How to Control an LED Using a Button with Arduino Mega

🧰 Components List

This simple project requires just a few basic components to create your first interactive circuit:

Essential components:

• Arduino Mega: The microcontroller board that will process the button input
• Push Button: Momentary switch to control the LED
• LED: Any color you prefer
• 220 ohm Resistor: Current limiter for the LED
• 10K ohm Resistor: Pull-down resistor for the button (optional with internal pull-up)
• Breadboard & Jumper Wires: For easy circuit assembly

🔌 Circuit Diagram

💻 Arduino Code Example

const int buttonPin = 2;  // Push button connected to digital pin 2
const int ledPin = 13;    // LED connected to digital pin 13

int buttonState = 0;      // Variable to store button status

void setup() {
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);      // Set LED pin as output
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP); // Set button pin as input with internal pull-up
}

void loop() {
buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin); // Read button state

if (buttonState == LOW) {  // Button is pressed (LOW because of pull-up)
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn LED ON
} else {
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);  // Turn LED OFF
}
}

Note: We're using the Arduino's internal pull-up resistor, so the button connects between the input pin and GND.

📘 Project Notebook Template

• Project Title:
• Date:
• My Objective:
• Materials I Used:
• Circuit Diagram:
• My Custom Pattern Idea:
• What I Learned:
• Challenges I Solved:

🛠 Troubleshooting Tips

• ✅ Check LED polarity (long leg to +, short to GND)
• ✅ Verify button connections (should connect between input pin and GND)
• ✅ If using external resistor, ensure proper wiring (10K for pull-down)
• ✅ Test with Serial.println(buttonState) to debug button readings
• ✅ Try different digital pins if one isn't working

🎓 Learn More

Enhance your skills with our Arduino Beginners Course: https://www.madrasacademy.com/arduino-adventures-beginners-course