Recommendation for small arduino controller with 12V power and 12V input

Projects General Guidance
1

I'm looking for a very small arduino for a motorcycle based project.

Must haves:

  • will work natively from 12V input (2 wire to USB adapter is fine)
  • bluetooth onboard
  • will run one (possibly 2) strings of neopixels
  • as small as possible, which given 12V input, may not be very... :slight_smile:

Nice to have:

  • can handle a 12V input signal natively (state sensing only - on/off)
  • battery connection which will handle full time power on arduino power input
  • may run some RGB 12V or 24V LEDs, probably a single group, but more could be useful

The above are listed in order of priority, but in more words:

  • It really has to work from 12V input voltage
  • I can't see much point to a board that doesnt't have bluetooth. I know I can do an add-in board, but I would prefer BT integrated for space reasons
  • Needs to run a single string of < 36 neopixels
  • Reduce the size as much as possible with those three criteria...

...then...

  • the 12V input sensing is almost a must, but if I have to use an external DC-DC buck, I could maybe do that
  • adding analog LEDs to the mix would be nice

Oh, and in case it helps, US based availability would be ideal

Many thanks in advance for any recommendations!

2

Get a buck converter to create 5 volt for the controller and the B T.
Measuring/sensing 12 volt is no problem using a voltage divider. You need a driver for the LEDs because of the current they need.
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3

How about this board, basically a Leonardo with Bluetooth.
Add a couple of transistors to switch LEDs on/off, or to have 12V signals pull an INPUT_PULLUP pin low so you know the 12V signal is high.

4

Railroader:
Get a buck converter to create 5 volt for the controller and the B T.

@Crossroads has suggested a board which will work on 12V input and has BLE, which is awesome!

Railroader:
Measuring/sensing 12 volt is no problem using a voltage divider.

Imma have to dig into that one... but I appreciate the pointer!

Railroader:
You need a driver for the LEDs because of the current they need.

Yes, will test with a strip of 5 and then add the inline amp to drive the analog RGB LEDs

Thank you for responding!

5

I don't read any "Yippee 12 volt, here we come". Watch out!

6

CrossRoads:
How about this board, basically a Leonardo with Bluetooth.
Add a couple of transistors to switch LEDs on/off, or to have 12V signals pull an INPUT_PULLUP pin low so you know the 12V signal is high.
Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE : ID 2829 : $29.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

That may just be the biscuit, Sir!

Thinking of the updated Sense version -

7

Railroader:
I don't read any "Yippee 12 volt, here we come". Watch out!

You're right. I had jumped two steps - initially was looking at a variant that possibly did.
I will look at a buck to give me 5V on the USB input.

I've now been seduced by the updated Sense variant, which will allow me to do cheezeball stuff like change the intensity of the lights based on exhaust noise level :wink:

8

Having a buck converter producing 5 volt You can feed it to the Arduino 5 volt pin, if I'm not totally lost.
Reading 12 volt stuff calls for voltage dividers done by 2 resistors.