In this article, we will see different LED Running Lights Circuits, which are also called as LED Knight Rider Circuit. These circuits can be employed on a car, motor cycle, bike etc. as they will present an eye catching look to the viewers.
We have created 4 different LED Running Lights Circuits using very simple components. In the first circuit, we have implemented a Flashing LEDs with the help of transistor based Astable Multivibrator.
The second circuit uses Chasing LEDs and is based on IC CD4017. In this case, the LEDs just turn on one by one in a consecutive order. The CD4017 is also used in the third circuit. The LEDs in this circuit will glow in a unique pattern, i.e. two-way running LEDs.
The LEDs in the final circuit travel in one direction at first, then in the opposite direction. It signifies that the pattern moves back and forth like a pendulum.
This circuit can be used to beautify your automobile or it can be useful in a crisis when your car breaks down and you need assistance.
We’ll look at the specifics of each of these circuits, such as the circuit layout and component requirements.
- Simple LED Running Light Circuit (Flashing LEDs)
- Circuit Diagram
- Components Required
- Working of the Project
- LED Chaser Circuit using CD4017 and 555
- Circuit Diagram
- Components Required
- Working of the Project
- Two Way Running LEDs with 11 LEDs, CD4017 and 555 Timer IC
- Circuit Diagram
- Components Required
- Working of the Project
- Circuit Diagram of LED Knight Rider Circuit Diagram:
- Components Required for the Circuit:
- Description:
Simple LED Running Light Circuit (Flashing LEDs)
In this project, we have designed a simple Flashing LED Circuit. We have used two sets of LEDs (3 on one side and 3 on the other) that will be turned on alternatively so that the outcome is a bright flashing LEDs.
Circuit Diagram
Components Required
- 2 x 2N2222A (NPN Transistor)
- 2 x 22µF – 50V Capacitor (Polarised)
- 2 x 46 KΩ Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 6 x 8mm Bright White LED
- 12V Power Supply
- Connecting Wires
- Breadboard
Working of the Project
The concept is clearly based on a simple Astable or a Free Running Multivibrator, as evidenced by the circuit diagram. One transistor will be ON (in Saturation) and the other will be OFF when the circuit is turned on (Cutoff).
The Capacitor C2 will charge through series LEDs if Q1 is ON and Q2 is OFF. The LEDs will light up since they are connected in the current path.
Because of the discharging capacitor C1, the transistor Q2 is turned off at this time (as the negative plate is connected to the base of Q2). The capacitor C1 is fully depleted and begins charging through R1 after the time constant C1R1.
The charging is done in the opposite direction. The capacitor builds up enough voltage (0.7V) to switch on the transistor Q2 as it charges. The capacitor C2 begins to discharge through Q2 at this point.
The transistor Q1 and this pair of LEDs are switched off when the plate of the capacitor C2, which is linked to the base of the transistor Q1, turns negative.
The capacitor C1 now begins to charge from the series LEDs that it is connected to (through base of Q2). This set of LEDs will be turned on since they are connected in the present path.
Now the capacitor C2 discharges and after complete discharge, it will start charging through R2. As the charge builds up in the capacitor C2, when the voltage reaches 0.7V, it will turn ON the transistor Q1. From this point the process repeats as earlier.
LED Chaser Circuit using CD4017 and 555
The second project in the LED Knight Rider Series is an LED Chaser circuit using CD4017 Decade Counter and 555 Timer IC. We will see the circuit diagram, components used and the working of this project
Circuit Diagram
Components Required
- 1 x CD4017 Decade Counter IC
- 1 x 555 Timer IC
- 1 x 18 KΩ Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 1 x 2.2 KΩ Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 1 x 100 KΩ Potentiometer
- 1 x 1 µF – 50V Capacitor (Polarised)
- 1 x 0.1 nF Ceramic Disc Capacitor (100 pF code 101)
- 10 x 8mm Bright White LEDs
- Connecting Wires
- 5V Power Supply
- Breadboard
Working of the Project
We created a basic LED Chaser Circuit in this project, where the LEDs turn on one after the other, creating the effect of one LED pursuing the other. This project will now be put to the test.
