Hey guys, I am looking for some info for a project I am planning.
I want to have some RGB garden lights that are battery operated and will get color updates from a central transmitter? I am thinking of have multiple units in the garden so I don't want multiple point to point connections. I have searched but all I can find are people doing sensors (multiple sensors talking back to one base station) and I want the reverse.
So my question is what sort of wireless system (hardware) will allow me to send out to multiple units that all receive the same info? Then I am thinking to use packet ID's so that I can change individual colors or I can tell them all to do something at the same time.
This is just a hobby project ( I think it would look cool) so I would also like to keep the cost down. I also don't think I will need high speed comms ( not sure, still planning)
So my question is what sort of wireless system (hardware) will allow me to send out to multiple units that all receive the same info? Then I am thinking to use packet ID's so that I can change individual colors or I can tell them all to do something at the same time.
Is there going to be an Arduino at each light? If not, what is going to decode the packet ID and other data, and make the decisions?
What distances are you talking about? What fault tolerance? Cheap radios are not all that good at getting data through accurately.
On the other hand, an Arduino with XBee shield and XBee at each light will get expensive. You'd be looking at $75 per light for some cool lights. You might be OK with that, but the wife probably won't be.
Well I agree, I don't think the wife would be thrilled. But I was thinking of using just the ATmega328, not the full Arduino. Coupled with an RF receiver and a RGB led. I am hoping the cost per unit to be more like$15-$25. Still not exactly cheap but better than $75. Possibly could be cheaper depending on the transmitter/receiver choice.
This is just it. I can't find anything that tells me if what I want is possible. Hence the question about hardware. If it can only be done with expensive modules then I don't think I will try it. But if I can get a cheap module then I would love to make a few and see what I could do with it.
Is there a cheaper micro-controller solution that I should investigate? Or am I just over thinking this?
Actually I think you could just use the XBee series one wire function per light, basicly you'd use the Xbee's ADC channels to measure to measure light intensity or what ever, and have each sensor send info back to an arduino, then have the arduino send out commands to each light, just use some transistors to handle more current, the only flaw I can see in this is if say you want each individual light to be a different color, then you'd need a uC at each light also, either way though your still talking $25-50 per light... and you'd have to consider atmospherics like if you live in an area that gets down to 0 deg F or upto 120 F in summer then you may want to just stick with basic garden lights.
I am in a tropical climate so more on the hot side than cold. But its still seeming to be an expensive exercise. Time to look into something else until some funds become more available. Thanks for the info guys.
bare 328 boards from NKCelectronics, $2 each.
atmega from newark.com <$3
16 mhz crystal, 22 pf caps, 100nF caps 10k resisters from dipmicro.com
3 rechargable batteries, Cs/Ds will last really long compared to AAs/AAAs.
17cm antenna wire on all devices.
"really useful boxes" from officemax,staples, online, easy to work with, overlapping covers should be fairly watertight.
But I was thinking of using just the ATmega328, not the full Arduino. Coupled with an RF receiver and a RGB led. I am hoping the cost per unit to be more like$15-$25. Still not exactly cheap but better than $75. Possibly could be cheaper depending on the transmitter/receiver choice.