So, after a lot of research and many questions asked on this forum, i feel like i have all the right parts i need to control an led strip through an arduino.
my end goal is to use maxuino and ableton to automate light strip patterns in sync with audio in ableton.
but my first hurdle is the circuit. this is going to be the first breadboard circuit i have ever done so while im waiting for parts to come in, i made the attached photo circuit. all im really looking for is a stamp of approval saying im doing this right or helpful corrections if im wiring something wrong.
diagram note: purple lines are not jumper cables, just text guides.
led strip is 300 leds, non adressible, 6 amps max (2 amps for each color)
power supply is 12v 30amp (plan to control 3 strips once i can successfully control 1)
mosfets are n channel logic level. AI150 (advised by a forum member for low rds)
so my questions are:
- is my use of MOSFET pins correct?
- i was told to run a digital out pin through a 270 ohm transistor to the gate pin
- next, i assume that drain(middle pin) is connected to one color (R,G or B) of the LED strip.
- last the source(last pin) is what goes to ground.
-
someone had mentioned something about a pull-down resistor saying 10k to ground. i assume he meant (10k ohms). as shown in diagram, is this the correct use of that pull-down?
-again, being a beginner, a lot of these terms flew over my head.
-i put the resistor between the negative of power supply and the rest of ground connections.
-
does the wiring as a whole look correct? I will be my first time using a breadboard and making a circuit so im just going on a lot of research.
Hi,
Looks good mate, BUT, do not put full 6A through the protoboard, its not designed for it, you will cook the conductive strips under the plastic top.
Tom... 
TomGeorge:
Hi,
Looks good mate, BUT, do not put full 6A through the protoboard, its not designed for it, you will cook the conductive strips under the plastic top.
Tom...
Makes sense! Thank you! I'll just run the 12v+ Line from led strip to power supply outside of board. Now what I think about it, it's a detail I overlooked when watching video tutorials.
Hi,
Don't forget that the 6A is conducted
- through the +12V wire from the power supply to the LEDs..
- through the LEDs.
- through the wire from the LEDS to the protoboard.
- through the protoboard strip.
- through the MOSFET.
- through the protoboard strip.
- through the neg wire back to the power supply.
You are also relying on the connections on the protoboard.
So all of them will be under stress.
Tom....
still a little confused. are you saying that a breadboard is not the way to go then? because if i do want to run the strip at full brightness using all 3 colors then the 6 amps running through everything will be inevitable. What alternative is there to do this?
are you saying that a breadboard is not the way to go
Yes, that is what is indicated.
You need a proper PCB. Or you can use a proto shield or something that I know as veroboard and solder the components; ICs can go in sockets. Can't look at your schematic at this time but you can use normal 1.5mm2 power cable to connect led strip to fets, fets to ground and to create a decent ground 'rail'
Maybe buy an RGB led that you can use during development. That will be safe on a breadboard. The RGB led basically must be the same type as the strip (if LED strips have one common pin; never used one); if the strip is common anode, the LED should be common anode as well.
