LED Controller project guidance

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi Everyone,

I've seen a bunch of examples where people are using led strips and controlling them with Arduino (e.g. http://www.elcojacobs.com/using-shiftpwm-to-control-led-strips-with-arduino/) and that has inspired me to want to create a multi channel controller. I'm not sure if Arduino is an appropriate platform, basically I'd like to have it control different zones in my home (kitchen, living, dining, etc) where I can run the same color pattern or separate. I believe there's a few limitations with Arduino but please correct me if I'm wrong; can't multi-thread and PWM outputs (can run 2 rgb led strips). I've found this board (Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Driver - I2C interface [PCA9685] : ID 815 : $14.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits) to address the PWM outputs but I don't know well the display would work if I had to write a scheduler to jump between 16 different tasks.

I'm completely new to arudino and microcontrollers, but I can write code. Is arduino a feasible platform?

I appreciate any guidance.

2

If you used smart strips, where there is a controller such as WS2801, WS2812, etc per RGB LED, then multiple strips would not be an issue. You blast out a stream of data to each strip, the WS28xx takes care of setting the PWM levels for its RGB LED, while they do that you send data to the next strip.
The strips use data & clock, or just data and derive a clock from the timing of the data line,
so you'll need to create a demux circuit as well to select the strip being commanded.
For example, run the clock (or data if there is only data) thru this chip

and control which strip gets controlled.
The unselected chips will see only a high output - if need the inactive level to be low instead, add 74HC04 to the outputs to invert them

6 inverters per chip, so use 3 if all 16 outputs are needed.
Libraries and WS28xx chips/strips can be found at adafruit.com and sparkfun.com.