New to all micro-controlling stuff. I have built about 11 separate led circuits. Chasing, fading in and out, flashing ect. some hand made, some kits. I have everything running on Power Transistors or Fets. I have lots of Leds in a Dragon Sculpture. (250 1.8mm Leds make up the flame alone). it's all just about built except for it's eyes. I'm still working out what to do with them. I may want some complex sequence in between all the other circuits timing. fading, dimming, flashing, still working that out. Anyway
I'll need to control the triggers of my circuits, on and off at designated times. After reading what I could find about the timing of micro controllers, they deal in mills or fractions of a second. Though I do want a few things to follow another at about 1/2 sec after, some at about 10 sec,30 sec, etc, and a few a min or so in between. what I want to do is a sequence that lasts about maybe 10 min long. then pauses about 15 min and starts over. will an Arduino do this??
If so and were do I find, maybe a timer add-on or what not, and codeing to do this. I'm also a little confused as to the number of pins the Uno or Mega has that I can use for on/off signals. most will turn on for several minutes at a a time then off, and possibly using a pmw for the eyes if I can figure out some cool fade up, flash, dim, flash etc something.
Uno says it has 14 pins but are they all output pins?. will I need to use some for a timer input. or do I need to go the mega route, or am I barking up the wrong tree and need something entirely different to control my Art Sculpture?
Any suggestions were to start my research would be wonderful.
Then do a search on multiplexing LEDs , or I prefer to use TPIC6B595 shift registers to latch the high current outputs for long strings of LEDs , it can stand 50 volts ) Some of my projects use 2500 LEDs.
thanx for the quick response I'll look at your links. I won't need the power transistors I don't think. Everything is operated from Fets or power transistors already. I just need 5v triggers. I'm pretty sure the 40ma arduino handles is enough for all the triggers. I do need to test each one to check so I don't fry the unit though. Though most of them Are powered off N channel Fets. The ones that aren't use Power Transistors. Even a few of those are triggered from a Fet. I'm pretty sure nothing draws much from the triggers. Like for instance a 3.5k reisistor a 555 timer 16v capacitor then through a 100k resistor to two npn transistors, then from a 4-6k resistor (they vary had to play with each one to find just the right value) that triggers a Fet to power the Leds. Or chasing kits I got, that go through darlingtons to the Leds that are also triggered by Fets. one circuit only runs 2- 20ma leds but even that runs through 4.7k resistor and transistors. so like I said I need the check the triggers to make sure I'm not over loading the Arduino outputs. but I THINK the draw from the triggers are very small. Just started playing w/ this kinda elec a little while ago. Tons of research. LOTS more complicated than wiring a house. THATS easy...lol