I wish to connect 3 LED stripe pieces (25cm each, colors: red, blue and white) in parallel and to control this “LEDs SET” via arduino. I wish to program it so I can set the light intensity (dim it) and also to create a pulse light cycle (X second for light on period, followed by Y second of light off period, in repetitive mode).
I never used arduino before and I am not familiar with electronics. I am a good programmer so with the programming I can handle. Therefore, how do I built something like that and is it possible?, Will I have some problems to connect LED strips in parallel?. Furthermore, if I want to connect more than 3 “LEDs SETs” can I do it (they will still get the same dim and pulse light parameters)?, Do I need special LEDs?.
Any help, scheme, tips, ideas, etc will be a great help.
At minimum you have to post a link to the hardware (LED stripes) you want to use. These a available in a myriad of different types and configurations so your question won't get an simple answer without more information.
Your project is not out of reach but be prepared that you'll probably need additional hardware and maybe you have to solder parts of it yourself.
Head out for the LED stripes you want to use. As you haven't told us what you want to do with them, we cannot give you good choices, we have no clue about how you want to mount it, where you want to mount it, how bright they have to be, etc.
Depending on the chosen stripes you might have a schematic with a few transistors, with MOSFETs or even with constant current drivers (there may be other solutions too). It's your turn now.
Make three of this circuit using IRF540 and connect each of the strip in LED + and LED - as shown in figure .
Then connect the gate pin of IRF to PWM pins of arduino 9 or 10 or 11 or 3 or 5 or 6. Make sure connect 1K or more resistor in between pin PWM pin and gate pin of IRF (not shown in figure ).
You can connect more strips in parallel but it will draw more current if your power source cant source it might get dimmed.
kieran_shrestha:
Make three of this circuit using IRF540 and connect each of the strip in LED + and LED - as shown in figure .
Then connect the gate pin of IRF to PWM pins of arduino 9 or 10 or 11 or 3 or 5 or 6. Make sure connect 1K or more resistor in between pin PWM pin and gate pin of IRF (not shown in figure ).
You can connect more strips in parallel but it will draw more current if your power source cant source it might get dimmed.
Hmmh, this might work sometimes for 12V LED stripes but blows a 5V stripe immediately. And your schematics is missing the resistor from gate to ground for the times the Arduino output is not set as an output. You would have better started by suggesting possible LED stripes to the OP.
