How do you finish a project

[zaphodbipbipbup]

Hello all,

I'm trying to finish a project but I don't really know how to do it.
here is my idea,
there are two sets of 3 leds on both side of a stroller which are turned on with a push of a button.

I did most of the tutorial I found on internet, learning to code, solder, use a pinboard, etc,
now that I did everything, and it's working rather well,
I'm stuck in trying to understand what is the logical step to take.

1. I would like to put some kind of plastic around it to make it impermeable
2. How should I handle to cabling, (is it better to solder everything or use sockets)
3. I don't want to use my Mega to run it, so I bought two arduino kits (quarts, chip, ceramic resistor, etc)

Now how should I package it all together?

thanks for your help,
here's are some pics + video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVaIWWHLfJI







the codes for the lights are here, I shortened them a lot though, I ended using only two pins,
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,145540.0.html

[LarryD]

Look for BOX or PROJECT BOX
https://solarbotics.com/search/box/
https://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=adasearch&q=box
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&freeText=project%20box&search_type=jamecoall

[DVDdoug]

So the LEDs are separate from the controller, right?   Do you want to mount the LEDs in little boxes, or in the stroller?

For mounting LEDs, I've used hundreds of these over the years.

2. How should I handle to cabling, (is it better to solder everything or use sockets)

It's your project, so that's up to you.  For stuff that's external to your main contoller box, I'd use connectors.    Everything inside the box can be soldered.

Look at how a computer or a piece of stereo equipment is made...  Everything plugs-into the main unit, except sometimes the AC power cord is permanently attached.  A mouse or keyboard has a cable permanently attached, but usually a printer does not.   (If you look inside your computer or stereo, you will see lots of connectors, but for a simple home-built project this usually isn't necessary unless you have multiple circuit boards.)

If you are not using a pre-built Arduino board, I'd put the Arduino chip in an IC socket.  In fact if there are any other ICs, sockets are nice if you have a problem...  You don't always know if you've got a bad/blown chip or something else, and having a socket makes troubleshooting/repair a lot easier!

3. I don't want to use my Mega to run it, so I bought two arduino kits (quarts, chip, ceramic resistor, etc)

How's that going?  Did that kit come with an Uno board, or just an Arduino chip?

[zaphodbipbipbup]

Thanks LarrD and DVDdoug,
this is the  kit I bought to replace my arduino,
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221180810148
I read some tutorial but some use some kind of socket for the chip, other no, what is the most secure way?

for the cabling I believe I will try to make some kind of in and out jack so I could unplug the project (does it makes sense) without having to solder it together
like this:

is there some kind of non conductive isolant that can be used to wrap the lights, or a simple black pvc tape will do?


thanks a lot

ps: for the box, I found an old toy box that would work me think, I still need to drill some holes in it

[lax123]

the socket only costs some cents and allows you to remove your IC in a few secs from a board without having to solder.

especially when use ur mega as a programmer for other ICs