Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

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Lugen
 
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Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by Lugen »

Hello,

I have no real experience with electronics but I am no stranger to programming in c-like languages.

I'm in the process of customising a respirator of this model.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Anti-dust-Spr ... SwKytZIbwk

The goal is to put rings of neopixels at the bottom of the containers where the filters would normally reside and program them using an arduino of sorts. The only thing I want to do is to animate the colors of the pixels in sequence and if possible use additional hardware inputs to control variables in the program.

Here's a schematic of the space I have to build on. It's quite apparent that I need the smallest components I can get hold on. The battery would need to be stored in one of these as well. Would probably be best to have the battery in one, and the controller in the other.
I don't think I have any space to put any circuits in the mask itself, other than drawing wires between the filter containers.
Image

Basic requirements
[*] On/Off switch
[*] Controller circuit
[*] Battery
[*] Neopixels (either rings or individual, as long as they can be addressed as one)
[*] Wires

Nice to have
[*] Turning wheel or additional switch to use as input in the program.
[*] Audio sensor to use as input in the program.
[*] Rechargeable battery

As the title says. I would like your recommendations on what parts I should buy to realise this project. I understand that I'm asking a lot here but there's so much stuff to choose from and I'm not sure if I know what I need.

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kcl1s
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by kcl1s »

Lugen,
It looks like the 24 pixel ring at 66 mm dia. will just fit inside your canister spots https://www.adafruit.com/product/1586

A protofeather would also fit at 56 mm diagonal measurment. https://www.adafruit.com/product/2771 It would give you the recharge ability, some wiring space and control the neopixels and other inputs/outputs.

It looks like you would be limited to a 500mah battery https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578

I would start with some basic Arduino tutorials on wiring switches and other components as well as using the IDE for programming. https://learn.adafruit.com/series/learn-arduino

Then check out the neopixel uberguide https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neo ... y?view=all

Get a breadboard and some basic components (wires, LEDs, resistors, switches, potentionometer) along with the feather and neopixel rings and have some fun.

Keith
Last edited by kcl1s on Sun Jul 16, 2017 2:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

You may want to take a look at the circuitry for this tutorial as a reference:
https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-e ... k/overview

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kcl1s
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by kcl1s »

Here is a good tutorial on making a on/off switch jumper for your project. https://learn.adafruit.com/on-slash-off ... w?view=all

Keith

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Lugen
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by Lugen »

Thanks! I'll read up on those articles.

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Lugen
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by Lugen »

I'm reading up on batteries and how to calculate how long one will last.
Am I right in concluding that the 500mAh lithium battery with a feather and two 16xNeopixel rings will only last for about an hour? I assume "~18mA constant current drive" means that each pixel consumes 18mA.

Reading about the hazards of Lithium batteries made me have second thoughts about putting it near my face (although the gas mask tutorial didn't seem to show any concern interestingly enough). I'm considering using an external battery pack instead, maybe even cased together with the controller. That would certainly simplify the build of the mask and the cord could be drawn inside the straps and down my back.

Either way I still feel uncertain about lithium batteries. What I'm asking is whether I'm being overly cautious here or if the other types would suit me better. This project is meant to be an accessory used for dancing at clubs and festivals thus should be able to handle some rough use and the risk of getting in contact with sweat.

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kcl1s
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by kcl1s »

If you want to go with an external battery I would use one of the USB phone power banks. Plenty of power and rechargeable. You can use a suitable USB cable to get power to the mask. I would leave the controller in the mask.

Keith

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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

I assume "~18mA constant current drive" means that each pixel consumes 18mA.
That is a maximum of 18mA per color - per pixel. The max for a pixel with R, G and B all at full intensity is about 54mA. But you are not likely to be running them that way full-time, so the actual consumption will likely be much less.

For some excellent advice on getting the most out of battery powered pixel projects, read through this guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/sipping-powe ... e?view=all
Reading about the hazards of Lithium batteries made me have second thoughts about putting it near my face (although the gas mask tutorial didn't seem to show any concern interestingly enough).
All of the cells we carry do have protection circuits. But it is still a good idea to follow some basic safety rules:
* Use a battery rated for at least the discharge rate you expect your project to draw.
* Design your project to protect the battery from physical damage in use.
* Check the battery for any signs of problems (bulging etc) before each use.
* Design your project so that it is easily detached from your body at the first sign of a problem.

That said, NiMH rechargeable packs are a safe alternative and only a little more bulky You can find 4.8v packs and compatible chargers from the major battery vendors.

I'm not a big fan of the USB "power-bank" style packs for portable projects. They are just 3.7v LiPo cells with 5v boost converters. Neopixels will work just fine on 3.7v or 4.8v. There is no need to incur the inefficiency of a boost converter. That 5v only needs to get re-regulated back down to the Vf of the pixels. It is much more efficient to just run straight from the battery.

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Lugen
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by Lugen »

This is a bit off topic but since this forums seems to function as customer service I thought I'd ask it here.
So I've bought a bunch of stuff from the store, started experimenting and things are going well, but these wire strippers,
https://www.adafruit.com/product/147,
they do the job but the plastic handle smells weird, like something I can only describe as "chemical". The smell sticks to my fingers as well and take some hours to wear off. Washing the tool with isopropryl alcohol seems to have weakened the smell and hopefully it will remain so.
I googled around and apparently there's this phenomenon of some chinese plastic products giving off fumes from questionable chemicals. I've thrown away the package since long but I recall it having only asian characters in the writing.
Do you guys have the same problem (as you apparently use them yourselves) and should I be concerned? I've never encountered something like this before.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

I don't have a pair of these on my bench, but I'll check with the other engineers - and with the inventory folks too.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Most of the injection moldable plastics like the handles on these do have some degree of outgassing after molding. Some manufacturers incorporate a 'bake-out' phase as part of their process. I suspect these might benefit from a longer one. Outgassing will diminish over time. You can accelerate the process by leaving them out in the sun for a while.

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Lugen
 
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Re: Neopixel Respirator - Need advice in selecting parts

Post by Lugen »

adafruit_support_bill wrote:Most of the injection moldable plastics like the handles on these do have some degree of outgassing after molding. Some manufacturers incorporate a 'bake-out' phase as part of their process. I suspect these might benefit from a longer one. Outgassing will diminish over time. You can accelerate the process by leaving them out in the sun for a while.
Thanks. I will try that.

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