PIR Motion, LED Strip

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Good evening everyone,

My name is Brandon. Although this is my first time posting here on the forum, I have been around and very much enjoy reading what you guys are working on and what you all have to teach. I am very interested in electronics, however the path I chose was a degree in law followed by a law practice. Obviously this is on the extreme opposite side of the spectrum of anything that deals with electrical components. That being said I have a project that I am very interested in starting. I want to run an LED strip under my bathroom counter that is activated via a PIR motion sensor. Upon days of research I have acquired, what I believe is all essential items/components required for this project. However outside of purchasing these items and researching on the basic functionality of each I am absolutely STUCK at what to do at this point.

My current inventory is as follows. (Each item is linked to an in depth webpage)

Ardunio Uno
Multiple breadboards, Resistors, etc.
What would you "engineers" recommend me do at this point or study at this point being as I have no idea where to start or how to wire these items. All information that any of you are willing to pass my way will be greatly appreciated!

P.S - I hope I have provided you all with enough information to adequately help.

2

Hi Brandon.

My first advice would be don't throw everything together at once, in terms of hardware or software. Start perhaps with just the sensor, connect it up and echo its readings back to the serial monitor on the pc. Then add an ordinary 5mm led (+ series resistor) and change the code to switch that on and off. Then move on to timing how long the led stays on. Then fading if required. Then introduce the transistor and led strip.

The sensor should be easy to connect. Just 5V, ground and any digital pin (except 0 or 1).

I have to say, if you don't need to fade the leds on/off, you may not need an Arduino in this circuit at all! That sensor has pots to adjust sensitivity and on-time. It's output may be able to drive the transistor directly.

Paul