Who wants a cheap, simple, Arduino-based LED controller?

[Neogenocide]

It looks like it was around $23 when I ordered mine. The joystick and button are built in. I had to wait a bit to get mine.... they sell out fast as I think it's pretty popular for projects being built in Europe. Hence my Ultimate Reef build reference earlier in the thread. I just can't make heads or tails of the mod needed to make it work with the Meanwell drivers, as that design was initially built for buckpucks. It's my lack of circuit design that is hindering me. i honestly haven't spent much time on it yet as I'm still finishing up my fixture to put my LED's in. They are still propped on 2x4's above the tank.

Scott

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Neo, There's at least one (maybe more?) design similar to what I'm doing that uses a screen like that, if folks are interested in going that route. As with many DIY things, there are a billion "good" solutions, so it's more a matter of picking your taste rather than there being a single "best" for everyone.

Also, there are about eleventybillion sources for that Nokia screen, though of course not all of them have the interface hardware and joystick that nu's does. The bare screen usually doesn't have a backlight with it either but it can be had dirt dirt cheap (like $5). It's a little more of a pain to design around, and while it would be "nice" to have, I don't think it's the kind of effort I want to include in a low-end "easy" project.

To be honest, half the reason I did this design was to give myself something to tinker with in between working on the Hydra, so even if no one else uses it, it'll fulfill that role nicely. The other half of the reason was that people without hobby electronics experience PM me all the time with questions like "how do I use the Arduino just to control LEDs?" and I wanted to have a default answer that didn't involve excess or spending more than you should have to.

 

[Neogenocide]

understandable Der.......I plan on following whatever you post here. I just threw it out there as a option.

Scott

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

It's a really tempting option. But at some point you have to move from considering options to actually building something, and I'm beyond that point since the hardware is already ordered. :lol:

 

[SWINGRRRR]

We need to work on the sketches too. I know there are some out there, but I just cant get my head wrapped around the whole RTC thing. I wish it was like vBasic.

 

[TheFishMan65]

SWINGRRR,
I think the AVR programing language is C. RTC stands for real time clock. It is a hardware device attached to the IIC bus I think. The Arduino development package has function that will make those calls easier. Does this help? Or what do you want a sketch of?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

FishMan, "sketch" is the Arduino term for program, FWIW.

SWINGRRR, once the hardware is here, my plan is to write a sketch that includes basic logic and a menu system to display on the LCD - in other words, it runs the device in a default mode, such that the ONLY thing an end user has to do to get basic LED control is build the device, upload the sketch, and then set basic parameters through the front end (i.e. buttons and LCD). In other words, you won't have to even know how the code works, or what an RTC does, etc. My plan for this interface is that for each channel of LEDs, you'll be able to set an ON time, an OFF time, a max intensity, and a fade "slope."

 

[SWINGRRRR]

SWINGRRR,
I think the AVR programing language is C. RTC stands for real time clock. It is a hardware device attached to the IIC bus I think. The Arduino development package has function that will make those calls easier. Does this help? Or what do you want a sketch of?

I know what it is, but making it work is another thing. I took vBasic in high school. I like all the IF, THENs. I understand the logic behind the sketches, its just getting it on paper. I guess if I had some actual trigger time with one it would help. Im ordering one now.

FishMan, "sketch" is the Arduino term for program, FWIW.

SWINGRRR, once the hardware is here, my plan is to write a sketch that includes basic logic and a menu system to display on the LCD - in other words, it runs the device in a default mode, such that the ONLY thing an end user has to do to get basic LED control is build the device, upload the sketch, and then set basic parameters through the front end (i.e. buttons and LCD). In other words, you won't have to even know how the code works, or what an RTC does, etc. My plan for this interface is that for each channel of LEDs, you'll be able to set an ON time, an OFF time, a max intensity, and a fade "slope."

That would be cool. Just plug and play numbers. I'm guessing kinda like mimicking the dosing programs of set-it dosers ala' Litermeter? Some kinda on board algorithm?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

More or less - except I've never used a Litermeter so I'm guessing.

