Will Arduino work for me?

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

I'm new to Arduino and kinda lost in the dark with what type of microcontroller I should use. I have the basic idea of how program them and using Mosfets with them to power large amount of leds. The type of thing I want to do is making large amounts of LED flash on and off repeatedly. Have been using 555 timer chips to do it, but I like taking it to the next level and be able make custom flash speeds and flash patterns.

The only way I can think of showing what type of patterns I want is with a GIF image. I'll post a link to one and try upload one with this post. I'll also upload image showing how many led being used in each set of LEDs shown in the GIF image.

Link to gif image number top right of the photo is the flash pattern. There total of 5
http://gifcreator.me/viewgif/20151019-04-DorE5ZeqVP6ZOi9g-KAA968

file name ledlighbar.png is the amount of leds being used

Thing making Led light bar goes on top of a car
Would Arduino work for me or should I try something else?

If it would what type of Arduino should I use? looks like I need 16 outpins

www.GIFCreator.me_KAA968.gif

ledlighbar.png
ledlighbar.png1236×921 14.7 KB

2

If you can use mosFets, then you can have the arduino control the mosFets.

3

What Arduino would you recommend I use? The looks of it, I need one that can control 16 output pins since that's how many sets of LEDs I have that need to flash independently. I have seen a few of them out there, but I get lost on what I should use. I've been looking at the Arduino nano or an Arduino UNO

4

a89077b8792e04890cbcdbc9fa132976c930809f.gif

85b6f1bc60b603099f3f5eb71fd5594cfaf5eb24.png
85b6f1bc60b603099f3f5eb71fd5594cfaf5eb24.png1236×921 14.7 KB

TPIC6B595s would be a good start.

5

What Arduino would you recommend I use?

A Uno.

6

or just the chip
like the atmega328p-pu w/bootloader ?
please fact check me, as mine is still in the mail...I haven't used it yet, but it should be able to handle what you described.

7

Especially when someone is new to the Arduino, it is silly to suggest a bare chip when a Nano is almost as cheap, completely ready to operate and intrinsically mounts on a breadboard for excellent connectivity, or stripboard for a final application.