I'll just like to start off by saying that I own an Arduino Uno but don't really know how to use it. I am at uni studying product design and want to make an interactive seating project. As a part of this, I need to work out how to convert the pressure of someone sitting to an LED strip. I purchased a FRS sensor and already had some LED lights and then looked for a tutorial online to help me achieve my project (I am very new to coding).
This is the tutorial I used:
Ive connected it all up and have been connecting small individual LEDs and its been working amazingly. The problem I have is that I want it to work with my LED strip lights but when I plug it in there must be a lack of voltage or something because they just flicker very fast and they are not very bright...
I want to know what is the easiest way to get the output to 5v because I know the Arduino can power these lights (it works with the 5v pin).
because I know the Arduino can power these lights (it works with the 5v pin).
Then you know wrong. Yes it is a 5V output but there is also the aspect of current. You don't say how many LEDs you have but at full brightness they take about 60mA each. How are you powering the Arduino? How are you wiring it up?
Beware any project with the word instructables in the URL, most electronic projects are rubbish riddled by mistakes.
The digital output pins must not be asked to supply more than 40mA otherwise the data sheet says damage will occur. In practice this means sticking to 20 to 30mA.
You can get a digital output pin to switch more current if you use a transistor or FET.
Its working with small individual LEDS that use 3.5v straight from the pin. Could you look at the tutorial that I linked to see.
Is there something that I have done that reduced the voltage or current in any way, I assume this was done in the tutorial to make it work with small individual leds.
It works with a single LED because as noted above the your output pin only has a limited amount of current available - you are lucky you did not fry your output pin - the design was for just a single LED
Post a real schematic (hand done is fine) and the specs for the LED string. You probably need a separate power supply and a way to switch the power - probably use a MOSFET of the proper rating
Being a Uni student you really need to get in the habit of reading spec sheets - helps prevent letting the magic smoke out
Its working with small individual LEDS that use 3.5v straight from the pin. Could you look at the tutorial that I linked to see.
As I said in reply #1 this is because the author of that page is a blithering idiot. All LEDs need a current limiting device, the simplest of which is a resistor.
saildude:
It works with a single LED because as noted above the your output pin only has a limited amount of current available - you are lucky you did not fry your output pin - the design was for just a single LED
Post a real schematic (hand done is fine) and the specs for the LED string. You probably need a separate power supply and a way to switch the power - probably use a MOSFET of the proper rating
Being a Uni student you really need to get in the habit of reading spec sheets - helps prevent letting the magic smoke out
Thank you! I think I will use a separate power supply and use a MOSFET. Without explaining it too much this would work better with the power supply I have got.
I am a uni student but I do not or have ever studied electronics at any level. I study product design and I need some lights for this seating project. I will get into the habit of reading Spec sheets.
