I'm trying to hack an old traffic light, making the 3 incandescent AC bulbs independently controllable and, ideally, dimmable. My thought is to either have a series of buttons or a multi position switch to put the lights into different modes.

Modes could be:

- regular traffic light operation (green for awhile, then momentary yellow, then red for awhile, etc)
- dimmable sequence (red on then dim to yellow then dim to green, etc)
- dimmable random
- all on
- maybe somewhere down the road make them react to sound

This would all be pretty trivial if it weren't for the dimming part...

I found this discussion:

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1150063488

Which links to this kit:

http://www.apogeekits.com/light_dimmer.htm

But at $32 per kit, and the fact that I'd need 3, and the fact that I'd have to assemble each kit, I'm leery...

I also found this discussion:

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1236998971/0#0

Which links to this board:

http://ryanjmclaughlin.com/arduino/

But can't tell if that does what I need it to do.

I should probably add that I'm new to Arduinos but not to programming. I've been wanting to do an Arduino project forever, and this seems to fit the bill nicely.

Thanks gigantically for any help, and I'll keep this thread updated with source code and schematics as/if the project takes shape.

Very cool. I know this isn't exactly the purpose of a BlinkM, but is there a way to mod one so it can drive a relay? I'm guessing the LEDs are getting something in the range of 3.3 volts? Not the ideal voltage for a relay I know...

Thanks for all the sharing of knowledge. I ordered a BlinkM just because it looks like such an irresistably cool gizmo (if anyone wants a link, it's here http://store.fungizmos.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68&products_id=186), but have a feeling that I should bite the bullet and learn enough about Arduinos to use them to interface with a PC/Python to monitor inputs and control outputs.

I gather that I can set up a multiplex to have lots of inputs on just a few pins. Hopefully same with outputs.

Very interesting suggestions. I don't mind spending a couple of bucks. The lights will be up to 20 feet apart, so proximity isn't an issue.

I'd also like to be able to drive relays for regular incandescent lights.... Is that possible with these boards?

I need to control up to 50 LEDs from a computer, and possibly tri-color LEDs, meaning about 150 different pins to control. I really have no clue where to start, so thought I might post here to see if anyone has any ideas.

Using an Arduino as an intermediary between the LEDs and computer would be fine.

I'm programming savvy, and hope to eventually use Python as the controller language.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I'm trying to do something very similar: read the status of 20 buttons. Please post what you learn, and I'll do the same.

Argh, I didn't realize that circuit isn't able to transmit any frequency.

Do you know of any circuits that would let me do this? I essentially want to make this a universal remote. I'm guessing *someone* must have built an arduino-based universal remote before?

For my specific purposes, I need to send 15 different frequencies, all from the same gizmo.

I'm trying to get an Arduino to send IR codes to control a stereo. I found this project:

http://blogblender.faludi.com/2006/11/30/infrared-modulation/

I plan to send different series of IR codes (like a macro) in response to different button presses on the buttons I'll be connecting to the Arduino.

Are there any other circuits I should consider? Anything else I should consider?

Thanks for any help.

I'd like to be able to sense electrical current (if it matters, DC, in the 0 - 4 amp range) with the Arduino. I'm new the wonderful world of Arduinos, can anyone point me in the right direction?

And is there some main list of available sensors, etc?

Any tips at all?

Thanks for the help.