KY-016 RGB 5mm LED

This LED module contains red, blue and green LEDs that are connected via a common cathode. The red LED has a forward voltage of 1.8 V, while the green and blue LEDs each require 2.8 V. All LEDs operate at a forward current of 20 mA. With this module, you can create different colors by adjusting the brightness of the individual LEDs. It is ideal for applications where visual signals or colored displays are required. The common cathode makes it easy to connect and integrate into various projects, whether for decorative lighting, status displays or other creative applications.

Depending on the input voltage, series resistors are required.

Pin assignment

Code example (ON/OFF)

This code example shows how the integrated LEDs can be changed alternately, in 3 seconds cycles, by means of a definable output pin.

# Required modules are imported and set up
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
   
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
   
# Here the output pin is declared, to which the LEDs are connected.
LED_ROT = 25
LED_GREEN = 24
LED_BLUE = 23
 
GPIO.setup(LED_ROT, GPIO.OUT, initial= GPIO.LOW)
GPIO.setup(LED_GRUEN, GPIO.OUT, initial= GPIO.LOW)
GPIO.setup(LED_BLUE, GPIO.OUT, initial= GPIO.LOW)
   
print ("LED test [press CTRL+C to exit test]")
  
# main program loop
try:
    while True:
        print("LED RED 3 seconds on")
        GPIO.output(LED_ROT,GPIO.HIGH) #LED is turned on
        GPIO.output(LED_GRUEN,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        GPIO.output(LED_BLUE,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        time.sleep(3) # wait mode for 4 seconds
        print("LED GREEN 3 seconds on") 
        GPIO.output(LED_ROT,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        GPIO.output(LED_GRUEN,GPIO.HIGH) #LED is switched on
        GPIO.output(LED_BLUE,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        time.sleep(3) #wait mode for 3 seconds
        print("LED BLUE 3 seconds on") 
        GPIO.output(LED_ROT,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        GPIO.output(LED_GRUEN,GPIO.LOW) #LED is switched on
        GPIO.output(LED_BLUE,GPIO.HIGH) #LED is switched on
        time.sleep(3) #wait mode for 3 seconds
   
# clean up after the program is finished
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    GPIO.cleanup()

Code example (PWM)

Pulse width modulation [PWM] can be used to regulate the brightness of an LED - in this process, the LED is switched on and off at specific time intervals, with the ratio of the switch-on and switch-off times corresponding to a relative brightness. Due to the inertia of human vision, human eyes interpret such on/off behavior as a change in brightness. More information on this topic can be found in this article by Analog IC Tips.

Several LEDs are integrated in this module - different colors can thus be created by superimposing different brightness levels. This is shown in the following code example.

# Required modules are imported and set up
import random, time 
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
   
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM) 
  
# Here we declare the output pin to which the LEDs are connected.
LED_Red = 25
LED_Green = 24
LED_blue = 23
   
# Set pins to output mode
GPIO.setup(LED_Red, GPIO.OUT) 
GPIO.setup(LED_Green, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.setup(LED_Blue, GPIO.OUT)
   
Freq = 100 #Hz
   
# The respective colors are initialized.
RED = GPIO.PWM(LED_Red, Freq) 
GREEN = GPIO.PWM(LED_Green, Freq)
BLUE = GPIO.PWM(LED_Blue, Freq)
RED.start(0)  
GREEN.start(0)
BLUE.start(0)
   
# This function generates the actual color
# By means of the respective color variable, the color intensity can be changed
# After the color was set, by means of "time.sleep" the time is defined,
# how long the said color is to be indicated
  
def LED_Color(Red, Green,Blue, pause):
    RED.ChangeDutyCycle(Red)
    GREEN.ChangeDutyCycle(Green)
    BLUE.ChangeDutyCycle(Blue)
    time.sleep(pause)
  
    RED.ChangeDutyCycle(0)
    GREEN.ChangeDutyCycle(0)
    
print ("LED test [press CTRL+C to end test]")
   
# Main program loop:
# This has the task to create a separate variable for each color
# and by means of a for-loop to run through the color intensity of each single color from 0-100
# By the mixtures of the different brightness levels of the respective colors
# thus a color gradient is created
try:
    while True:
        for x in range(0,2):
            for y in range(0,2):
                for z in range(0,2):
                    print (x,y,z)
                    for i in range(0,101):
                        LED_Color((x*i),(y*i),(z*i),.02)
   
# Clean up after the program is finished
except KeyboardInterrupt:
        GPIO.cleanup()