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Light Up Your Life Challenge

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Design a prototype or test rig using Würth Elektronik’s SMD LEDs with Integrated WL-ICLED Controller.

10 selected participants will receive a selection of Würth Elektronik SMD size WL-ICLEDs with Integrated Controller, along with an Arduino Zero, a Power Supply and more free of charge to help you bring your project to life.

This challenge will likely include SMD soldering, Reflow Soldering and PCB Design.

For the chance to win one of the prizes below, you must blog your build process and the final outcome of your Project that showcases features of WL-ICLED Controllers in the most imaginative way possible. Good and imaginative uses of the WL-ICLED Controller features will be graded more favorably.

Examples tasks that can be performed include but are not limited to:

  • Home Appliances
  • Industrial Control Systems
  • Smart Lighting
  • Gaming Peripherals
  • Decorative Lighting
  • Smart Home Monitoring/Notification

See the Example Application for tips on completing your entry form.

Click the Enroll button on the right to apply to be an official challenger!

The Prizes

Prizes are subject to change but will be of similar price and style.

Prize Prize Category

Grand Prize Winner

Approximate Value $1,168 USD*

Handheld Multicomp Pro Tablet Oscilloscope (MP720645)
4 Channel, 100 MHz, 1 GSPS, 40 Mpts

Digital Multicomp Pro Dual-Channel Soldering and Hot Air Station (MP740907)
Rework System, 2-Channel, 230 V, 800 W, 100 °C to 500 °C

Multicomp Pro Magnifier (LC9090LED)
LED, 3 Dioptre, 5 Dioptre Magnification, 125 cm Arm, EU, UK Plug

Runner-Up Prize

Approximate Value $724 USD*

Handheld Multicomp Pro Tablet Oscilloscope (MP720645)
4 Channel, 100 MHz, 1 GSPS, 40 Mpts

Finisher Prize**

To be a finisher you must complete 5 forum posts and a project article post demonstrating your project.

Approximate Value $80 USD*

Helping Hand with Large Magnifier (MP012468)
3x Magnification, 90mm Dia

Heat Shrink Tubing Kit (MC36420)
175 pieces
*Or local equivalent
**Grand Prize and Runner Up winners will also earn the finisher prize.

The Kit

Our 10 sponsored Challengers will get the following kit free of charge to incorporate into their project.

The Sponsored Kit Quantity

Würth Elektronik 1315050930002

LED, AlInGaP, InGaN, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 120 °, Round, R 13mA, G 13mA, B 13mA

Buy now

25

Würth Elektronik 1313210530000

LED, AlInGaP, InGaN, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 120 °, Dome, R 5.5mA, G 5.5mA, B 5.5mA

Buy now

25

Würth Elektronik 1312020030000

LED, AlInGaP, InGaN, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 120 °, Square, R 5.5mA, G 5.5mA, B 5.5mA

Buy now

25

Würth Elektronik 1312121320437

LED, AlInGaP, InGaN, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 110 °, Square, R 20mA, G 20mA, B 20mA

Buy now

25

Würth Elektronik 1315050930246

LED, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 120 °, Round, R 21mA, G 21mA, B 21mA

Buy now

25

Würth Elektronik 1311610030140

LED, Red, Green, Blue, SMD, 120 °, Square, R 6mA, G 6mA, B 6mA

Buy now

25

5050 LED breakout PCB

PCB is .8mm/.03" thick, with ~10mm/0.4" spacing between the two rows.

Learn more

50

Multicomp Pro MCBB830K

Solderless Breadboard, ABS, 1 mm, 105 mm, 183 mm

Buy now

2

Texas Instruments TXS0108EPWR

Level Translator, 8 Inputs, 4.8 ns, 50 mA, 1.65 V to 5.5 V, -40 to 85 °C, TSSOP-20

Buy now

1

Arduino Zero (ABX00003)

SBC, Arduino Zero, ATSAMD21G18, ARM Cortex M0+, 32bit, 32KB RAM, 256KB Flash, 20 I/O pins

Buy now

1

Power Supply with Interchangeable Plugs (MP007771)

AC/DC Power Supply, ITE, 1 Output, 24 W, 9 VDC, 2.5 A

Buy now

1

 Additional input from Würth Elektronik will be provided to the ten applicants selected as Challengers.