The first thing we notice about the circuit schematic is that it has two parts: the 555 Timer and the CD4017 Decade Counter IC with LEDs. In this project, the 555 Timer IC is set up as an Astable Multivibrator.
It generates a pulse in this mode, the frequency of which is regulated by the components R1 (2.2 K), R2 (18 K), VR1 (100 K), and C1 (1F). The 100 K POT can be adjusted to regulate the frequency of the pulse.
The CD4017 Decade Counter IC receives this pulse as its clock input. Understanding how CD4017 works, we can see that for every clock pulse it gets at the Clock Input pin, the count in increases by one, causing each output pin to be HIGH for that clock pulse.
We’ll obtain a count of 10 because it’s a decade counter, and because the bright white LEDs are linked to the output pins, each LED will turn on when the associated pin gets HIGH.
The count is reset after 10 clock pulses and will begin again from the beginning. If the LEDs are arranged in a circular pattern, the effect is known as Chasing LED.
Two Way Running LEDs with 11 LEDs, CD4017 and 555 Timer IC
This is another running LED circuit but the difference between this and the previous Running LEDs circuit and this circuit is that in the previous circuit, it was designed as a one way running LEDs circuit whereas in this circuit, the LEDs will be running in two ways.
Circuit Diagram
Components Required
- 1 x CD4017 Decade Counter IC
- 1 x 555 Timer IC
- 1 x 18 KΩ Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 1 x 2.2 KΩ Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 1 x 470 Ω Resistor (1/4 Watt)
- 1 x 100 KΩ Potentiometer
- 1 x 1 µF – 50V Capacitor (Polarised)
- 1 x 0.1 nF Ceramic Disc Capacitor (100 pF code 101)
- 8 x 1N4007 PN Junction Diodes
- 11 x 8mm Bright White LEDs
- Connecting Wires
- 12V Power Supply
- Breadboard
Working of the Project
The Two Way Running LEDs project works similarly to the LED Chaser Circuit, with the exception that the LEDs are oriented differently. Now we’ll observe how this project functions.
The 555 Timer generates a pulse signal, which is sent into the CD4017 Counter as the clock input (the operation is similar to that described in the previous circuit). The LED6 attached to the CD4017’s Q0 will be the first to light up.
Next, the LED5 and LED7, which are coupled to CD4017’s Q1, will turn on. The connections continue to be made as shown in the circuit diagram until Q5, which is connected to LED1 and LED11 completed.Until this point, the LED lights will be one-way.
In order to achieve the two way lighting up of the LED, Q6 is connected to LED2 and LED10, Q7 is connected to LED3 and LED9 and so on.
The final effect will be a Two Way Running LEDs and the sequence will be as follows: LED6 (Q0), LED5 – LED7 (Q1), LED4 – LED8 (Q2), LED3 – LED9 (Q3), LED2 – LED10 (Q4), LED1 – LED11(Q5) for one way and followed by LED2 – LED10 (Q6), LED3 – LED9 (Q7), LED4 – LED8 (Q8), LED5 – LED7 (Q9).
Circuit Diagram of LED Knight Rider Circuit Diagram:
Components Required for the Circuit:
- IC
- NE555 – 1
- CD4017 – 2
- Resistor
- R1 (1K) – 1
- R2 (100K) – 1
- R3 (10K) – 1
- VR1 (100K) – 1
- C2, C1 (.1uf) – 2
- D1-D9 (1N4148) – 9
- Transistor (BC547) – 1
- LED1-LED9 – 9
Description:
In order to get familiar with the working layout of the circuit it is important to get familiar with individual pin.
