[trust-no-1]

Preface:
I like LEDs, They are amazing little devices, They are fun to use, and can be used for hundreds of things, I just love them.
I love the whole idea of case lighting too, I love to be able to see inside a computer in the dark, it adds a whole new mood to this situation.
My only problem with this is the fixed color LEDs and cold cathodes arent customizable enough for me, and the NZXT Hue, While a great little piece of tech, annoys me. I hate the controls on the front, they look so big and bulky.
Because of this, I decided I would build my own RGB LED controller based on one of those $20 strips on ebay.

Evolution:
My initial plan was to use an NZXT Hue, That plan was soon dismissed.
I then decided to use the LED strip you can get on ebay, this plan evolved.
I will be having my pump mounted right under the 5.25" bay where my controller will be mounted, so I decided to hook the pumps power supply into the same one my controller will use.
I then decided that the LEDs in my res and CPU waterblock should be RGB too.
I then decided to light more areas than just the main compartment, such as the mesh trim around my NZXT Switch 810.

Plan?
I have decided to use the PCB from the LED strip controller as is, mainly because most components are SMD, this will stick unless I find a way to use the SMD IC as pass-through.
I will have a custom PCB printed that will act as a "Distribution board", splitting the 4 pin CRGB from the controller and going to several RGB LEDs as well as a few strips, each connected independently.
I may also have one or two 40mm fans connected to keep it all nice and cool.
This plan will most definitely change as things progress.

First update tomorrow, Stay tuned!

 

[wthenshaw]

SUB'd

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wthenshaw

SUB'd

Welcome

 

[Smoothopr8tor07]

subbed

 

[iWorkAtStaples]

Very intrigued. Cant wait

 

[cr4p]

PIIICCCSSSS!

subbed!

 

[lostlogic]

subbed my friend, want to see where this is headed.. everyone likes shiny lights, if they admit it or not! I'm like a raccoon i like shiny

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoothopr8tor07

subbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by iWorkAtStaples

Very intrigued. Cant wait

Quote:

Originally Posted by cr4p

PIIICCCSSSS!

subbed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostlogic

subbed my friend, want to see where this is headed.. everyone likes shiny lights, if they admit it or not! I'm like a raccoon i like shiny

Welcome aboard everyone

Im in love with lights, sweet sweet lights

There are no pics yet.....
However, I was playing with a few RGB LEDs before and MIGHT have made a video

 

[alfredshuryan]

Sub'd Love me some RGB LEDS and would like ideas for controlling them to the project theme... Good Luck!,,!,

 

[kgtuning]

of course I'm SUBBED!

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfredshuryan

Sub'd Love me some RGB LEDS and would like ideas for controlling them to the project theme... Good Luck!,,!,

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgtuning

of course I'm SUBBED!

Thanks guys

 

[trust-no-1]

Just a few pics and a video showing what the RGB controller can do.
I wired up 18 RGB LEDs onto the breadboard and then ran out of hookup wires.

The LEDs.

The wire "matrix" that connects all the pins to the CRGB input.

The all important resistors.

The remote

The LED strip I will be using

Closup

Top of the controller

Bottom of the controller

Just a little video showing off what the controller can do, sorry for the poor quality, it came from my phone.

Stay tuned

 

[KurruptAus]

SUB'd bro

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurruptAus

SUB'd bro

Thanks mate

I got my Arduino today, Heres a little test of mine, Im thinking of having a smart RGB controller based on the Arduino.
Call this a 3 LED proof of concept

Using an RGB LED will be tomorrows job.

 

[trust-no-1]

Ive decided on a more specific direction for this project.

Im going to have 6 RGB outputs, 3 Fan outputs, 2 RPM inputs and an LCD output with touch input. This will be based on a reference design but custom made Arduino Mega.
By that I mean I will be having a custom PCB made and the Arduino will be built into it, so instead of an Arduino shield, It will be all one PCB.
I will only be using 5 RGB outputs and 2 fan outputs, but I have 1 extra for future use.
All of this will be connected to the internal USB header and I will be writing some software for customization of all colors or fan speeds.
You can also control it via a touch screen on the front of the computer. You can also monitor temps and RPMs ect. via the screen.

I will try and work something out in Fritzing to show it all.

 

[Mr240sx]

Sorry for bumping an old thread, I know its not generally approved of but its not that old. Whatever the case, I've recently been trying to figure out some sort of custom Lighting for my case as well. I can't decide if I should just buy some bitfenix alchemy strips and wire them up to a switch in the front of my case or do something along the lines of what you're doing here. I have a couple of questions though.

Would it be at all possible to use HSV/HSL values within the software then have an algorithm to convert it to RGB? HSV or HSL seem to offer smoother transitions with RGB leds. Also, would it be possible to rather than use an arduino use a smaller microcontroller such as an ATmega? I think this would fit in a 5.25" bay a bit easier.

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr240sx

Sorry for bumping an old thread, I know its not generally approved of but its not that old. Whatever the case, I've recently been trying to figure out some sort of custom Lighting for my case as well. I can't decide if I should just buy some bitfenix alchemy strips and wire them up to a switch in the front of my case or do something along the lines of what you're doing here. I have a couple of questions though.

Would it be at all possible to use HSV/HSL values within the software then have an algorithm to convert it to RGB? HSV or HSL seem to offer smoother transitions with RGB leds. Also, would it be possible to rather than use an arduino use a smaller microcontroller such as an ATmega? I think this would fit in a 5.25" bay a bit easier.

This isnt an old thread, Im still working on this project, Im just waiting for appropriate funds.

If the microcontroller you use has PWM your best bet is to use them for max control. 1 PWM per R/G/B and set the value from 0-255. Following that, Pink would be 200,0,200.
IE; Pin 1(R) 200, Pin 2(G) 200, Pin 3(B) 200

The only problem we encounter doing it this way is lack of PWM ports but this can be side stepped fairly easy by the use of I2C and a PWM controller such as the PCA9685.
This would take up only 2 pins on your Arduino/ATmega(SDA,SCL) and would then offload all PWM functions to another chip.
Based on my basic study of this, The way you would program it is fairly easy:
First you call the address of the chip;
You then inform the chip the recieve bits;
You then send binary code telling it which pin has what value;
You then end the transmission;
Repeat for other chips or to change values.

The easiest option above all would be a HUE.
Next easiest would be the Bitfenix Strips.
This is the hardest option but gives the most customization, and thats why im doing it this way because there wasnt one product out there that filled all my needs.

I hope that answered most of your questions

 

[Mr240sx]

Just Curious, how much is what you're doing costing?

 

[trust-no-1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr240sx

Just Curious, how much is what you're doing costing?

About $140 for the electronics. The lcd is the most expensive part of it.
That price doesn't include the case mount yet. I haven't thought about that other than the fact it will go in the 4 5.25" bay drives of my case.

 

[Mr240sx]

Hmm.... How much do you think it would cost if all I was doing was taking a junk dvd drive for my enclosure, and a controller for maybe... 4-5 strips?