    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      delay(50);
    }
    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      delay(50);
    }
  }
}

// Bouncing effect: inward and outward lighting
void bouncingEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds / 2; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }

  for (int i = numLeds / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds / 2 - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
}

// Wave effect: LEDs create a moving wave
void waveEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    if (i > 1) digitalWrite(ledPins[i - 2], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    if (i < numLeds - 2) digitalWrite(ledPins[i + 2], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - 1 - i], LOW);
  }
}

// Alternating blink effect: even/odd LEDs alternate
void alternatingEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < numLeds; j += 2) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j], HIGH);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j + 1], LOW);
    }
    delay(300);
    for (int j = 0; j < numLeds; j += 2) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j], LOW);
      digitalWrite(ledPins[j + 1], HIGH);
    }
    delay(300);
  }
}

// Running effect: light moves left-to-right and back
void runningBackEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
  }
}

// Ladder effect: sequential on/off like climbing steps
void ladderEffect() {
  for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    delay(50);
  }
  for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    delay(50);
  }
}

// Progressive keep effect: gradually light LEDs and keep previous ones on
void progressiveKeepEffect() {
  for (int round = 0; round < numLeds; round++) {
    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    }

    for (int i = numLeds - 1; i >= numLeds - round; i--) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < numLeds - round; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], HIGH);
      if (i > 0) {
        digitalWrite(ledPins[i - 1], LOW);
      }
      delay(50);
    }

    if (numLeds - round - 1 >= 0) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[numLeds - round - 1], LOW);
    }
  }
}

// Center spread effect: LEDs light from the center outwards and then back
// (Not called in the loop)
void centerSpreadEffect() {
  int center = numLeds / 2;
  for (int offset = 0; offset < center; offset++) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[center - offset - 1], HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[center + offset], HIGH);
    delay(100);
  }
  for (int offset = center - 1; offset >= 0; offset--) {
    digitalWrite(ledPins[center - offset - 1], LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledPins[center + offset], LOW);
    delay(100);
  }
}

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Arduino Project

Arduino LED Light Show V1

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

Arduino Project

Arduino LED Light Show V1

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

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