Hello. This is my first major project with Arduino and I'm a little stumped. Mostly, I'm needing help with the hardware side of things. Its been several years since I've done circuitry design so I'm a little rusty.
The effect I'm going for is simulating lightning inside a bottle. The lightning will be two 12 volt LED strips like the kind they sell in automotive stores for extra lightning. I went this way since they already had a small power source built in, perfect since this will be a costume effect and weight needs to be kept down. Anyways, to simulate the lightning, I'm wanting to connect the simple circuit the LEDs already have with the battery, to a switch controlled by my Arduino UNO to turn off and on at random intervals for random lengths of time. The programming I'm working out just fine, but figuring out what kind of "switch" I can use with the Arduino and how I would hook it is giving me headaches. I'm mostly afraid of burning something up. I was thinking MOSFET, but I was also hoping to be able to control the intensity of the LEDs as well, making brighter and dimmer flashes as directed by the programming.
I don't want the Arduino powering this circuit for several reasons, mainly for simplicity's sake. I'm hoping someone can help me out.
I am confused,
you say you have the UNO in control of the LED's.....
you have the battery......
programming is working fine..............
when you say switch, are you talking about an on/off switch ?
for the Arduino ?
if programming is working fine, then why is there need to add external things ?
sorry, I cannot follow what you are saying.
SgtBronco235:
...a switch controlled by my Arduino UNO to turn off and on at random intervals for random lengths of time.
^ You can use random() and randomSeed() for that.
SgtBronco235:
I was thinking MOSFET, but I was also hoping to be able to control the intensity of the LEDs as well, making brighter and dimmer flashes as directed by the programming.
^ Easy. Drive the MOSFETs with PWM signals. Just make sure the MOSFETs have very high switching frequency capabilities (should be in the datasheet). OR, maybe use high frequency CMOS inverters to do the switching.
How much current do those lights draw?
SgtBronco235:
I don't want the Arduino powering this circuit for several reasons, mainly for simplicity's sake.
^ I think you meant to say "for SAFETY'S sake".
The lights don't draw much. ABout 24 or 25 mA according to my multi-meter.
I just wanted to make sure I could use PWM with MOSFETs. I REALLY don't want to burn anything out.
Thanks. I'll post a bit more about the wiring and the coding when I get it done.
SgtBronco235:
I REALLY don't want to burn anything out.
so, you don't want to learn by experience ?
where is the fun in that.
SgtBronco235:
The lights don't draw much. ABout 24 or 25 mA according to my multi-meter.
I just wanted to make sure I could use PWM with MOSFETs. I REALLY don't want to burn anything out.
Thanks. I'll post a bit more about the wiring and the coding when I get it done.
LED,. resistor and FET super simple, examples galore.
driving an LED with an arduino, examples galore.
This is probably one the best applications for the arduino.
Oh, I got how simple it is. I just wanted to make sure I get the right parts. I also wish radio shack would sell more radio/electronics parts again. Now I'm just waiting on the FET board to arrive instead of making it myself.
