Electronics help with an LED project - 4 LED chaser

hey,
i am working on a project and would like to know what would be the easiest way to wire 4 led's so they would cycle through them all.
they will be in a circle and i want them to look as if they was chasing eachother, like on the xbox 360 when it is starting up.
i will make a little animation if you dont understand.
Thanks Dan.

Edit:
i can find lots of 10 led chasers, but i cant find a 4 led chaser anywhere.

 

A chaser using the 4017 IC can drive less than 10 LEDS; just take the first unwanted output (LED5 in your case) to the reset pin.

So on this circuit pins #3, #2, #4 & #7 would go to your 4 LEDs, pin #10 would be connected to pin #15 (and pin #15 not connected to 0V).

 

thanks!

also, the 47k resistor is could be a variable resistor to ajust the speed along with the cap right?
and what value cap would you advise me to use to get a full loop in arounf 1-5 secs? ill just get what is says on the diagram, looks about the right timing in the GIF.
Thanks

Edit:
like this?

 

You'll find 555 calculators around to give an appropriate frequency, Andy Clarkson's is one I use. The Japala 555 circuit is rather minimal, an extra resistor and the 10nF cap are advisable.

 

or Sanguino/Arduino is the way to go...

 

thanks again, i will do the circuits off that website up to the 10k resistor, then do the circuit for the 4017 like the 1 above, i did electronics at school and the 555 timer circuits on tht website are the ones i did all the time.

 

ok. ive changed the circuit a bit, just need to work out the values of 1,2 and 3.
then ill get the bits and build it on thursday.

 

Hi Dan.

Did you manage to get this project completed? I want to build the same project myself and i'm in need of a little help.

 

this should help you with your resistor and capacitor values
http://www.schematica.com/Schematica/files/555_Timer_PRO_Setup.exe

 

No. It really isn't!
You don't use a £15 micro controller dev board to drive a few LEDs when a £1 555 circuit will do it. Arduinos are great when you have to take inputs, do some processing then change an output. Not something this simple.

I love my Arduino, but I hate how people think they should be used for everything.

/End rant. Sorry for snapping, but this gets me really annoyed.

 

yes the circuit above works fine. i think i have a short somewhere in my board as when i soldered it up (after the breadbord working) it doesnt work. ill check it over tomorrow and get back to you.

 

Thanks Dan.

I'm still having problems at the breadboard stage unfortunately. I want to be able to adjust the 'rotation' speed of the led's in the ROL using a strategically placed variable resistor. Would you be able to advise upon what ohmic value I should use as well as the values for the other resistor & cap. Also, where in the circuit should the variable resistor be placed? (I have the option to run the circuit using 12vdc or 5vdc but would prefer to run it from the 5v line).

Cheers.

 

Hi cpemma.

Could you please suggest to me where in the circuit these extra components should be placed & what value resistor would you recommend?

Thank you.

 

ok,
resistor 1 is a 47ohm resistor
resistor 2 is a 100kohm variable resistor
cap 3 is a 47microF Capacitor

i have a good range of speeds with it. you bound to have the right speed for you.
Good luck
Dan

 

Follow the Andy Clarkson link, astable circuit. The 10nF capacitor between pin#5 and ground isn't essential but adds stability.

 

Quoted for truth.

 

sorry, but it was just a suggestion...

 

A year ago it would have been "use a PIC", which at least has the advantage of being pretty cheap (once you have the programmer).

 

How did your circuit come out?

 

It worked fine.