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So, something seasonable. As you do this time of year, I'm sorting out the Christmas lights and I find a string of 100 LEDs with a broken transformer/controller. I wonder if I can rig a new controller with customisable flash patterns etc. using something like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. The old set-up ran at 24V / 2500 mA, and a cursory glance shows the controllers might not be up to the job directly.
Yes, the cost of such a project will be far more than the cost of a new set of lights (11 NZD!), but what the heck.
Anyone have any experience with said kit? Or other suggestions?
Cheers
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This might give you a few ideas: http://arduinodiy.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/using-mosfets-with-ttl-levels/[^]
Using MOSFETs means you provide a "normal" TTL signal, and the mosfet switches on/off the higher voltage/current circuit. They're pretty cheap (but it's gonna cost more than the lights did! ) - remember to look for 24V & 2.5A switching, and check the heat dissipation - it should be trivial, but you may need a chunk of ally as a heatsink.
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It also depends on how the LEDs are wired up. You may only get to flash the entire string at once, not individually address each LED.
But, it's a start anyway. Good Luck!
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The string has three wires (guessing L, L N) and the original controller had modes like:
1. Combination / 2. In Waves / 3. Sequential / 4. SLO-GLO / 5. Chasing/Flashing / 6. Slow Fade / 7. Twinkle/Flashing / 8. Steady On
I think half the LEDs will be in parallel on one L, the other half in parallel on the other L with a shared N.
It's times like this I wish I had a Labpack like we used to use in physics class...
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You can get an integrated circuit chip that you toss an integer into and it activates x amount of outputs (depending on the binary representation of the integer). I dont recall the part number though. I think you can get them with up to 64 outputs so you'd have to use two of them.
If you're interested I can get the part number of the ones we use.
However, like Dave said, I'd imagine that the LED's are wired in parallel and not individually addressable.
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Be careful! That is probably a TTL level driver, so it isn't going to be too happy with 24V on it's outputs!
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Good point. You're exactly right. The 24V part slipped my mind. We use 5V LED's so I guess, in my mind, I associated "LED" with "5V". Could set up a bank of switching circuits but that may be a lot of trouble for Christmas lights.
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A relay board [^] can be activated using a Arduino, RaPi or any other type processor.
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Clickity[^]
---------------------------------
Obscurum per obscurius.
Ad astra per alas porci.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur .
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yup, love it
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"Contents of zodiacal list overlooking bear."(8)
Good luck
---------------------------------
Obscurum per obscurius.
Ad astra per alas porci.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur .
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Callisto - was transformed into a bear
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We can’t stop here, this is bat country - Hunter S Thompson RIP
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For the last couple of days, my ring has been itching and there's an awful rash. It has got so bad I've had to change finger.
speramus in juniperus
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Why don't you just listen to the Wizard and give this ring to a hobbit who will destroy it for you?
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Oh no! At times of stress I'm always playing with my ring.
speramus in juniperus
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: I'm always playing with my ring.
Probably why it itches then?
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More likely because I never take it off.
speramus in juniperus
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really ! What's Gin for then ?
Thanks,
Milind
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You have to quit the curry.
Politicians are always realistically manoeuvering for the next election. They are obsolete as fundamental problem-solvers.
Buckminster Fuller
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You have to quit the curry gin.
FIFY
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Gin isn't a problem, Gin is a solution.
Politicians are always realistically manoeuvering for the next election. They are obsolete as fundamental problem-solvers.
Buckminster Fuller
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You've got a sick and twisted mind, Jörgen... I like it!
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant Anonymous ----- The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine Winston Churchill, 1944 ----- I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Me, all the time
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