I have 2 arduino nano's on the way (chinese clones with the same hardware, assembled by a different manufacturer) and I'm planning on using strip lighting around an RC hovercraft I've recently built.
I'm pretty sure sections of this strip lighting can draw up to 100ma, I'm just wondering if this will be too much for the nano?
I also need to power these with 10-15 volts, since I'll be using 3S lipo to power it (11.1-12.6 volts), is there a way to power without going through the 5v regulator? I'm assuming if I go through the main power in I can use the pins as negatives therefore putting through all 12V?
I'm new to arduino, thanks in advance for any help.
Hello
100mA is way to much for any arduino (20mA max! ) You must use some type of power relay (transistor, mosfet, darlington array)
also if you want to use voltage higher than 5v you must use them
-Nano is equip with voltage regulator but it can go hot if You draw current and supply a high voltage ( when drawing 200mA from 12v there will be a 1.5W of heat to dissipate )
Add buffer like ULN2803 to sink current from >5V source (such as 9-12V powered LED strips), or shift register like TCIP6B595.
I'm assuming if I go through the main power in I can use the pins as negatives therefore putting through all 12V?
No, when the LED strip is off you will over volt the arduino input.
CrossRoads:
Add buffer like ULN2803 to sink current from >5V source (such as 9-12V powered LED strips), or shift register like TCIP6B595.
Can you explain how this would be done? I'm pretty new at advanced circuitry. Most of my experience is with wiring smaller projects like a 555 and 4017.
Sweet, so with the ULN one input (1B) goes to each output (1C)?
I'll check out my local electronics shop or order online to get 3 or 4 of them.
Thanks.
Yes and remember it pulls down, so load to the +ve, other end of the load to the output.
If you are switching motors or other inductive load also put pin 9 to the +ve otherwise leave it unconnected.
Is this drawing right? I found that the ULN2003 is much cheaper but can still withstand 50V and 500ma per pin.
The arduino will be powered with the same power supply as the darlingtons will, so does it really matter where it's grounded?
No, that is not correct.
You need it this way - ULN2003/ULN2803 do not Source current, they only Sink current.
The arduino will be powered with the same power supply as the darlingtons will,
The darlingtons are not powered at all, as I said they pull down, that is they connect a load to ground. This is called sinking current.
Oh now I understand. And then the ground can just go straight back to the power supply? What does the com pin do? Sorry for all the questions, I'm not super experienced. 
And then the ground can just go straight back to the power supply?
Yes. 
Easy as pie, time to order some stuff from mouser, go Canada! 
