Get a large LED matrix

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hey y'all,

for my recent project I want to display colors via RGB LEDs. I don't even need that much LEDs, 10x10 or so would basically be enough, the only problem I have is that I want the screen to be relatively big, around 50cm x 50cm.

Another point is that the LEDs have to be bright as I want to operate them outside and within sunlight. Every product I found online may provide far enough LEDs, but the panel itself then is understandably small.

Do you know of any already buyable products that would fit my needs? Or, and I think of this as even more worthwhile because much cheaper, can you explain to me how to best make such a matrix by myself as I'm not really familiar with building my own hardware yet?

Thank you in advance, I appreciate your help!
Daniel

2

What kind of patterns and changes will you need to do?

Buying individual 5050 SMD RGB LEDs and then soldering to your own pattern is an option.

You can also look into WS2812B addressable LEDs if you want to do more animation simply.

3

A 5x5cm square with one 5050 RGB LED might not be bright enough in sunlight.
Leo..

4

I would use a strip of Neopixels or Dot star pixels. These are avaliable in long flexible strips of various numbers of LEDs per meter. Cut them up into small strips and lay them side by side and wire them up in a zig zag called a serpentine raster. Then get a heavy duty power supply to drive them.

5

INTP:
What kind of patterns and changes will you need to do?

I want to display racing flags on the screen.

Wawa:
A 5x5cm square with one 5050 RGB LED might not be bright enough in sunlight.

What types of LED do you think would be convenient for this case?

Grumpy_Mike:
I would use a strip of Neopixels or Dot star pixels. These are avaliable in long flexible strips of various numbers of LEDs per meter. Cut them up into small strips and lay them side by side and wire them up in a zig zag called a serpentine raster. Then get a heavy duty power supply to drive them.

That really sounds like a good idea. Are there any specific products you could recommend?

6

No specific ones most addressable strips are the same. I have had cheap ones from Banggood and also Alibaba and they have been fine. The last lot I got were 144 LEDs per meter and I think they were a bit packed, the 72 LEDs per meter were easer to work with and you could get the spacing right for a one to one aspect ratio.

If you can afford it go for the meter lengths rather than the longer ones as the breaks are more regular, and it is the breaks which slightly disturbed the even spacing.

7

I made a rectangular sign out of the 60 LEDs per meter strip.
I bought 5 meters from a seller on eBay.

I had enough LEDs to create a 7-row sign of 8 LEDs per row.
The sign was about 9 inches in height.

You would need to buy 15 meters if you need a sign that is 50 cm x 50 cm

8

You could also use multiple LEDs at each "pixel". Every 5cm have a 8, 10, 12mm R, G, and B LED, or a group of 3,4,5,6 whatever, group of RGB LEDs.