LED Fader Circuit

Here is a simple circuit I built to fade an LED. I am going to be building a model lighthouse and wanted a simple circuit to fade the LED. I could have used PWM with a simple microcontroller, but I decided to use a 555 and a MOSFET instead. I think it works quite well.

Also note that since this circuit will be built into a small table top lighthouse there is no room for a transformer and thus why I am running it off a transformerless power supply (right side of the breadboard)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• LED
• Fader
• Circuit
• 555
• timer
• MOSFET
• Oscillator
• Lighthouse
• Transformerless
• Power
• Supply

[SeanB88]

You'd have to design a different circuit for headlights. They draw a large amount of current (way greater than the ~10mA I am putting through this LED). Also, this circuit runs right off the 115v AC line, so you can't just use it in your car with the 12v DC battery.

[HonziPonzi]

I'm don't know a whole lot about making circuits yet but I'm trying to learn. Could you tell me what sort of power this circuit could handle? I want to make my car's halo's do this when it's off :)