Brief Introduction

RGB LEDs are light-emitting diodes that give out red, green, and blue lights and combine to produce 16 million hues of light. These types of lighting systems can be used in home decoration, staging, LED designs, and matrix displays.

The RGB systems often need drivers to control which of the three lights needs to be on at what periods. Most of these drivers are often switched on manually. These RGB lights are often arranged in an array of long strips or matrices.

In this system, we are going to look at a PCB design for controlling RGB lights via remote control. The system has also the provision of loading more programs.

Components Used

C1, C2, C8     10p     Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric

C3      4uF     Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric

C4      4uF     Capacitor_SMD:CP_Elec_5x3.9

C5, C6 1u       Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric

C7      100nF Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric

H1, H2, H3, H4           MountingHole:MountingHole_2.2mm_M2_Pad_Via

J1       RGB Conn.    Connector:Conn_01x04_Female  Connector_PinSocket_2.00mm:PinSocket_1x04_P2.00mm_Vertical

J2, J3  POWER         Connector:Screw_Terminal_01x02 Connector_PinHeader_1.00mm:PinHeader_1x02_P1.00mm_Vertical

J4       P. CONN        Connector:Conn_01x05_Female Connector_PinHeader_1.00mm:PinHeader_1x05_P1.00mm_Vertical

L1       L _Small        Inductor_SMD:L_0805_2012Metric

Q1, Q2, Q3    IRF3205         Transistor_FET:IRF3205           Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23

R1, R2, R3     470k   Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric

R4      10K    Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric

SW1   SW_SPDT     Switch: SW_SPDT           Button_Switch_SMD:SW_SPDT_PCM12

U1      ATmega8-16P MCU_Microchip_ATmega:ATmega8-16P           Package_DIP:DIP-28_W7.62mm

U2      TSOP17         Interface_Optical:TSOP17xx           OptoDevice:Vishay_MOLD-3Pin

U4      NRF24L01     RF:NRF24L01           Package_DFN_QFN:QFN-20-1EP_4x4mm_P0.5mm_EP2.5x2.5mm

Y1      16MHz           Device:Crystal_GND24           Crystal:Crystal_SMD_EuroQuartz_MT-4Pin_3.2x2.5mm_HandSoldering

Circuit diagram and How it Works

The system is built around an AT mega 16p Microcontroller, which is purposefully intended to control the RGB lighting with the use of remote control. The system has three transistors for each lighting unit that has its switching ends connected to the microcontroller through a resistor.

The system has an interface for the programmer where one can customize the program to control the lighting. The programming can be done using the Arduino IDE.

The system has an infrared sensor, to receive control signals from a remote control based on the program loaded into the microcontroller.

For the power supply, the microcontroller section uses 3.3v to switch the transistors which allows a 12v supply to the RGB connection.

Some essential components that build up the system, are the resistors and capacitors to smoothen the power in the system and the 16MHz external crystal oscillator.

PCB layout

This PCB was designed using KiCAD E.D.A. due to the high accuracy and precision required in preparation for the production process.

The board is a 2 Layer PCB with the routing of power and signal copper traces done on both sides.

Below is a 3-dimensional render image of the system.

3D Render Image

Guide on Manufacturing such Boards

The readers of this project might be interested in manufacturing the sample to do more and more tests about it. PCBway is the way to go. It is a company that offers PCB assembly services at a pocket-friendly price and you won’t regret the results.

To order through PCBway, you need to visit the instant quote page and follow the process step by step to complete your order.

Input all the relevant design parameters and hit calculate. The calculation will give you temporary costs for your board, including the shipment to various locations worldwide.

Click save to cart which leads you to the next page which requests the Gerber files. Upload the Gerber files and submit them for the team of experts to act and deliver a final quote to you.

Now make the payment of your order then relax as your order is acted upon. The final product will be delivered to your destination within seven days period.