"Shimmering" blue LED for engines?

Matt1982 · Post by **Matt1982** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:57 am

I'v been in a "make my own custom PCB circuit boards" kick recently.

My 2010 Galactica has static blue LEDs for the engines. I want to have shimmering LEDs. Electronically how can this be done?

Thank you!

Mr. Engineer · Post by **Mr. Engineer** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:56 pm

You can use a simple 555 timer for that fast blink or if you want it to be more 'random' microcontroller PWM programming is the solution.

Major Focker · Post by **Major Focker** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:24 am

will getting the chip from tea candle leds work?

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:30 am

Major Focker wrote:will getting the chip from tea candle leds work?

That has worked for me a couple of times and it's easy-peasy and cheap.

Grumpy Popeye · Post by **Grumpy Popeye** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:21 am

Major Focker wrote:will getting the chip from tea candle leds work?

I did that for my Stargazer Serenity build. Swapped the amber and yellow LEDs for white ones and tinted them blue.

By the way, the boards will handle 9 volts with no problems, just change out the LEDs first.

Grumpy Popeye · Post by **Grumpy Popeye** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:21 am

Major Focker wrote:will getting the chip from tea candle leds work?

I did that for my Stargazer Serenity build. Swapped the amber and yellow LEDs for white ones and tinted them blue.

By the way, the boards will handle 9 volts with no problems, just change out the LEDs first.

robiwon · Post by **robiwon** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:42 am

I never thought of trying a voltage increase with those tea candles. Good to know!