Summary of PIC RGB Power Board using PIC12F629 microcontroller
Power Pic RGB is a circuit generating random RGB colors and fading between them using a 3W LED. The project successfully implemented a fading algorithm to drive a Prolight 3 Watt RGB LED housed in a white globe. The design utilizes a PIC12F629 microcontroller, three BS170 MOSFETs for driving the LED channels, and a 7805 5V 1A voltage regulator with a heatsink.
Parts used in the Power Pic RGB:
- PIC12F629 microcontroller
- 3W RGB LED (Prolight)
- Three BS170 MOSFET transistors
- 7805 5V 1A voltage regulator
- Heatsink
- White globe enclosure
Description
Power Pic RGB is a circuit that generates random RGB colors using a powerful 3W RGB LED and fades
between them.
The initial project goal was to develop the fading algorithm which was successfully achieved. This time the idea was to drive a Prolight 3 Watt RGB LED and place it inside a nice white globe! On the right is a picture of the first prototype board eith a small board attached that doesn’t belong to this project.
Design and Implementation
The circuit is basically the same with the addition of 3 BS170 mosfet transistors to drive the LED and a powerful 5V regulator. The PIC is the same but the code has a small big difference, explained below!
Schematic
From left to right we can see the power supply based on a 7805 5V 1A regulator, the microcontroller and finally on the right the three mosfets that will drive the LED. Click the image to enlarge.
Each mosfet can drive a maximum 600mA through its drain but according to Prolight each LED (red, green and blue) can only sustain 300mA which makes this mosfet perfect for the job.
Summing the 3 LED currents we get 900mA not counting the current consumed by the PIC and the 7805 itself which should be around 3 or 4 mA. The 7805 is able to supply 1A of current with a proper Heatsink.
For more detail: PIC RGB Power Board using PIC12F629 microcontroller
- What is the main function of the Power Pic RGB circuit?
The circuit generates random RGB colors using a powerful 3W RGB LED and fades between them. - How many MOSFETs are used to drive the LED?
The circuit uses three BS170 MOSFET transistors to drive the LED. - Can the BS170 MOSFET handle the required current?
Yes, each MOSFET can drive a maximum of 600mA, which is sufficient since each LED color sustains only 300mA. - What type of regulator is used for power supply?
A 7805 5V 1A regulator is used as the power supply component. - Does the 7805 regulator require a heatsink?
Yes, the 7805 requires a proper heatsink to supply 1A of current effectively. - What microcontroller is used in this project?
The project uses the PIC12F629 microcontroller. - How much total current do the three LEDs consume?
Summing the three LED currents results in 900mA. - Is the code different from previous versions?
Yes, the code has a small big difference compared to previous iterations to explain the new implementation.
