software resources for science and technology education

Mr Bit Downloads for Kitronik ZIP LEDs Experiments

The Kitronik ZIP LEDs are addressable RGB LEDs which can be programmed to create any colour in the visible spectrum.  The add-on kit for the Inventor’s Kit contain two sticks of 5 LEDs and a ring of 12 LEDs.  The kit describes 10 experiments for controlling the LEDs and their colours.  The micro:bit program required to make each experiment work can be created using the Mr Bit ‘Plain English’ method and there is a simple editor for instructing ZIP LEDs.  The ready-made files below offer solutions for each experiment.  They may be downloaded directly into Insight Mr Bit.

1 - Switching an LED On and Off

Buttons A and B are used here to switch an LED on and off.  The ZIP stick has five RGB LEDs and the Mr Bit program specifies which ones get switched on.

2 - Changing an LED’s Colour

Each button gives a different colour pattern.  The Mr Bit program specifies the colours and the pattern.

Download notes about the Mr Bit programs for the experiments

3 - Making an LED move

The colours move as you hold down a button.  You can check out the Mr Bit program to see how the colours and movement are specified.

4 - Controlling Multiple LEDs

Each time you press button A, the colour pattern changes.  Button B shows a spectrum of colours.  A right click in the program text panel shows all the Mr Bit instructions.

5 - Controlling Two ZIP Sticks

At the press of a button, an LED pattern shows for a set time of 2 seconds.  A right click in the program text panel shows all the Mr Bit instructions.

6 - Display Sensor Readings

The BBC micro:bit has several sensors on board: the LED matrix can detect  light level and an accelerometer can detect the angle of tilt of the micro:bit.  The readings from these sensors are used to light up the LEDs on the ZIP sticks; the bigger the reading, the more LEDs light up.

7 - Spin Around the ZIP Ring

Each button gives the effect of an LED moving around the ZIP Ring.  The Mr Bit programs use the rotation options for moving the LEDs, clockwise and anti-clockwise.

8 - Displaying a Rainbow

The buttons each control a rotating pattern, but the brightness depends upon the angle at which the micro:bit is being held.  In Run mode, a click on the tilt box alters the tilt (roll) angle.

1 - Make colour patterns

Define all five colours in a ZIP stick and make the patterns change every time a button is pressed.

2 - Rotating colour patterns

Create several patterns of five colours and make them rotate in different directions round a ZIP stick.

More Mr Bit Experiments for Kitronik ZIP LEDs

3 - Shifting patterns

4 - Scrolling patterns

5 - Bouncing patterns

6 - Control colours in 2 ZIP sticks

Create a sequence of colours alternating between two ZIP sticks as a button is pressed.

7 - Fading colours in 2 ZIP sticks

Control the brightness of the LEDs in two ZIP sticks so that the colours fade in and fade out.

8 - Colour chase in a ZIP ring

Make two sets of colours chase each other round the ring as the micro:bit buttons are pressed.

9 - Rainbow show in a ZIP ring

Make the 12 LEDs perform a sequence of a variety of flashing and movement operations using all the colours of the rainbow.

EXPERIMENT BOX

Have fun connecting sensors and LEDs to your micro:bit.

© 2024 Insight Resources