Working with RGB LEDs

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi everybody

This is my first post here, as I'm writing this, my Arduino Uno Starter Kit is on it's way to me, really looking forward to playing with it. I'll ofcourse be occupied with the "blink a led" sketches etc first, but I've already started thinking about a larger project.

I have a really basic understanding of electronics, so I'm learning with every topic I read, every youtube video I watch, but it's getting hard to see the forest through the trees. Ultimately, I would like to make something as in this video: - YouTube only with more LEDs (64 or more maybe?). I've been reading about shift registers, the max7219 LED driver, PWM, multiplexing... the last two days, but I wouldn't want to start my project, only realising I've taken a wrong approach.

So my question is: what is the easiest way (bearing cost in mind) to work with a large amount of RGB LEDs? I hope there's an easy answer, but somehow I expect there isn't :stuck_out_tongue:

I don't need specific code or schematics or whatever just yet (probably won't understand any of it anyway :p), I would just like somebody telling me "you need to look up this thing or that thing..."

For those interested, here's what I want to make: an RGB LED tube (not a cube, a tube :p), though with only LED's on the outside (I'm planning on attaching them to something opaque and then covering the outside of the LEDs with decorative paper for a diffused effect). I would write different programs, like one where the colors run down the sphere, vertical up and down moving, a trickling effect... Ideally, I'd also like manual controls over color and speed, I'd want one steady color if I wanna use it as a nightstand light, have it moving fast with lots of colors during a party or have it move slow if I just want some background lighting.

2

Just for on and off then go with shift registers. For brightness control go with the TLC5940.

3

Sorry for sounding dumb and repeating this, but let me summarize:

  • If I just want to control the colour of the LEDs, I can manage with shift registers
  • If I want to control both colour AND brightness of the LEDs (which I guess I will want to), I should use the TLC5940?
4

On off shift register control gives you on an off for each LED. This gives you a maximum of 7 colours. More colours involve brightness of the individual LEDs.

5

Grumpy_Mike:
On off shift register control gives you on an off for each LED. This gives you a maximum of 7 colours. More colours involve brightness of the individual LEDs.

Riiight, I remember reading about that. That's the PWM part, no? When my arduino arrives, I'm gonna go to the local electronics shop and pick up a basic shift register and some normal leds, try to get a basic understanding of it first.

Since LEDs and chips are hella expensive here, I'll probably order some of ebay soonish.

Thanks for being so helpful!