Electroluminescent wire 7-segment LED Clock

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
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Hello all,
I'm thinking about trying to build an electroluminescent 7-segment LED clock. Actually, I would prefer to use LED Flex, which is basically the equivalent to neon signs for LED's- check it out!! http://www.mulelighting.com/viewDetails.asp?id=122

Anyways, I'm fairly new to the arduino and programing in general, so I could really use some helpful advice to see if there is an easy enough option to get this working.

Basically, I thought I would create 4 seven-segment led like digits by cutting 7 segments for each of the digits. I would use the 24 volt wall wart for power.

What I'm not really sure is how to interface the arduino to the Flex LED. Any thoughts and suggestions would certainly be helpful here!! I really just want to create a neon sign like clock- perhaps something similar to the sparkfun.com gps wall clock. 12ft GPS Wall Clock - SparkFun Electronics. Instead of paying $100 for the wall clock control,Wall Clock Controller - PIC 16F877A - WIG-00735 - SparkFun Electronics, I would instead like to see if I could get the arduino to do something similar. I don't need it to be synced to gps. I just want to set the time, and let it go.

I basically have no idea where to get started. How do I integrate a 24 volt power source? How do I turn on and off 7*4=28 clock segments? Should I just forget the arduino, pony up $100, and copy what sparkfun did?

So If you'd like to offer up any suggestions or comments, please thoroughly explain your thoughts for me and go to town!

Thanks!!

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That light strip stuff you linked uses 24volts, the sparkfun clock seems to use 5v power, so you'd still need to figure out how to switch the individual segments.

Actually the specific stuff you linked, is more for accents on things, try and get stuff thats not colored on the outside.

Personally I'd be tempted to make something like giant a Nixie tube clock, have 10 strings in each area for the numbers 0-9 and light one up at a time.

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I actually also thought of this idea. The problem is that I believe the LED Flex wire is too wide of diameter. Thus you might have digits get cut off, when overlap occurs, and the numbers would then look not as cool and sweet as nixie tube clocks.

Yeah, right now I'm a little puzzled on how to used 24 volts instead of 5. The arduino might not be the best idea.

Thanks for the input!

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It gets worse, the 24 V is actually 24V AC. The link you posted has very little information about the sort of AC waveform it needs but it does sell a power supply.

If you do want to switch AC then you will have to use a triac and you are best using an opto isolator to seprate the gate of the triac and your arduino.