3 · Outputs & actuators
RGB LED: mixing colours
Intermediate20 min
Goal
Create any colour with three PWM channels.
Why it matters
Additive red/green/blue synthesis is the principle behind every screen.
What you need
- Arduino UNO board
- 5 mm LED
- 220 Ω resistor
- LED RGB
Nothing to buy: every component below is simulated in the browser.
Steps
- 01Wire R, G, B to three PWM pins (9, 10, 11).
- 02Write a setColor(r, g, b) function.
- 03Cycle red, green, blue, yellow, cyan, magenta, white.
This tutorial runs inside the Circuitly simulator: your wiring and your code are checked automatically at every step.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?
- No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.
- Which components are used?
- Arduino UNO board, 5 mm LED, 220 Ω resistor, LED RGB. They are already available in the simulator library.
- How long does it take?
- About 20 minutes, intermediate level, in 3 guided steps.
- What should I know before starting?
- The previous tutorial in the series, “Potentiometer → brightness”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.
- Is the code provided and checked?
- The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.
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