This IC has 16 pins out of which 3 are input pin, 10 is for output purpose and for ground one pin is assigned and one power supply and rest one left is for Carry out. As shown below pin diagram of IC CD4017.
1. Input Pin:
- Reset Pin (Pin 15) — This pin resets the counter to zero. If you want the counter to start counting from the third pin, you’ll need to connect the fourth output to the 15 pin. As a result, after every third output, the counting resets to zero.
- Clock Pin (Pin 14) — When the IC’s pin 14 is set to high, the output is supplied. For example, when the clock’s first pulse arrives, pin 3 will produce output, and when the next clock pulse arrives, pin 2 will supply output, and so on. It will restart from Q0 output after 10 clock pulses.
- Clock Inhibit Pin (Pin 13) — This pin is used to toggle the counter between ON and OFF states. If you want to turn off the counter, pin 13 should be set to the highest state. If it is in the high state, it will ignore the clock pulse regardless of how many times you press the switch, implying that the count will not advance. In our circuit, pin 13 is grounded.
2. Output Pin (Pin Q0 – Q9) – In the sequential manner the output is received from these pins. Like pin 3 will give you output for the first pulse and so on.
3. Ground Pin (Pin 8) and Supply Pin (Pin 16) – For the working of the IC pin 8 provide ground while power supply is provided by pin16.
4. Carryout Pin (Pin 12) – With the help of this pin one or more than one IC CD4017 can be linked. Suppose you desire to attach one more CD4017 then attach pin 12 with input clock of its descendant. The carry pin of primary CD4017 is coupled with the second clock input similarly the second carry pin is coupled with the third clock input and so on. You can see this in circuit diagram.
The circuit is built around two ICs, the NE555 and CD4017, as well as a few other components. The IC 555 timer is utilised as an astable oscillator in this design.
The CMOS counter/driver IC CD4017 is used. When it comes to the clock pulse, it fetches it through the clock input and all 10 outputs switch on in order. It’s a well-known IC that comes in handy in a variety of different projects, such as Light Chaser and Matrix Die.
In this circuit, the IC NE555 is utilised as an astable mode to provide a clock pulse for the circuit. This is utilised to provide an oscillating wave to the output pin 3 of the IC1.
By the help of VR1 the speed of oscillation can be alter. 555 timer oscillation frequency can be calculated by-
f=1. 44/(R1+2* (VR1) *C1)
Because we’re using two decade counters, we’ll start counting from 0 to 16 in this circuit. IC2 in the circuit counts from 0 to 9, while IC3 does the rest of the counting with the help of diodes.
When the 555 timer receives power, pin 3 of the IC1 output is connected to CD4017 pin 14 of the decade count, which generates a clock pulse for the IC2 to function. After receiving the clock input, the CD4017 starts its counter value from zero (since it has an inbuilt counter).
After pin 14 moved to the high position, it forwarded each pin one by one. For example, in the main stage, output Q0 is received at pin 3, LED1 blinks, LED2 glows from pin 4, and so on.
When the counter reaches pin 11, which is the ninth output, it generates a transient high, which is connected to pin 13. (clock inhibit). If pin 14 is high, the clock pulse will be ignored, and counting will be stopped by IC2.
As a result, IC3 pin 15 became low because transistor BC547 was previously in a high condition. For a brief moment, pin15 of IC3 is reset to low due to this low signal, and the output of IC3 stats counter from Q0 (pin3) is moved ahead one by one.
When it reaches Q8, which is pin 9, it is once again connected to pin 13 of IC3, causing IC3 to stop counting regardless of the input signal. If pin 13 is high, pin 14 ignores the clock pulse, implying.
And this will once more given to reset pin 15 of IC2 and counting is now begin by IC2, counting of IC3 disabled.
It also means that when the output counting is done by IC2 from IC3 is stop similarly IC2 stop when IC3 counts. Hence output signals approaching from IC3 are transmitted in reverse direction to IC2.
