next topic »

[on:]

This is one of my first PCB designs I've done. It uses an ATTiny45 to drive 20 individually adressable charlieplexed LED's. I made the PCB in the shape of a Christmas tree and it hangs on a Christmas tree as an ornament. A terribly GEEKY one.

I have more details on my website. Just thought I'd share with everyone here. I doubt I'd have been able to build this without the skills and knowledge that I've picked up because of Arduino.

[Reply #1 on:]

Very cool! I see you have it on Tindie, is it a kit or are you selling them assembled? I've never tried an odd-shaped board, can I ask where you had them made?

[Reply #2 on:]

I'm selling them assembled, mostly due to the tiny SMD components. It's also a real pain to get the polarity correct on all the LED's.. I'd say I had a 30% success rate in the 10 boards I assembled. Luckily I have a hot air rework station, so flipping them around after getting them wrong isn't too big of a deal for me. I had the boards produced by iTead, they were pretty quick, and put up with me not having a clue how to make proper gerber files, as well as selecting the wrong size board.

[Reply #3 on:]

I've used iTead a fair amount, they do good work. It's good to know they're OK with such a wild shaped board!

[Reply #4 on:]

The best part about iTead folks is that they charge ONE amount for ONE size no matter in what shape you want! Now this is something very great!

[Reply #5 on:]

How is it powered?

[Reply #6 on:]

4-5v power source. I've been running one of them off a LiPo battery pack, the one on my tree uses an iPhone charger and a chopped up USB cable.. a 4 AA battery holder works well with NiMH batteries in it, too.