LED Chaser

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I don't know why, but people like blinking lights. You see LED chasers everywhere, in TV shows (Knight Rider), movies, and store windows. This schematic is my version of a simple 10 LED chaser. There is no 555 timer used because at my local electronics store they are over $4 Cdn. Instead, an oscillator made up of two sections of a 4011 NAND gate is employed. This chip is very inexpensive and extremely common.

Schematic

Parts

Part Total Qty. Description Substitutions

R1 1 1 Meg 1/4W Resistor

R2 1 100K Pot

R3 1 1K 1/4W Resistor 220Ohm if using blue LEDs

C1 1 0.1uF 16V Ceramic Disk Capacitor

U1 1 4011 CMOS NAND Gate

U2 1 4017 CMOS Counter

LED1-10 10 LEDs Of Any Colour

MISC 1 Board, Sockets For ICs, Knob For R2

Notes

Use R2 to adjust the "chase rate".

You may need to use a lower value resistor if you wish to use blue LEDs. Try 220 Ohm.

You can also use incandescent lamps instead of LEDs. Use transistors to drive them by connecting the base of the transistors to each of the outputs of the 4017 through a 1K resistor. Connect one end of the lamp to the positive supply. Then connect the other end to the collector of the transistor. The emitter then goes to ground. Depending on the lamps, you may need power transistors that are heat sinked.

C1 may be replaced with a larger value for a slower "chase rate".

If you have problems with weird circuit behavior, try replacing R1 with a 33K resistor, and increasing C1 to 1uF.

If you plan to use this circuit in your car, be warned that in some areas it is illegal to have red, blue or yellow flashing lights unless you are an emergency vehicle.

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Comments

anonymous LED Chaser Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:04:14 AM

i try a LED chaser on live wire but i cant find the correct components

manvan LED Chaser Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2:02:34 PM

plz help me sir the led on board is not at all working,they are dim and and they are not running ...........can you give me a solution to recover it ................................................... Thank you for having your time sir

Dan LED Chaser Sunday, March 30, 2008 11:18:44 PM

Will it make a diference if i use different colors mixed together to make this unit. Looking at blue and white mix possibly red to. Thanks for your time.

doug LED Chaser Saturday, March 29, 2008 5:58:23 PM

hello please can you tell me if there is a way to link 2 together i am trying to make a 32 led light chaser please help me. i can follow olanes but not very good at designing

vinayak LED Chaser Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:34:42 AM

plz help me.this circuit is nat at all working.the led's are dim and they are not running.sir,you can e-mail me

Luis LED Chaser Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:16:20 AM

when you said another way to make leds chase from left to right was to use 1n914 diodes did you mean i have to do this to make them chase or does the original config you mapped out already do this as well

Harrison LED Chaser Monday, February 11, 2008 7:42:57 PM

Hi, I like your circuit but I am wondering if I can use lamp instead of LED. My lamps are turned by 6V and 300mA each. Which power transistor I should use to do so? Please advise, thank you. I believe the output from 4017 is only 0.5v and 10mA.

Gadgeteer LED Chaser Tuesday, February 05, 2008 2:16:49 AM

Chris Hatcher... I didn't have any luck trying to reach you by email. I would like to learn just what design of chaser you are interested in. Perhaps, you could try to email me. Regards, Gadgeteer

Chris Hatcher LED Chaser needed. Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:45:57 AM

I am a celebrity photographer and I need to make a LED Chaser light for my camera. I would do it myself but I don't have this inclination to do this type of thing. Is anyone interested in making one for me for some extra cash? Email me if you might be interested. Thank you.

Anthony LED Chaser Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:05:06 PM

I was wondering do i need to alter anything for it to hook directly to a 12v source ?

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anonymous	LED Chaser	Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:04:14 AM
i try a LED chaser on live wire but i cant find the correct components
manvan	LED Chaser	Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2:02:34 PM
plz help me sir the led on board is not at all working,they are dim and and they are not running ...........can you give me a solution to recover it ................................................... Thank you for having your time sir
Dan	LED Chaser	Sunday, March 30, 2008 11:18:44 PM
Will it make a diference if i use different colors mixed together to make this unit. Looking at blue and white mix possibly red to. Thanks for your time.
doug	LED Chaser	Saturday, March 29, 2008 5:58:23 PM
hello please can you tell me if there is a way to link 2 together i am trying to make a 32 led light chaser please help me. i can follow olanes but not very good at designing
vinayak	LED Chaser	Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:34:42 AM
plz help me.this circuit is nat at all working.the led's are dim and they are not running.sir,you can e-mail me
Luis	LED Chaser	Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:16:20 AM
when you said another way to make leds chase from left to right was to use 1n914 diodes did you mean i have to do this to make them chase or does the original config you mapped out already do this as well
Harrison	LED Chaser	Monday, February 11, 2008 7:42:57 PM
Hi, I like your circuit but I am wondering if I can use lamp instead of LED. My lamps are turned by 6V and 300mA each. Which power transistor I should use to do so? Please advise, thank you. I believe the output from 4017 is only 0.5v and 10mA.
Gadgeteer	LED Chaser	Tuesday, February 05, 2008 2:16:49 AM
Chris Hatcher... I didn't have any luck trying to reach you by email. I would like to learn just what design of chaser you are interested in. Perhaps, you could try to email me. Regards, Gadgeteer
Chris Hatcher	LED Chaser needed.	Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:45:57 AM
I am a celebrity photographer and I need to make a LED Chaser light for my camera. I would do it myself but I don't have this inclination to do this type of thing. Is anyone interested in making one for me for some extra cash? Email me if you might be interested. Thank you.
Anthony	LED Chaser	Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:05:06 PM
I was wondering do i need to alter anything for it to hook directly to a 12v source ?