555 Timer: Police Lights
This circuit is live in Circuit Canvas. Open it to explore every part and wire, or make your own copy to change values, swap parts and build your own version. Free, right in your browser.
This project sets up two flashing LEDs, one red and one blue, to create a police lights effect. You can use this circuit to integrate into a toy, or just to practice your circuit building skills. The circuit is built around a 555 timer in astable mode.
555 Timer: Police Lights Schematic
R1, R2, and C1 sets the flashing speed of the circuit. With the values chosen below, the lights will switch between colors about 7 times per second. Use the 555 Timer Calculator to choose different values if you want it to flash faster or slower.
555 Timer: Police Lights Parts List
How to Build the 555 Timer: Police Lights
Here's how you can connect this circuit on a breadboard. For permanent circuits, I recommend soldering it up on a stripboard or perfboard.
Make it your own
Every circuit here is a live project in Circuit Canvas, not just a picture. Copy this one and change a value, swap a part or move it to a stripboard: the schematic and the breadboard layout are linked, so a part added to one appears in the other.
Or start from a blank canvas and draw your own circuit, with thousands of ready-made parts.