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JEJunior Engineer LabPico W + micro:bit course
10micro:bit · MakeCode 30 minutes

Brightness knob

Read a potentiometer on P1 and set the LED brightness.

Brightness knob project
Illustration of the finished idea. Build from the diagram and connection table, not the photo.

Lesson goal: Read analogReadPin(P1) (0..1023) and copy it to analogWritePin(P0).

Open MakeCode

Section 1

Understand

  • potentiometer
  • voltage divider
  • analog input
  • ratio to supply
  • 1Knob outer legs to 3V and GND, middle leg to P1.
  • 2analog read gives 0–1023 and sets the LED brightness.
  • 3Voltage shown is a rough estimate.

Safety first

  • Unplug the USB cable before you add, move or remove any wire. Plug back in only after an adult or you have re-checked every connection against the table.
  • micro:bit pins are 3 V logic. Never connect 5 V, a battery pack or anything from a 5 V supply to any ring, port or the 3V ring.
  • The pot's outer legs go to 3V and GND only, never to 5 V.