6116

A simple Back to the Future inspired Flux Capacitor LED effect built around a PIC12F683 microcontroller.

This project uses 3 lines of 5 LEDs arranged in a Y configuration to visually resemble the famous Flux Capacitor from the DeLorean time machine. The LEDs run a smooth one-direction chase effect with fade-in and fade-out, and a push button allows the user to cycle through 5 different speed presets.


Features
  • Flux Capacitor inspired LED layout
  • 3 branches of 5 LEDs in a Y configuration
  • Smooth fade-in / fade-out animation
  • One-direction chase effect
  • 5 selectable speed presets
  • Push button speed control
  • Runs from 5V
  • Uses a PIC12F683 with internal oscillator
  • No external crystal required

Project Concept
The goal of this project was to create a compact LED effect inspired by the Flux Capacitor from Back to the Future.

The LEDs are arranged as three arms in a Y shape, with 5 LEDs per arm, giving the appearance of energy flowing through the Flux Capacitor. The chase effect and soft fades help recreate the look of the animated light movement.


Hardware

Microcontroller
  • PIC12F683

Controls
  • 1 push button for speed selection

Power
  • 5V supply

LED Arrangement
The physical build consists of:

  • 3 LED branches
  • 5 LEDs per branch
  • Total: 15 LEDs
These are arranged in a Y configuration to mimic the Flux Capacitor shape.

Firmware Behaviour
The firmware creates a smooth chasing light effect with fade-in and fade-out transitions.

  • LEDs animate in one direction
  • Each step fades in, holds briefly, and fades out
  • The push button cycles through 5 speed presets
  • Designed to give the impression of energy flowing through the Flux Capacitor arms

Speed Control
A push button is connected to the PIC input and used to cycle between 5 preset animation speeds:

  1. Very fast
  2. Fast
  3. Medium
  4. Slow
  5. Very slow

PIC Configuration
The project uses the internal oscillator of the PIC12F683, so no external crystal is needed.

Important configuration settings:

  • Oscillator: INTOSCIO
  • Watchdog Timer: OFF
  • MCLR: Disabled
  • Power-up Timer: ON recommended
  • Code Protection: OFF

Tools Used
  • MPLAB X IDE
  • XC8 compiler
  • PIC programmer (PICkit or compatible)

Applications
This project is suitable for:

  • Back to the Future props
  • Decorative electronics
  • Learning PIC microcontroller programming
  • LED animation experiments
  • Custom light effects for enclosures or display builds

Inspiration
Inspired by the iconic Flux Capacitor from the Back to the Future films.


Future Improvements
Possible future upgrades:

  • brightness control
  • sound-reactive mode
  • random pulse mode
  • startup animation
  • larger LED arrays
  • PCB version shaped like a Flux Capacitor