Easy

Two-LED Alternating Flasher

Two LEDs that blink back and forth, no IC required — just two transistors in a classic astable multivibrator circuit. A great exercise for understanding how a transistor oscillator actually works.

Circuit Diagram

+9V Q1 1K LED1 Q2 1K LED2 100uF (C1: Q1 coll → Q2 base) 100uF (C2: Q2 coll → Q1 base) 4.7K → +9V 4.7K → +9V

How to Build It

  1. Place the two NPN transistors (2N3904) on the breadboard, a few centimeters apart.
  2. Connect each transistor's emitter to the negative rail (GND).
  3. Connect transistor 1's collector through a 1K resistor to the positive rail, then connect LED 1 in parallel with that resistor (anode toward +).
  4. Repeat identically for transistor 2 with LED 2.
  5. Connect a 100uF capacitor from transistor 1's collector to transistor 2's base.
  6. Connect a second 100uF capacitor from transistor 2's collector to transistor 1's base.
  7. Connect each transistor's base through a 4.7K resistor to the positive rail.
  8. Power with 9V — the LEDs should blink alternately, one after the other.

Bill of Materials

ProductCodeQty
Capacitor (electrolytic/ceramic/SMD/film) 860020674015 2
LED (3/5/10mm, SMD, power) OSR5PA5111A 2
Resistor DR100R-418 2
Resistor #N/A 2
Transistor (incl. IGBT) 2
← All kits  ·  Newsletter