Looking to buy a "complete" project system

Community Jobs and Paid Consultancy
1

I am new to Arduino (obviously), but am seeking someone to procure the required parts (CPU and lamp drivers) and code/program a simple Arduino system that does the following:

Three channel light driver (call them R, G, B); each channel needs to power 120VAC lights to about 5 amps each channel

The three channels each need to ramp up in color (10 seconds), display that color for 5 minutes, cross-fade down as next color comes up.

This should be an easy project, and I'd like to learn it myself, but may not have time....So, is this something that someone can price out completely?

2

Please click the "Report to moderator" link on your post and request them to move it to the "Gigs and Collaborations" forum section. That will make it more likely for you to get a response.

3

where to you call home ?
this list is global and what you are asking for is worth at least a round at the pub.

4

Hardware/wiring/safety could be more time consuming than the software part.
This AC light dimmer looks interesting, and code examples are included.
AC light dimmer
Leo..

5

Thread moved as requested.

6

Hi DrHitch,

Just to be clear -- I assume you asking someone to purchase the items, build the system, and ship it to you in a fully working state?

Your location may limit who may be able to respond. I assume you're in the US somewhere?

Pat.

7

There are multiple ways to approach this, but the simplest, using off the shelf parts, is probably using DMX512. You can buy DMX512 dimmers online easily and there are Arduino implementations of the protocol. Now, you say you are not an Arduino programmer, so I have to ask: why Arduino? There are multiple versions of what you need already in existence that can be programmed. Why not one of those?

... although now that I search for them, I can't find any that aren't LED only. Used to be a pretty common item at one time for the home automation hobbyists. There are PC-controlled dimmers but they are now far more expensive than the DMX512 ones.

So, back to DMX512. You can buy the entire systems off the shelf if you wish, or continue down the Arduino path. If you can swap out the AC lights for low-voltage LED, then it the potential safety hazards of a DIY Arduino solution can go away.

8

I've done exactly what you want for DMX on an Arduino... including moving heads and other fixtures.

The difficulty doing it one off, is that you can't use PWM to directly control AC lighting - you need a zero-crossing dimmer, with isolated control input.

This could all be done within an Arduino model using additional power control circuitry.

DMX solves a lot of that, but you'll still need a reasonable grasp of code structure to have overlapping dimmer ramps.

9

The three channels each need to ramp up in color (10 seconds), display that color for 5 minutes, cross-fade down as next color comes up.

int color;
boolean cross_fading;
uint32_t stateMs;

uint32_t XFADE_MS = 10 * 1000L;
uint32_t DISPLAY_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000L;

void displayColour(byte colour, byte brightness) {
  // this will depend entirely on your hardware :)
} 

setup() {
  // hardware, etc

  colour = 0;
  cross_fading = false;
  stateMs = millis();

  displayColour(color, 255); // full on - unless you want an initial cross fade
}

loop() {
  if(cross_fading) {
    if(millis() - stateMs >= XFADE_MS) {
      stateMs = millis();
      cross_fading = false;
      displayColour(color, 0); // full off
      color = (color+1) % 3;
      displayColour(color, 255); // full on
    }
    else {
       int pct = 255.0 * (millis() - stateMs)/((double)XFADE_MS);
      displayColour(colour, 255 - pct);
      displayColour((colour+1)%3, pct);
      // delay so as not to spam the fader with messages
      // divide by 3 to forestall aliasing
      delay(XFADE_MS/256/3); 
    }
  }
  else {
    if(millis() - stateMs >= DISPLAY_MS) {
      stateMs = millis();
      cross_fading = true;
    }
  }
}