Project: Control a grid of RGB LED Modules using an Arduino
For this project I'll describe how to hook up 25 of our 12mm RGB modules and
control them any way you like using an Arduino Duemilanove. All the LEDs can be contolled using just two data pins from an Arduino. This grid could be
almost any size you like - you could make a GIANT one using our larger LED
modules and run hundreds or thousands of them. Best yet, little or no soldering as the LEDs come pre-wired!
The LEDs need power. Blue wire = GND and RED wire is 5 Volt. SInce we're not running many LEDs we'll take that straight off the Arduino. Note that
you don't want to overload the Arduino, so if you are using more LEDs you'll
need a power supply that is large enough to run them all. In this case , share the GND with the Arduino but hook
the 5V from the power supply to the LEDs.
Each 12mm LED can pull a maximum of 60mA at full brightness, white light- so
don't go running it in 6th gear for too long for this particular example.
Connect the yellow wire to 11 (Data) and the green wire to 12 (Clock)
You can change which pins you'd like to use in the example code below.
For simplicity, the code uses our LEDPixels library:
http://code.google.com/p/arduino-rgb-pixels/
Download, unzip and put the unzipped directory
into the Libraries directory within the Arduino directory.
Now, start a new Arduino Sketch and paste in the example code below. Compile.
Upload. Enjoy!
All done - enjoy!
|