Microbit
Advanced
45 mins
Teacher/Student led
145 points
What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC
Microbit
RGB LED
Crocodile clips
USB Cable

Microbit RGB LED

Using the RGB LED Microbit accessory, make different colours and sequences.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes Lesson Files

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    1 - Create a new Microbit project

    The RGB LED is a coluorful add-on to your Microbit . Connect it up with alligator clips and then use the three outputs of your Microbit  to control the red, green and blue channels to mix up any color of light you want.

    To get started create a new Microbit project.

    makecode.microbit.org


    2 - Create three functions

    The RGB LED board has three channels, a red, a green and a blue channel. We can control the LED by setting a value for each of these channels and 'mix' a colour. We do this by using the analog write pin block.

    • Pin 0 (P0) is the red channel
    • Pin 1 (P1) is the green channel
    • Pin 2 (P2) is the blue channel

    To start off let's code the LED to show 3 different colours. Create the following three functions (in the Advanced toolbox).

    1. Red
    2. Orange
    3. Green
    function red () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 1023)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 0)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    function orange () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 800)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 100)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    function green () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 0)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 1023)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    
    

    3 - Call the functions

    Now call the functions by putting them in the 'forever' block and space them out using 'pause' blocks. This sequence imitates a traffic light.

    basic.forever(function () {
        red()
        basic.pause(2000)
        orange()
        basic.pause(2000)
        green()
        basic.pause(5000)
    })
    
    function red () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 1023)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 0)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    function orange () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 800)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 100)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    function green () {
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, 0)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P1, 1023)
        pins.analogWritePin(AnalogPin.P2, 0)
    }
    
    
    

    4 - Download the project and send it to your microbit

    5 - Connect the RGB light

    Using 4 crocodile clips, connect your microbit to the RGB light as shown in this diagram. It doesn't matter which colour crocodile clip you use for each connection as they are the same apart from the colours.

    MicrobitRGB LED Board
    0Red
    1Green
    2Blue
    GNDGND

    When you power your Microbit, the RGB light should light up and follow your sequence.



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