i would like to hook-up 100 rgb leds for a project.. how would i do that? what resistors would i need and how many?
example:
10 x 10 grid of rgb leds.. (100 rgb leds)
trust me,i would love to tell you the project... but for now i cannot, so please bare with me.
eventually it will consist of 400 or more, yes it's for a game idea.. eventually you'll know what it is, but i would like to just get it started and such, then i can post pics for further assistance.
oh, and yes.. eventually it'll have to run without the arduino.. the power supply will be batteries.. i would like it to run with a power supply also if needed.. you know how kids go through batteries.. there may be a day that there are no batteries available... lol for now i would like to focus on the led grids.. there will be 2 grids (maybe 4 - if i make it 2 sided), but i need to know how to hook up 1 grid first.. unless there is a way to hookup both grids at the same time... that would be awesome!
ps: at some point, i may want this thing to have wifi to play against another unit... but that's far away at this point to get into...
thank you in advance!
multi rgb led hookup help needed..
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multi rgb led hookup help needed..
Last edited by Ruffsta on Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
actually, i just came across this.. i don't know how well this would work for me, but it does make sense..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NgAfY0TlHw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NgAfY0TlHw
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
That video shows how to build a matrix where all the leds are controlled together.
Do you need individual RGB control of each led, or will they be controlled in groups?
Do you need full dimming capability for Red, Green and Blue, or just simple on/off control?
Do you need individual RGB control of each led, or will they be controlled in groups?
Do you need full dimming capability for Red, Green and Blue, or just simple on/off control?
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
controlled individually, they also change colors individually... simple on/off
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
Starting with discrete RGB leds, you are looking at 100 RGB leds, 300 resistors, and 300 I/O pins to drive them. The leds and resistors are straightforward enough. 300 I/O pins is a little more involved. The Arduino has 20. The Mega still only 69. You will need some port expanders like the MCP23017. You can chain up to 8 of these on an i2c bus for 128 pins. Using 'softI2C, you can create multiple i@c busses to get beyond that.
Some customers have built matrices using led strips or pixel strands arranged in a grid. These only require a couple of pins to drive so it would simplify the circuitry considerably.
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1138
https://www.adafruit.com/products/306
https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main ... xel+strand
We also have pre-built RGB led matrix panels with 512 and 1024 leds.
https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main ... led+matrix
Some customers have built matrices using led strips or pixel strands arranged in a grid. These only require a couple of pins to drive so it would simplify the circuitry considerably.
https://www.adafruit.com/products/1138
https://www.adafruit.com/products/306
https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main ... xel+strand
We also have pre-built RGB led matrix panels with 512 and 1024 leds.
https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main ... led+matrix
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
curious, is there a way to contact you or staff in general privately? i don't see a PM button in your profile..
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
Our on-line support, like our products, is all 'open source'. For private engineering services, there is our Jobs Board: http://www.adafruit.com/jobs/
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
it's not for that, it's to show/explain exactly what i am trying to accomplish without saying what it is in the open... but your responses can be public.. just don't want to give out the project idea out at the moment. i think if you knew exactly what it was, you would see i that i don't need 300 resistors and all that, that you mentioned...
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
So if I wanted a big matrix, I could use a 'x LED strand' and use 'x' amount of strips and only need 'x' amount of I/O pins and I can control each led individually? I've never used strips or a matrix. Just never had a reason to, so I haven't thought about them much. But that's awesome. And I would have the same control as if I just used single led's all with their own I/O pin?by adafruit_support » 19 Dec 2012 21:11
Some customers have built matrices using led strips or pixel strands arranged in a grid. These only require a couple of pins to drive so it would simplify the circuitry considerably.
Is there a tutorial for that? I took a look but didn't see one for matrices. I saw the bedazzler and a few strip led ones. If no Tutorials, how bout just a direction to look in. I'm happy to read whatever I have to read to learn on my own.I plan to read them all eventually. I like the 8x8's w/ backpack in the store too. Ha, it's on my list, along with pretty much everything else.
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
@Syn7 - you can control the whole matrix with just 2 pins. Each led would be individually addressable.
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.ph ... 1&p=128683
@Ruffsta - If they are individually controllable, you need current limiting for each one (and an RGB led is really 3 separate leds in one package). A resistor is the simplest & cheapest way to limit current in an LED circuit.
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.ph ... 1&p=128683
@Ruffsta - If they are individually controllable, you need current limiting for each one (and an RGB led is really 3 separate leds in one package). A resistor is the simplest & cheapest way to limit current in an LED circuit.
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
so each rgb led needs 2/3 resistors each? so many resistors to choose from tho..
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
The resistor calculations are described here: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/LEDs.html
Or use one of the many handy calculators on the net: http://ledcalc.com/
Or use one of the many handy calculators on the net: http://ledcalc.com/
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Re: multi rgb led hookup help needed..
Hey, thanx. Much appreciated. So much info there. Love how it ends.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.