How to Drive 20+ LEDs with 555 & CD4017 ICs! 🛠️ #arduino #experiment #digitalroulette

Name: How to Drive 20+ LEDs with 555 & CD4017 ICs! 🛠️ #arduino #experiment #digitalroulette
Uploaded: 2026-09-06T08:45:34.614Z
Duration: 2 min 30 s
Channel: Crazy Couple DIY

Crazy Couple DIY

48 followers

1 Video View·Sep 6, 2026

Want to drive 20, 50, or even 100 LEDs in a chasing sequence using 555 Timer and CD4017 Decade Counter ICs? 💡🔧

This tutorial covers the entire process, from designing the PCB layout to soldering the components for a perfect LED sequence. It is the perfect project for hobbyists looking to level up their electronics skills with classic timing ICs.

Check out the schematic and component list in the pinned comment below.

👇 Watch the full detailed tutorial & schematic guide here:
https://youtu.be/paxPiBps6Mk

Don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more DIY electronics projects! 🚀

A chaser circuit consists of a clocked IC or other electronic unit like an Arduino that drives an array of LEDs in such a way that the individual LEDs or small group of LEDs turn on and off in a predetermined and repeating sequence. In this tutorial, I am going to create a chaser circuit that can drive 20 or more LEDs using 555 timer IC and 4017 decade counter. Using an EDA, I designed the circuit board for this project. The board has three sections. Starting from left to right, the first section is for powering up the board using a female micro USB socket. The second section generates the clock pulse using the 555 timer IC. The third section is for the 4017 ICs and for connecting the cluster of LEDs. Let's start soldering the components from the left to right of the board. Let's first solder the micro USB socket to the board. Then let's solder the IC base for the 555 timer IC and the resistances to the board. Next, let's solder the 3mm red LED and the 33uF capacitor to the board. Now, let's solder the IC bases for the 24017 ICs to the board. Since I care a lot about my ICs and microcontrollers, I never solder them directly to the board. In case of an IC, I always try to use IC bases or if a base is not available, I use female pin headers. For this demo, I am going to create a chasing effect using 20 LEDs. So, I'll be adding 2 transistors and 200 ohm or 200 ohm resistors to the board. Since I will be using HAT for connecting the LEDs to the board, I need to solder 3 male pin headers to the three sides of the board. That's pretty much all I have to do on the main board. Now, let's solder the components to the HAT. To slide the HAT on top of the main board, we need to solder female pin headers to the sides of the HAT. Since my plan is to create the chasing effect using 20 LEDs, I am soldering female pin headers to the first two columns of the HAT. As discussed earlier, we need to jump the second column of the HAT to reset the circuit once it finishes the second cycle. If we need to add another 10 LEDs, then we would have jumped the third column and so on. So, this is how my final setup looks like. Let's slide the 20 LEDs into the female pin headers and fire up the circuit. Bingo! Job done. The possibilities are endless. And I know you guys have a lot going on in your mind. So, what are you waiting for? Do comment and let me know if there are any scopes of improvement.