Home >> Toys >> Toy Vehicles

How to Control LEDs With an RC

Light emitting diodes (LEDS) can be made to turn on and off, change color and change brightness levels through radio control. Wireless receivers and transmitters, the central element of radio-controlled electronic equipment, can be used to receive and transmit LED control signals, just as your remote-control television does.

Controlling LEDs with a remote controller requires that you know what effect selecting a specific button on the remote controller will have on the voltage level of the pins and metal solder joints on the device you're controlling.

Things You'll Need

LED voltage indicator
Low-current red LED

Instructions

- 1
  Open up your electronic toy so that you can see and access its circuitry.
- 2
  Place the negative lead of your LED voltage indicator on the negative terminal of the battery in the toy. Place the positive lead of your LED voltage indicator on one of the metal pins or metal solder joints on the toy's circuit board. Write down whether the LED voltage checker light is on or off for that specific point on the circuit board.
- 3
  Continue the procedure in the previous step for all the metal solder joints and metal pins on the circuit. Make a table that has one column with the joints and pin names and another column for on or off. For each joint and pin row, write down whether the LED indicator light is on or off when that joint or pin is probed.
- 4
  Construct one table as in the previous step for each control button on your remote controller. Press one button on your remote controller and then check all the metal joints and pins with your LED voltage indicator to see whether the LED lights. Write down off or on for each column in the table for each light measurement. Continue the procedure for each button on your remote control.
- 5
  Review your tables and circle metal joints and metal pins that will turn on the LED voltage indicator when specific remote-control buttons are pressed. Attach a red LED component to the pin and test your LED remote controller.

Toy Vehicles