LED Fade In-Out Demo

When this circuit is connected correctly, the light should fade in when you push the button and fade out when you release the button.

The Circuit

When you push the button, the capacitor starts to charge through resistor R1. As the capacitor charges, the LED will go from off to gradually turning on.

When you release the button, the battery gets disconnected and the LED gets powered by the capacitor instead. As the capacitor discharges, the voltage across it decreases and the LED fades out.

Parts List

Reference Value
BAT1 9V
C1 1000µF
D1 Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
R1 470
R2 470
SW1 Pushbutton

The Layout

Here's one way to connect this circuit on a breadboard.

Created: Nov 26, 2025 | Updated: Nov 26, 2025 |