Building my own ws2801 string

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
21

Yep, you can certainly use those and cut them up. Or just buy the individual LEDs themselves and build your own, smaller, PCBs.

22

I was looking at the EAGLE PCB design files in KirAsh4's WS2801 Breakout design and was wondering why there are no traces connecting the components to ground. I'm completely new to PCB design, so this is a likely very basic question!

23

Run the ratsnest tool and you'll see the groundlayer.

24

KirAsh4:
Follow the datasheet. This is something I have done, it's not rocket science. I used 5050 RGB SMD LEDs though. The attached image shows the LEDS in the various stages:

Directly above the pencil: blank boards, front and back.
At the very top is one side of the board with the WS2801, 3 resistors, and a capacitor (each in a corner).
At the very bottom is the other side of the board where you see the 5050 RGB LED attached.
Directly below the pencil are the individual pieces once I cut them apart.

The second picture is a closeup of the IC side of the board, where you can see the WS2801, resistors, and capacitor in the corners.

The row of four holes on either side is the data/power cable, a 4-core ribbon cable, that allows me to daisy chain them to whatever length.

If you want to use through hole LEDs, you obviously can't use this method as everything on here is SMD. These LEDs are 5x5mm by the way.

Ultimately the strings I created ended up in my window, which you can see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ex1k8f_Nk

Why did I do that when I could've bought ready made strings? I wanted to learn to work with double sided SMD by doing it myself. I'd say I was successful ...

where did you get the PCB's fabbed? they look spot on

25

Those particular ones were made through BatchPCB, however I have since moved to iTeadStudio.

26

I have just ordered from Itead, hope they turn out ok.

My design fits the size almost exactly, I noticed you have managed to squeeze lots in!

I heard that Itead don't allow internal cutouts, so did you manage to panelize?

27

dtokez:
I heard that Itead don't allow internal cutouts, so did you manage to panelize?

Yes, without the cutouts. I cut them myself.

28

just straight cuts then? It is a shame Itead does not allow internals :frowning:

29

Straight cuts then grinding the corners round: one swipe along a sanding blade on a Dremel.