Arduino project · Buttons and switches · Easy
Two-Button LED Dimmer Steps
Button 1 switches the light bar on, button 2 switches it off. A small step towards a real dimmer.
What you will learn
- How two buttons give ON and OFF control
- How a latch keeps the state after you let go
- How to plan more levels
How it works
Pressing button 1 sets all three LEDs. Pressing button 2 clears them. Between presses nothing changes, so the LEDs stay as they were.
Try this next
- Make each press add only one more LED (use a counter variable).
- Add a buzzer click.
- Use PWM and analogWrite() for smooth dimming.
The simulator program and explanation on this page are original. The idea follows a classic Arduino project that students have built for years.
Parts: sensors and actuators (tap to show or hide)
Try the inputs (virtual sensors)
Pins (you can change them)
| Part | Arduino pin (change it here) | How to wire it |
|---|
Every wire, one by one
Red rail = 5 V from the Arduino 5V pin. Black rail = GND. The coloured wires carry signals. Match the wire colours on the drawing to this list.
| # | Colour | From (part and leg) | To |
|---|
Steps run from top to bottom, then start again. While the simulation runs, the active step is highlighted in green.
Quantities come from the parts you added. The store links open a search for that item on Robu.in, Amazon.in and ThinkRobotics, so you always see what is in stock today. Check the model, voltage and price before you order.
| # | Item | Qty | Search term | Buy / compare |
|---|
The PDF has the circuit sketch, pin table, every wire, sequence, full code, the parts list with store links, do’s and don’ts for each part, and the safety notes. The project file lets you come back and keep editing.
In the real world
A button-controlled light board
Press the buttons in the simulator. The bulbs on the board follow.
Tip: use the gold tab at the bottom of the circuit drawing to pull the real-world view up over the Arduino board. Your parts stay visible above it, so you can press a button and watch the real scene react.
- Buttons = your commands
- LEDs = the bulbs