Lighting Things Up with RGB LED Strips
I alluded to this side project in some of previous posts.  The goal was to replicate a feature of the Alienware computers: Graphical user interface (GUI) control over the case lighting. Well I am pleased to announce I am half way there, with a working programmable LED controller!
These are the parts I used:
-Analog RGB Strip from Sparkfun $15.95
-3x +12V Fixed-Voltage Regulator from Radio Shack $6
-Teensy USB Development Board from PJRC $16
-Molex Connector for Computer Hookup from Oznium (Only needed in you want to power your controller using your computer power supply, otherwise a 9V battery will work)
These last parts don't have a price because I had them already or purchased them in a pack of many
-Small square of Lexan from Home Depot
-Circular perf board and screw down terminal from Radio Shack
To make the controller I followed this tutorial. However I substituted the Arudino with the Teensy and used an external power source since I wanted it to be powered by my computer and also the Teensy lacks the voltage.
After testing the circuit on a breadboard I soldered everything to the perf board to make it more permanent. Since the back of the board wasn't even I mounted it to a square of lexan I cut with my Dremel. I sprayed the back of the lexan black to prevent scratches showing and to give the front a gloss black look.
Here are three tips if you choose to do this project:
The black wire attached to the RGB LED strip is positive although that color wire usually designates negative or ground.
Use hot glue to strengthen the wires from strip on the board so they don't break
For some reason when I tried to write my own code for the lights I needed to put the numbers as negatives! (If anyone can tell me why I would appreciate it)
Here is the arduino code I use for selecting a single color just replace the X's with numbers from 1 to 255 to light them up. (You made need to change the pins based on your setup)
int r = X; //Red Strength
int g = X; //Green Strength
int b = X; //Blue Strength
//pin assignments
int REDPIN = 14;
int GREENPIN = 12;
int BLUEPIN = 15;
void setup() {
 pinMode(REDPIN, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(GREENPIN, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(BLUEPIN, OUTPUT);
}
//conversion from pos to neg
int r2 = 0 - r;
int g2 = 0 - g;
int b2 = 0 - b;
 Â
void loop() {
 analogWrite(REDPIN, r2);
 analogWrite(GREENPIN, g2);
 analogWrite(BLUEPIN, b2);
}
The next step in this project is to create a GUI...
amandla
baratheonpilled
prguitarman