RGB LED Equalizer

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello,
this is my first post to this Forum. I hope you could help me with a project.
The Idea:

I want to build something like that, but much smaller. I´m gonna use 16 X 3x3x40 cm Plexiglassplates one above the other. To light them up I use RGB LEDs.

My Questions:
Is one LED per side enough to light the whole plate up? So that I have 32 RGB LEDs?

Who is it possible to Control so much pins (96)?
I want to use the "74HC595" register. The project should cost as less as possible. Are four of them enough, when I multiplex the common pin and switch very fast thrue the RGB channels? Is the controller fast enough?

Or have you another Idea.

I hope you can help me with the project
Buckwich

2

5mm LEDs (assuming that's the type you're describing) are very directional. I'd expect difficulty getting it to spread in a 360 degree pattern in the plexiglass plates (you should probably be using acrylic, btw).

The page for the ShiftPWM library includes a calculator that you can use to figure out how many LEDs the Arduino is capable of.

3

Thanks for your answer. I didn't geht the difference between plexi and acrylicglass. Bur when i usw white colored filled glass, could it work?

4

74HC595 will not work well for this, the output current it can support is too low and the LEDs will be too dim.
Find common anode RGB LEDs and use TPIC6B595 instead.
Or use parts with more outputs, like WS2803, 18 I/O, can drive 6 RGB LEDs each.

tpic6b595 open drain shift register.pdf (150 KB)

WS2803-preliminary-En.pdf (437 KB)

5

The idea was to light up only one RGB led a time and fast switch through the different lines

6

Either part I suggested will support that.

7

Buckwich:
I didn't geht the difference between plexi and acrylicglass.

Actually that was my mistake; Plexiglass is the trade name for acrylic. I was thinking Plexiglass was the trade name for polycarbonate.

8

I will use the TPIC6B595 and 5mm RGB LEDs with a common anode.

But can someone tell me where to buy the plexiglas for less money?

9

Where are you located? Update your profile and add geographic information: Planet, Hemispshere, Continent, Country - something that will help us to locate a source.
Otherwise, try e-bay.

10

I´m from Germany.

11

Perhaps ask in the International/German forum then.

12

LEDs light this will be pretty bright
http://www.dipmicro.com/store/LED10AC

Diffused, not as bright:
http://www.dipmicro.com/store/LED10AD

Maybe LED strips layed out in a small circle or square inside each layer?
These are single color, use RGB instead
http://www.dipmicro.com/store/LS3258PB60

13

The LEDS aren´t the problem, if the LED aren´t bright enough I use more in one row the problem is the plexiglas. How is the dhape I need called?