I've been directed to Arduino as a good platform to use for an effect we want to create in an installation but I'm not sure what the correct product is to buy and even if its up to the job - any help on this would be greatly received. here is what we need to create:
a puzzle effect as part of an interactive game consisting off
4 x incremental dials (either 0 - 10 or 0 - 100) don't know which ones would be compatible with Arduino
controlling
4 x led strips - to look like meters (the higher the dial is turned the high the LED on the strip)
here is the confusing bit (requiring interesting coding - looking forward to doing that!!)
As its all part of a puzzle game the idea was that each dial in turn effects the other dials/LEDs turning them down - the point being to solve the puzzle you need to get all the LED strips to a correct level.
the final piece - Once the LEDs have reach the correct level the Arduino needs to release an electromagnet therefore releasing a piece of metal (a key) which is then used to escape the puzzle.
this doesn't actually feel like to complicated a task but having little knowledge of the kit and procedure required its difficult to know where to start - so i would relish any pointers anyone can throw out.
the main things I'm concerned about are:
the size of the code sketch required - which arduino will handle that size of sketch????
the electromagnet i have to use requires a 12v supply but the maximum output from an arduino board is 5v?? is this correct??
where can i start looking for the dials and LED strips that will be compatible with arduino?
the electromagnet i have to use requires a 12v supply but the maximum output from an arduino board is 5v?? is this correct??
It is correct that the output of a 5V Arduino is 5V. It may not be correct that the electromagnet requires 12V. It may not be correct that you HAVE to use that one.
It doesn't matter, anyway. The Arduino can not POWER the electromagnet, regardless of what its voltage is. The Arduino can turn a transistor on or off, which can control the 12V (or whatever) power supply that powers the electromagnet.
where can i start looking for the dials and LED strips that will be compatible with arduino?
Adafruit sells LED strips in whatever length you want. Well, as long as you want a length that they sell. 8).
It is not clear what "dials" you are thinking about. Rotary encoders? Potentiometers? Please do NOT use the term knob to clarify anything.
godivaPrima:
but that the value of one such dial can change another one sounds like the dial needs to be driven too,
You may indeed be correct but I did not form that impression. I read it as meaning that turning dial B has a negative impact on the effect that dial A had already created - without causing any physical rotation of dial A.
It seems to me that rotary encoders would be more suitable than potentiometers because the encoders can turn indefinitely (any time you need a little more A you can have it) whereas a potentiometer has a finite range of travel and when dial A got to the end it could not produce any more output.