portable ledstrip project

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey Arduino folks!

I'm thinking about making a project kind of like Adafruits Firewalker but a litle bit cheaper with an ATTiny85 to control the led strip with 2 pwm and 1 software pwm.
The problem I've encountered is how to power the 12 volt led strip. I've a hard time finding a cheap 5V led strip so do you guys have any idea? How should I power this project or am I missing something?

thanks guys!

2

Use 12V supply to LED+,, and transistors controlled by Attiny to switch LED-'s to Gnd to turn them on.

3

CrossRoads:
Use 12V supply to LED+,, and transistors controlled by Attiny to switch LED-'s to Gnd to turn them on.

Thanks man but what I wonder is what type of batteries I should use to power it? (:
Thanks

4

First figure what the total current draw of the LEDs will be, then how long you wish to run them.
Example: 1A draw x 2h run time = 2Ah @ 12V. So for that example a 4Ah or larger 12V rechargeable battery will do.
If your into lugging around a bulky 12V battery.
Also, you must use a linear or buck regulator to power the ATTiny85 from 12V.
Simpler to get 5V LED strips and run the whole thing from 3.7V LiPo batteries or AA batteries and boost to 5V.

5

elac:
First figure what the total current draw of the LEDs will be, then how long you wish to run them.
Example: 1A draw x 2h run time = 2Ah @ 12V. So for that example a 4Ah or larger 12V rechargeable battery will do.
If your into lugging around a bulky 12V battery.
Also, you must use a linear or buck regulator to power the ATTiny85 from 12V.
Simpler to get 5V LED strips and run the whole thing from 3.7V LiPo batteries or AA batteries and boost to 5V.

Trying to find a cheap 5V LED strip sounds like a better idea as you say. But I can't find any cheap ones, why are the 12Volt ones cheaper? :frowning:
finding a good 5V step up regulator seems like a litle bit of a challenge too, to chose the right one at least :confused:

6

These work well

I used one of the 12V models to drive 10 strings of 5 LEDs (need to count them now, has been a while) in this box: (lower left block & lower right block of 4x5)
and to send 12V down two sets of 42+ meters 4-conductor 26 AG wire (+12V, Gnd, Tx, 4th not used) to 2 boxes similar to this (with simpler control card, a promini actually, in the middle) for their lights.