Hello everyone, thank you for taking the time to look at my problem. I want to make a lamp that will have "pulsing" LEDs (red,green, and blue) that can be turned on individually to create different colors, as well as just having a constant on/non-pulsing state. First I made a simulation with one LED -- and it worked just as I expected it to, Figure 1 (I sourced this circuit from an instructable).
Figure 1: Circuit version 1
Now here's where I have some questions: naturally I thought of just connecting two more LED's in parallel with a 3-DIP switch in between the transistor and LEDs, Figure 2.
The result would be that in the pulsing state I could create multiple colors combining the red, green and blue LEDs. Is it bad practice to connect the LEDs to one transistor? Should I use three separate transistors? Currently I don't think there is an issue with the amount of current being drawn from the single emitter branch to "fuel" all three LEDs, but I'm not 100% sure.
Figure 2: Initial circuit for second revision with issues,
Also, in my simulation for Figure 2, sometimes the transistor's collector current fluctuates between 200 pico amps to 1 nA -- even if I switch the LEDs on, individually or multiple-ly(sp?). I also check the simulation time and switched it to "fast as possible" but to no avail So in other words, it doesn't work at all. (but sometimes it does, ugh!!!)
I greatly appreciate a fresh set of eyes and some knowledge. Thank you!!
Figure 1: Circuit version 1
Now here's where I have some questions: naturally I thought of just connecting two more LED's in parallel with a 3-DIP switch in between the transistor and LEDs, Figure 2.
The result would be that in the pulsing state I could create multiple colors combining the red, green and blue LEDs. Is it bad practice to connect the LEDs to one transistor? Should I use three separate transistors? Currently I don't think there is an issue with the amount of current being drawn from the single emitter branch to "fuel" all three LEDs, but I'm not 100% sure.
Figure 2: Initial circuit for second revision with issues,
Also, in my simulation for Figure 2, sometimes the transistor's collector current fluctuates between 200 pico amps to 1 nA -- even if I switch the LEDs on, individually or multiple-ly(sp?). I also check the simulation time and switched it to "fast as possible" but to no avail So in other words, it doesn't work at all. (but sometimes it does, ugh!!!)
I greatly appreciate a fresh set of eyes and some knowledge. Thank you!!