The Dates

Project Phases Dates
Application Period 30th June 2025
Application Deadline 8th August 2025
Challengers Announced 15th August 2025
Build Period 25th August - 26th October 2025
Projects Due Midnight 26th October 2025 UK time
Winners Announced 31st October 2025
Prizes Shipped November 2025

The Challenge Requirements

10 applicants will be chosen to receive the kit above and these successful applicants will be our sponsored Challengers who must use the Würth Elektronik WL-ICLEDs within their project. All challengers are encouraged to regularly post their build progress— with 5 forum posts or more plus a project post before the closing date. Posts which are media-rich with Photos, Videos and Code samples will be viewed more favorably in the judging process.

Apply to join the challenge now by clicking the Enroll button on the right!

If you are not successful in becoming an official Challenger but still want to enter, you can purchase the kit as described above and adhere to the same Terms and Conditions to still be in the running to win! All contestants are eligible for the Winner and Finisher prizes.

The Judges

element14 Community Judges
element14 Community Team
Community logo

The Terms

This challenge will likely include SMD soldering, Reflow Soldering and PCB Design.

Please read the full terms and conditions attached below.

About The Sponsor

Würth Elektronik eiSos Group is a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical components for the electronics industry and a technology company that spearheads pioneering electronic solutions. Würth Elektronik eiSos is one of the largest European manufacturers of passive components and is active in 50 countries.

Learn more about their technologies here.

Anonymous
  • in reply to robogary

    I would use custom PCB's that fit together in a shape for the LEDs - connected to a cable so the controller could be a bit remote.

  • in reply to obones

    We agree! We are looking for 10 challengers that most likely have Reflow and SMD experience or an eagerness to learn.

    Don't worry though, we are keeping this all in mind and expectations for applications (and what eventual completed projects could look like) are set accordingly.

  • in reply to embeddedguy

    The project that best uses the kit and technology will be the winner. You can use as many or as few pieces of the kit as you need to bring your proposed project to life. I'd be happy to expand on this if it would be useful but I hope that makes sense Slight smile

  • in reply to misaz

    Hey I am back and this is a great question. Not to peel back the curtain a little bit, but as this competition developed we realized that although there the primary focus is certainly on the technology from Würth Elektronik, we would still love to see the creative projects you could create, instead of just exploring the technology.

    With that said, we are keeping in mind what's required for this challenge and have realistic expectations on what can be achieved with the kit in the time allowed. I hope that helps!

  • in reply to misaz

    Hi misaz, thanks for listing that out, that will be really helpful for other challengers. 

    This is part of the challenge to see what you can do with these technologies, we are rounding up technical documentation to help but the WL-ICELED platform page is here and can help answer any more questions:

    https://www.we-online.com/en/components/products/WL-ICLED 

  • in reply to manojroy123

    Hey manojroy123, hope you are well! Thank you for asking :)

    WL-ICLED is a type of Integrated Controller within LED from Würth Elektronik.

    They list the specs as:

    • Compatible with open source libraries such as FastLED
    • Ready to use with pre-programmed IC
    • 0% to 100% digital dimming via command
    • Individual pixel colour and brightness control
    • Full RGB spectrum
    • Standard pin configuration 

    They also have links to the Specs and Github here:

    https://www.we-online.com/en/components/products/WL-ICLED

    I hope this helps! Nicola from Würth Elektronik and I are both here to assist answering questions and share further details.

  • in reply to dougw

    How would you approach mounting 150 LEDs on your project ? A daughter board, part of a main board, flexible PCB ? a matrix arrangement, linear , distributed ?  

  • This looks like a great kit of parts that will allow some very interesting applications. I have a bucket list project that needs programmable RGB LEDs, Unfortunately that project would need all 150 LEDs to be the same type, so this kit wouldn't fit. I am looking forward to see what the contestants do with the kit though. 

  • in reply to asokfair

    It would be interesting to see the difference between the 3 wire and 4 wire leds side by side, simultaneously 

  • I think , it's better to go with custom PCB to showcase working of all LEDS.