I'm working on a project prototype that automatically dims or brighten the lights (or LEDs) according to the preset light ambience. Meaning when the light intensity in the room is lower than the preset level, the LEDs or light will brighten up, whereas if the room is brighter than the preset level, the lights or LEDs will dim.
Any advice and help is appreciated.
That should not be to hard.
Use a light sensor and read its level with an analog pin.
Calculate what PWM signal to send to the LEDs based on the value on the analog pin.
Would that fulfill your requirements?
I don't think so.
If you make something that does exactly what has been suggested and what has been asked, you'll be in for a surprise.
The result of a setup like this, will be lights that do a slow flash.
By the way, i would also advise to not switch the lighting level, but raise it slowly.
That's easier to the eyes.
@MAS3, your disagreement with my suggestion is welcome. There are many ways to do a task, and your suggestions are wanted.
My suggestion was not a detailed, guaranteed design, it was food for thought that the OP can consider, and build upon. And I did not suggest to turn the leds on, and off. I suggested to change their brightness slowly by adjusting the PWM, as the light level changes (I assumed slowly).
I know what you mean about the system going on and off. That was something I thought the OP could work on. And depending on what the other light source is etc.
Thanks for your input, stay with us.
We finished a similar project in our school. We did what jack suggested and just set the photoresistor out of the window looking towards the wall so it won't be affected directly by the sun.
Hi jackwp.
The "i don't think so" relates to the not too hard part, it's harder than you would think in the first place.
But that's exactly why timlee and for sure Vinter got this assignment.
Vinter has solved the problem by looking outside of the room.
But timlee didn't mention any outside light level, he specifically mentioned "light intensity in the room".
Having that said, maybe i just should have left it with the two first lines and to mention some traps on the way to the solution.
If it is indeed a school project for timlee, he should find out stuff himself and learn that way.
Ok timlee, since you have several reply posts, what do you think? Can you do this?
Is this a school project (what is your age)?
Do you have a game plan? Share it with us.
Do you have further questions? We are here to assist (not to do it for you tho).
jackwp:
Ok timlee, since you have several reply posts, what do you think? Can you do this?
Is this a school project (what is your age)?
Do you have a game plan? Share it with us.
Do you have further questions? We are here to assist (not to do it for you tho).
Hi there jack and guys, I'm 27 currently doing my part-time degree, so the circuit has to be more complex then just a LED and a photoresistor. I'm close to deadline, I got the the window blind and IR light sensor to work, but I need the light dimmer too, but and I'm stuck, can't find any good solution at the moment. So any help more than guidance is greatly appreciated. =(
This website consist of what I'm actually looking for, but it doesn't give the schematic and I need automation.
http://blog.neonaquarium.com/ Or anyone can help me figure out what is the diode and schematic?
timlee:
I'm working on a project prototype that automatically dims or brighten the lights (or LEDs) according to the preset light ambience. Meaning when the light intensity in the room is lower than the preset level, the LEDs or light will brighten up, whereas if the room is brighter than the preset level, the lights or LEDs will dim.
Any advice and help is appreciated.
To be in more detail there should be two photoresistor, one in the room and one outside the window. The photoresist will open the window blind when it is brighter outside, contributing to the light indoors. So according to the preset ambience in the room, if the light is still not enough, it will brighten the lights in the room, or dim the lights if it is bright enough.
Do you expect us to read an entire blog to find out what your question is about, and solve your problem for you ?
Good luck with that.
I won't go read a blog containing unrelated personal sentiments about some project(s) and all kind of things trying to find out what's in there that interests you for this project.
Until now, your descriptions of what you've got aren't very helpful.
But since you've got window blinds and some sensor to work (why is it an IR sensor ?), what's your problem with the ambient lighting ?
Since you are on a tight schedule (as alway when these questions appear here), provide as much information and as accurate as possible.
Where's your problem, in the hardware, in software or both.
The parts that you have working, how did you do that ?
FWIW:
To answer your title: There is no difference in controlling a single LED and controlling (DC powered-) lighting using transistors.
