A circuit intended to work on 9 volts would probably work well if you put some diodes in series to drop the voltage 3 volts. BUT there may be another issue if it is intended to work off of a standard 9 volt battery, which is that it will probably not be bright enough. So while that might be a cheap way to go, I would first investigate the return options before buying one.

 

What you are describing is called a bar graph display. If you reduce the requirement to 7 LEDs max, then the circuit reduces down to an 8-bit (actually, a dual 4-bit) shift register, a 7-section driver transistor array, and a clock.
CD4015
ULN2004
LMC555
The 8th shift register output is used to reset the register and turn off all LEDs for the next cycle. What is your skill set for assembling a small circuit on perf-board?

There is another, more analog-gy way that uses a bar graph display chip, but it is a more complex circuit.

ak

 

This will not be on a road vehicle, off road only. I don't take the chance at all.
Rob

We need to know how much current the LEDs will require.
What type of LEDs will you be using? Do you have a part number?

eT

 

Here is another LED bargraph which may or may not be based on my " Stacker" from 2009. May want to add a power on reset.

 

View attachment 160616 Here is another LED bargraph which may or may not be based on my " Stacker" from 2009. May want to add a power on reset.

Hi

For the TS benefit:
Needs a current limiting resistor at each mosfet output between drain and load.

eT

 

Hi

For the TS benefit:
Needs a current limiting resistor at each mosfet output between drain and load.

eT

At least one of the sequential display ICs has a cumulative bar graph mode, where the LEDs can all be in a series string.. So for the original request, the question is which mode they want, one traveling light or a growing string?

 

I've built several of these for my motorcycles.
Both turn signals and tail / brake light.
In US, never had a LEO say anything about them.
Properly built bright, I think they're better than incandescent stock.
G.H. <<<)))

 

Post # 24, Stacker 2, a nice re draw by Wendy ?, of Stacker 1. Might change C1 to 1 uF to give about 1 sec. cycle time. LED driver in original ULN2804, 8 stages.
LED color, red , amber, or ?
Amber, PLCC2, Cree, SMD, 2.5V @50 mA, , " Super Bright", 50 for US $ 4.00, Electronic Goldmine.

 

A "super bright" LED is a cheap ordinary Chinese LED in a focussed case so that the beam is very narrow and bright. Not good for a motor vehicle because it cannot be seen at an angle.