Addressable LED strips

[ChadTower]

Anyone else using these?  I just picked up a 5m roll to see if I can find a good use for it in my gameroom.  This video only shows a few of the modes on this particular controller.  This controller isn't programmable and only has 7 colors without brightness control.  You get like 130 modes with speed control.  Controller is independent of the strip so I could get another with different capabilities if necessary.

[spoot]

If you want absolute control check out NeoPixel strips and arduino to control it.

[ChadTower]

Will do, thanks.  These strips have come down SO FAR in price of late that I really wish I could come up with more uses for them.


EDIT:  Just looked at the Neopixels and I think they might be the same thing I have here.  They're referring to them as "5050" and that's what this is...

[Sjaak]

You can do this, although it might be a little bit slower with neopixels.



I used LPD8806 LED strips and an arduino.

[ChadTower]

A strip cut up into 8 lines? 

[Sjaak]

A strip cut up into 8 lines?

Yes, 8 lines and daisychained together

[spoot]

Will do, thanks.  These strips have come down SO FAR in price of late that I really wish I could come up with more uses for them.


EDIT:  Just looked at the Neopixels and I think they might be the same thing I have here.  They're referring to them as "5050" and that's what this is...

Cool, then you can pick up an Arduino Mega for about $15.00 on fleabay and experiment.  The library includes samples for rainbow, chase, etc.  Libs, samples and demo vids can be found on Adafruit's website.

[pbj]

That seems like an awful lot of work for something that would wear out its welcome in 5 minutes.

[ChadTower]

Cool, then you can pick up an Arduino Mega for about $15.00 on fleabay and experiment.  The library includes samples for rainbow, chase, etc.  Libs, samples and demo vids can be found on Adafruit's website.

With a specific timing library it looks like you can also use a Pi.  I already have a Pi. 

Odds are I won't do much more than set these up as a waterfall down the stairs.  I just don't have time right now to customize it.  I need to find a way to diffuse a bit because that stairwell is dark and the LEDs are retina searing.  I might pick up some "clear" duct tape tonight and see how that looks.  I tried masking tape and it worked but looked stupid on the stairs. 

[dkersten]

Ultimarc makes a tiny controller for addressable led strips that can be used with LEDblinky, but for RGB it is only 20 channels total.