Made by Souptik!
I built this little project because I wanted a heart-shaped PCB that I could gift to someone. It's a simple LED chaser built around a 555 timer and a CD4017 decade counter. The LEDs light up one after another, creating a blinking animation around the heart.
Built using parts I already had on hand, and manufactured through JLC thanks stasis.
A 555 timer is configured as an oscillator that generates clock pulses. These pulses are fed into a CD4017 decade counter, which turns on one output at a time. Each output drives an LED on the heart, creating a rotating blinking effect. The potentiometer can be adjusted to change the animation speed.
| Part | Purpose | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| PCB | Heart-shaped board that holds all the components | 1 |
| LED | Creates the chasing light effect around the heart | 10 |
| 1kΩ Resistor | Helps set the oscillator timing | 1 |
| 470Ω Resistor | Limits LED current | 1 |
| Potentiometer (RV) | Adjusts the animation speed | 1 |
| 1µF Capacitor | Works with the 555 timer to generate clock pulses | 1 |
| 1x01 Header | Test/debug connection point | 1 |
| 1x02 Header | Power input connector | 1 |
| CD4017 | Sequences the LEDs one after another | 1 |
| NE555P | Generates the clock signal | 1 |
All components were sourced from my existing parts inventory, so the project itself cost me nothing to assemble.
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Components | $0.00 |
| PCB | JLC sponser |
| Total Out-of-Pocket Cost | $0.00 |
I wanted to make something small, simple, and fun that could be gifted to someone. Instead of a regular rectangular PCB, I designed it in the shape of a heart and added a classic 555 + 4017 LED chaser circuit to make it feel a bit more special.
