Controlling 100 String Led's

Using Arduino LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hi Guys/Gals,

A bit of background before I ask for advice -
I'm building a diorama that I want to light using USB string LED's. The LED's are the ones that have a USB connector on one end (with some circuitry in there for the IR controller etc) and the LED's spaced out on 2 copper wires and each LED has a blob of resin coating them.

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I like using these lights for my models because of their simplicity, price, low power consumption, and no need to worry about external power supply. However I want to have two lighting modes for my new model, day setting and night setting.

And now for the question -
Is there any way I can control the string lights so that a switch can toggle between 40% (night setting) and a 100% (day setting) of the lights coming on?

I want to keep it to one power supply if possible (USB preferred). I'm looking for any suggestions. The lights could be cut or 2 sets bought, or a totally different controller to the Arduino.
Just had a thought while I was typing this question, I wonder if I could install 2 sets of string lights in the model, one complete set with all 100 LED's, the other with 60 of the LED's cut off, then see if I can find something that can physically switch the power supply to the chosen LED string?

Any help much appreciated.

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Trap the IR codes from your IR control and make an IR transmitter...

In the text, see " Emulating Transmitters and Receivers" (there will be a similar topic in his video)

1 Like
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You can purchase a very inexpensive PWM module that will do the job. But in place of the switch it will have a potentiometer to set brightness. Use your search engine and search for PWM Dimmer you should get hundreds of hits.

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Thanks for the replies so far, unfortunately neither of them address the problem fully - being able to switch between 100 fully lit LED's or 40 fully lit LED's and one power source (preferably USB).

5

Or... use a button and an interrupt.

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There are many choices to power these. I have one of these charging stations on each side of my workbench:

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As far as switching between how many are powered fully, consider using relays.
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