 

[jmik26]

No sleep for me tonight. Took about 5 minutes to get it up and running, 30 seconds to load the basic blinking led and git it working, and 2 minutes to configure a squad car light bar, LOL... Now I just have to research something more useful, like a single Cree XR-E for moonlighting.... Jeff

 

[jener8tionx]

Here is my arduino project. It does more than just lights, it runs my whole tank in the most energy efficient way.
http://reefprojects.com

 

[jmik26]

Here is my arduino project. It does more than just lights, it runs my whole tank in the most energy efficient way.
http://reefprojects.com

Man I feel so behind right now :lmao:. I have been reading for the last 5 hours and im just getting confused. Im gonna wrap it up for the night and start tomorrow with basic examples from the arduino website and let my imagination take me away. I would be 100% happy with the arduino controlling my two ELN-60-48D's for dimming and weather conditions, 1 XR-E moonlight that dims, and 1 case fan. I have seen about 10 threads saying how easy it is but never a clear start to finish example. Hopefully some others in my shoes will chime in.... Jeff

 

[wfournier]

Very interesting, I've been thinking about something like this to integrate into some LED lights.

 

[DetroitReefer]

I will be using an atmega328 along with a 7" 480X240 display for information. With the XRE on a meanwell 60-48P. I intend on using a photosensor to send a signal to the arduino. based on the strength of the signal from the photocell, The lights will ramp up.

I am a coder by training, so writing the arduino code won't be an issue.

 

[dwl]

... can't wait for a BOM (shopping list) and the software available for download

 

[terahz]

DWZM, interesting idea, however I don't think it is worth it. Here is why:
Mouser parts: basic arduino(caps, resistors, resonators, sockets, headers etc) + rtc(with battery) will be around $20($30 with PSU) + shipping ($6.95)
Modern devices parts: AVR, LCD and programming cable/board: $28.50 + shipping ($7.90?)
PCB (assuming 10 ppl get together to do a group buy) - $2 + shipping (figure $1)
So total so far is $50.50+shipping or about $65. Add the PSU and you're looking at $75 just to gather the parts without a project box. And hopefully the person has all tools to do the soldering.

If you order an arduino board ( even the arduino nano 3.0 at $35 ), LCD and RTC parts from mouser + radioshack protoboard for the RTC, the cost will be the same, will give you the same functionality and will save many hours of work. With that option you don't need the programming cable either, just a plain USB one.

That being said I don't think an LCD is even needed. After you've configured the arduino, the only useful info on that LCD will be the time

Others might think differently, but for me it is not worth it to spend the extra time building a standard arduino, when a commercial arduinos cost $30 and come with the programming interface built in.

It might be more useful to put together some documentation how to build an RTC module, hook it to any arduino and provide the software to program and configure the controller once and forget about it.

THz

 

[DetroitReefer]

My LCD will be for display of information. Temp and other various crap. Intention is to use latching relays to control the heaters/chiller, as well as a RTC to control the moonlights.

 

[SWINGRRRR]

I have seen about 10 threads saying how easy it is but never a clear start to finish example.

There is several sketches for lights in the Sketch thread. You just got to adapt it to exactly what you want.
Or ask questions and Im sure those in the know will help or point you in the right direction.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

DWZM, interesting idea, however I don't think it is worth it. Here is why:

Good point. My approach to this was not just cost savings, but to make something really easy for people to throw together who just want to control LEDs.

Obviously when I started this post I was really excited. :lol: You're starting to temper that excitement.

It might be more useful to put together some documentation how to build an RTC module, hook it to any arduino and provide the software to program and configure the controller once and forget about it.
THz

Good point there, as well.

So, let's hear it from the masses - assuming cost isn't the main issue, which would you rather do? Assemble and off the shelf Arduino with a well-documented external circuit (i.e. a "shield") that included the LED-specific functions, or build something custom like this from the ground up?

 

[TheFishMan65]

For the masses unless there is a significant saving I would say pre built. I realize the soldering is not hard (and I am not trying to put it any one down), but there is a lot of room for error. I follow enough threads to realize there seem to be some pretty basic question asked multiple times. If someone gets a bad board (wasn't that you terahz). or crosses shorts a trace a lot of people won't know where to start to fix the problem. Yes, they can get help here, but some of the issue will be really hard to track down. Just my $0.02.