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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: snap2 on July 04, 2016, 05:26:37 pm

Title: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: snap2 on July 04, 2016, 05:26:37 pm
Hello,

I've been been planning my showcase pedestal cabinet for a few months now and have everything ready to roll except I have run into one hurdle. I plan on lighting the cabinet and CP with RGB LEDs and would prefer to run one application to control them all if possible. The controls are Ultralux RBGs and I hope to use addressable LED strips for the cabinet.

I cannot seem to find a solution that will allow to control all of them as one. I'm not entirely familiar with LedBlinky yet as I have not purchased a controller, but understand it will run cabinet lighting.

Could anyone point me in the right direction, if there is one, to a setup (ie. controller and software) that can operate addressable RBG  LEDs? I'm trying to get away from using a separate (ie. Arduino, Blinkytape etc.) for the cabinet lighting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance.
Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: wemr97dl on July 05, 2016, 09:11:45 am
I just went through this with my cabinet and I could not do it, there is nothing I could find to use addressable RGB Strips with LEDBlinky, I tried Nano controllers from ultimarc but LEDBlinky does not work with them, I ended up replacing the addressable strips with regular strips and am working on using a Mosfet to control them with a PAC64led and LedBlinky. Not there yet but will post in my build thread when I get them working
Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: arzoo on July 05, 2016, 09:45:41 pm
I had looked into adding NanoLED support to LEDBlinky but due to limited demand for addressable LEDs, it was just not worth the effort.
Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: snap2 on July 07, 2016, 12:51:34 pm
Thanks! I had hoped to hear different but glad I know now.

Ultimarcs site says the Nanoled is compatible with Ledblinky. Is this incorrect? Or is it just addressable strips that Ledblinky won't run?

Would there be another solution you could recommend to run all LEDs using one software application? Or should I stick with Ledblinky for the CP and look to a separate controller for animated cabinet lighting?

Thanks again for all your advice!
Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: thagerty on July 29, 2016, 11:18:18 am
I just installed addressable LEDS in my virtual pinball cabinet, and boy I would LOVE to see LEDBlinky be able to support them. It would be amazing to be use these strips with arcade and pc games!

Here's some pics and a video to show what it looks like. A game changer for pinball as it offers animations and effects that are triggered by the pinball table itself (via DOF software and Visual Pinball)

The controller I'm using for the addressable LEDS is a Teensy. I also use LED-Wiz to control the other normal RGB LED strips, solenoids, beacon, strobes, and other toys in the cabinet. My control panel LEDS are NOT controlled and just connected to a switch.

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/LED%20channel.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/LED%20channel.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/Joined%20LED%20strips.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/Joined%20LED%20strips.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/Back%20Matrix.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/Back%20Matrix.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/matrix%20in%20cabinet.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/matrix%20in%20cabinet.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/matrix%20and%20side%20strip.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/matrix%20and%20side%20strip.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/tinted%20plexi%20glass.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/tinted%20plexi%20glass.jpg.html)


(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/PBX%20Demo.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/PBX%20Demo.jpg.html)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/ADD%20LEDS%20PBX.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/ADD%20LEDS%20PBX.jpg.html)


Video demo in Pinball X:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFPAkSGwnFc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFPAkSGwnFc)




Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: snap2 on August 25, 2016, 06:56:58 pm
That is some impressive work! Makes me want to build a pinball cab next. I have been absorbed into the LED portion of my CP more than the controls themselves lately. I am now implementing a 32x256 pixel matrix display as a marquee and as soon as I have more details I will show them.

I'm curious.... how did you implement the monochrome matrix you have above the strips?

Damon
Title: Re: Using Addressable RGB LED Strips with LedBlinky
Post by: thagerty on August 29, 2016, 01:19:37 am
It's just a monitor that I'm using for the DMD above the back matrix.

This video shows how it works:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDI17NL7DYM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDI17NL7DYM)

(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/thagerty/New%20Bezel%20amp%20matrix.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/thagerty/media/New%20Bezel%20amp%20matrix.jpg.html)