Well we have a bit more information than we did before. But more information is needed..
Give us what MAS3 ask for, and
a flow chart of what you want the system to do.
We want to help you, but we can't/won't do all the work.
Is the idea of this system, to change basically twice a day (around sunrise, and sunset)?
Do you have all the hardware on hand? Which arduino do you have?
Are you familiar with electronics and/or coding ?
You say
but I need the light dimmer too, but and I'm stuck, can't find any good solution at the moment.
Try the example program in the IDE "Basic - Fade". A real good example.
timlee:
This website consist of what I'm actually looking for, but it doesn't give the schematic and I need automation.
http://blog.neonaquarium.com/ Or anyone can help me figure out what is the diode and schematic?
You meant this...?
http://blog.neonaquarium.com/2011/12/physical-computing-1-final-status-update/
Which part?
The "intercepting" and manipulating the A/C mains power into a version of PWM part???
Or the part where the one LED changes brightness to match what he set the other one to? (Which would be extremely similar to the very first response to your question.)
What schematic do you need? He has close up photos and of everything he used.
What class/degree is this for? You said you had part of it done. Which part? ....and what's that look like?
And, where are you located that you're coming close to a deadline instead of just starting the term?
Just wondering...
1ChicagoDave:
timlee:
This website consist of what I'm actually looking for, but it doesn't give the schematic and I need automation.
http://blog.neonaquarium.com/ Or anyone can help me figure out what is the diode and schematic?You meant this...?
http://blog.neonaquarium.com/2011/12/physical-computing-1-final-status-update/Which part?
The "intercepting" and manipulating the A/C mains power into a version of PWM part???Or the part where the one LED changes brightness to match what he set the other one to? (Which would be extremely similar to the very first response to your question.)
What schematic do you need? He has close up photos and of everything he used.
What class/degree is this for? You said you had part of it done. Which part? ....and what's that look like?And, where are you located that you're coming close to a deadline instead of just starting the term?
Just wondering...
Thanks for the Reply Dave. You are right, I need to match the brightness of the first LED to the second one. I think this one is quite straight forward I should be able to handle it. I'm just confused how is the first circuit linked to the second circuit? The code is not linked to the first circuit. Maybe you have some insight?
Take a good look at those pictures.
You'll see the LED is bent down to shine its light on another component, which happens to be a LDR (== Light Dependent Resistor).
I asked earlier why you are using a IR detector to get a light level / intensity.
The reason for me asking is that IR is only part of the light spectrum, and happens to be an invisible part (IR is detected by our bodies as heat).
A LDR is much more suitable to detect visible light, very easy to connect and cheap.
You can find some in about every Arduino starter kit.
Making a master / slave setup like described on that page, will teach you something, but you'll really learn by not just copying the contents, but play around with it to see (and understand) what happens.
You see, you've lost about 2 days now, because you didn't clearly state what you meant.
Be precise about what you want and/or need, don't rely on people to understand what you mean by just giving general hints.
Because you'll only get yourself deeper into a even more tight schedule.
I think there's a reason he never posted a follow up to that project. I think this may be the circuit he was trying to make.
(see attached if that didn't work)
But.....
And the code he posted....I'd be surprised if it compiled, much less did anything worthwhile. It's a really weird/hard way to do the following -
press a button
Flash a light
He kind of bounces between the different parts of his project.
- Adjust brightness of one light based on brightness of different light
- That crazy A/C power, PWM hijack scheme.... (Ignore this part).
Better yet, ignore it all. It's more confusing than anything else. It's just his diary, not instructions of any kind.
You need to answer some questions though.
How much time do you have to put this together?
What kind of "light" are you trying to control?
What exactly do you mean by "automation" ? (It just has to do it by itself? Automatically?)
Here are a few helpful posts which may give you a (much better!) idea of how to go about it —
http://bildr.org/2012/03/rfp30n06le-arduino/
http://wiki.bildr.org/index.php/TEMT6000
A project can be over whelming, especially first time projects. If you define your tasks using Pseudo Code or a flow chart, it becomes easier for you, (and us) to see.