Raspberry Pi Pico W LESSON 12: Understanding and Controlling an RGB LED in MicroPython

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In this class we will be using the Sunfounder Raspberry Pi Pico W Keppler Kit. It will make things a lot easier if we are working on identical hardware. the link below is to amazon, and is for the identical hardware I will be using in this entire class.

In this introductory video, I will show you how to understand and use the Red, Green, Blue (RGB) LED. I will explain the operation of the LED, and show a simple circuit and program to control the color of the LED in micropython. This class is for absolute beginners, and I do not assume you already understand the material I am presenting. My goal is not to 'Show Off', but to genuinely teach you how you can do this type of work and projects on your own. I will show all work step-by-step, with clear instructions Enjoy!

#raspberrypipico
#rgbled
#micropython

[drdentin]

Wow! I googled you to get the a previous lesson (for string input for the homework assignment) and you were second in the search to Paul McCartney!

[kevuk]

Another great lesson Paul. Unfortunately a combination of work and my daughter's wedding mean my homework will be a bit late this week! (I haven't folder up like a cheap Wal-Mart lawn chair yet ;) )

[cbrombaugh]

I AM LEGEND! But I would not brag about my orange or yellow. 😊 Thanks for another most-excellent lesson, Paul.

[rupadarshisamanta]

Thanks Paul. As my RGB led is common anode LED that's why the longest pin will be inserted into Vcc and if I want to turn on one of the colour (red/green/blue) then that colourBright will be -- 0 and others will be 65536/65550.
Eg- redBright = 0
greenBright = 65536
blueBright = 65536 then the red LED will turn on.
Thanks again.

[petergoss]

Finally, managed it. Better late than never. Found I had to turn the green down to get a decent orange. The main problem was trapping an invalid input such as brown. After some reading I ended up using elif and else commands. Interested to see the solution.

[edSabio]

Thanks Paul! I did my homework but I am hoping to see your solution. I do know that the last Three colors are a combination of
max values. However, something tells me you are going to do it different... Cannot claim legend nor Walmart's chair

[drdentin]

I think we are of similar age. I have seen Wings later Paul McCartney several times, never saw the Beatles. I suspect you are familiar with McCartney.

[ctlancearrowlarson]

All Paul's lessons are fun! Not easy for me, because coding requires a lot of memorization. But the challenge to learn is something that is a deep desire. Also Ardunino Lessons 20 & 21 and Raspberry Pi Lessons 11, 12, 13 relate to RGB Led's. Similar but different information.

[danielsaenz]

Hey Paul! Great lesson! Why is there a delay (sleep) in the program? Doesn't the PWM signal take care of delaying? Are you just doing it just for good measure? Thanks Paul!

[ctlancearrowlarson]

Crazy memory exercise for coding in Lessons 1-12. #1 Blink board LED. #2 Blink red LED. #3 Blink board LED with toggle. #4 Read analog voltages with a potentiometer. 5. Control intensity of red LED using potentiometer. 6. Change intensity of LED (not using while True:). 7. RGB-LED Change LED colors, full brightness. 8. RGB-LED Change LED colors & brightness. After while True: Use red, green, & blue (Bright), to change color & brightness (0-65550). 9. RGB-LED Change LED colors & brightness. After while True: Use duty and sleep. 10. RGB-LED Ask what color? Changes LED colors (red, green, blue). After while True: Use red, green & blue (Bright) or duty. This may not make sense to the reader, or me.

[briankelly]

Looking forward to digging further into the pico W. Thanks Paul.

[ctlancearrowlarson]

If lines #9, 11, 13 (freq) and line 23 (sleep) are commented out, the program still appears to work. It's still best to leave them in program.

[Acetylcholin]

Mh this code doesnt work for me. My Thonny is sayig:
Error in line 28
KeyboardInterrupt

Does anyone knows what this could mean and how to solve this?

[andrewferg]

Is your BB website still up and running ?

[jimworden]

I do have a question though. In all of my research the maximum value for PWM on the pico is 65535 ((2 ** 16) - 1 or 0xFFFF) but even though you've at least mentioned this value a time or two you tend to use 65550 (0x01000E). Why does this work? Does the pico just treat any high out of range number as 65535? Thanks.

[rassulkuatov]

Thank you for the great lesson!
The homework: