A remote controlled power RGB LED mood light.

A remote controlled power RGB LED mood light.
«
  • RGB_mood_lamp_WW.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_BwR.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_C.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_G.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_M.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_R.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_W.jpg
  • RGB_mood_lamp_Y.jpg
  • encased.jpg
  • The_set.jpg
  • last photo ←
»
Control the colour of a powerful LED light beam with a remote control, store the colours and recall them at will.

With this thing I can control the colour of a bright light into many different colours using the three fundamentals colours : red green and blue. Adding them toghether with different intensity can yeld very great a range of colours from the visible spectrum.
Specifically my mood lamp can shift colours through 32 intensity values for each RGB colour giving
32*32*32 = 32768 different combinations of hue, intensity and brightness. It can also store 10 different combinations can be turned on or off, all of these through a TV remote control.
The intensity of each red, green and blue component is done via PWM so heat dissipation is kept to a minimum.

The circuit is simple and there are no pushbuttons as control is done entirely through the remote control.
I use this circuit to light a flower vase. The flat case of the box I chose does a good job at balancing the vase.
The pictures provide some ideas.
One day I am possibly buying one of those glass cubes with LASER created 3D shapes inside to go with the lamp. For now glass vases are just fine.

UPDATE : I uploaded V1.1 where at power up the micro outputs the values from memory number 0. Just make sure you store your power up colour in memory number 0 and at power up it will show up. If you'd rather go for lights off, just store all blanks in memory numer 0.
Ciao

Hey I'm on the best of Instructables book !
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Description

Description
The LED I chose is a Seoul Semiconductors single chip. It is pretty expensive, but it is powerful giving a very bright light. It provides also an excellent colour blending.
It could be replaced by cheaper and probably equivalent ones; when I designed this, it was the only one suitable I could find.
Due to the LED's high power rating it is absolutely necessary to provide it with a reasonable heat sink like the one you see in the photos; before putting the finished circuit in a case check the LEDs for heat at maximum intensity on all of the three colours. The current limiting resistors I chose match my LED only !

I chose a 10% less than the typical recommended V-I values on the datasheet curves.

Being the circuit in a plastic case it is not safe to pull dissipation any higher while a metallic case with an external dissipation scheme might make safe to pull the LEDs currents a make a more powerful beam.
Different LEDs do have different ratings. Check the datasheets for maximum dissipation and recommendations for your LED.
I purchased my LED online from Distrelec. Farnellinone carries them also.

The drivers are surplus NPN transistors over-dimensioned for the current required. Less powerful TO126 encased NPNs should do fine. As the Transistor are driven with PWM, their dissipation is kept to a minimum so heat sink is not necessary.

The IR receiver is one i savaged from a dead TV toghether with the remote control. The receiver has a metallic screen that should be grounded to 0V. Some newer small-sized ones are from Temic and can be bought from the same sources as above. Practically any receiver works fine, provided that it has 5Volt logic levels (and supply) and has the same (or close) carier frequency as the remote transmitter (typically 38-50kHz). When demolishing a TV or any other remote controlled piece of equipmentm, a good rule is to save both the remote and the receiver. By the way, I love saving transformers, VFD, motors as well, but that's another story.

This lamp uses an european RC5 standard for Philips TV remotes; Any programmable remote control that supports Philips TVs should be fine, I tried one and it works.
Both remote decoding and PWM generating routines should be understandable from the source code I commented.
The circuit must be supplied from a 5 Volt, 1A good source. Initially I used a linear voltage regulator IC on the board into the case, but the heat generated by the regulator was way too much to be easily dissipated from within the box, so I removed it and now I'm using anexternal waal adapter with a regulated 5V 3A output. The LEDs are powered directly from the 5Volt, so any variation would trash your precise calculations for currents to flow through the LEDs, possibly damaging them. So, the better and stable the supply, the better.
The case I chose is a Teko TB9, it looks elegant to me and small transparent objects can be placed on top of the case+LED without the risk of falling.
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
110 comments
1-40 of 110next »
Sep 7, 2010. 8:12 PMBuild_it_Bob says:
Wow, what a great contribution! I have to return to the site to keep reading. You make assembly code understandable ( I have always found assembly hard to follow) with your comments and neat form. I am looking forward to finding time to build this. Thanks for sharing !
Build_it_Bob
Aug 26, 2010. 9:05 PMboopainspires says:
great design but for doing we need pretty interest
Aug 7, 2010. 8:27 AMscott1202 says:
Try to connect an LED at the output of the IR receiver and see if it lights up a bit when you press a button on the remote. Specific code to test the hardware is probably overkill. Car Led
Jan 26, 2010. 1:15 PMdar7290 says:
 Is there a way to get a chip pre-programed? or do you know where I could get one programed?

Sep 16, 2008. 1:46 PMerrolmorris says:
Can anybody provide a data sheet for the 2SB2012 transistors in the schematic. Is it a typo, I can't find anything on them.
Nov 4, 2009. 1:46 PMmarxmarv says:
Under the JIS coding scheme, 2SB* is an audio-frequency PNP transistor.  Are you quite sure it's not a 2SC2012 (3A Ic, TO-220 package)?
Aug 13, 2009. 3:27 PM12V says:
why don't you make a rc5 encoder?(with pic) it is one of the most used codes by hobbyists!
Aug 13, 2009. 3:30 PM12V says:
have you engaged cp(code protection )? i want to be able to reuse my pic.
Apr 13, 2009. 3:19 AMradio.bhaskar says:
Hi, This is a very good Instructables it possible to increase the number of preset channels from 10 to say 30 or more . I am using PIC16C628A micro and any possibility of cyclic colour fading in/out.
Apr 1, 2009. 10:48 PMmagicentral says:
Would there be a way to make this controll an LED string, and do fades and strobe? Also, could the reciever and LEDs run off of a battery? thanks
Dec 27, 2008. 1:33 PMbrian31 says:
hi iam new to electronics , this project looks realy worth while, i have nearly sourced all the components, could any one tell me what what the 2 components are after the qaurtz 20 mhz are, sorry for the stupid question also the rating of the 2 black capcitors. i have a little experience with pic programmers thats about it iam afraid. thanks from brian
Dec 19, 2008. 2:58 AMTZepeSH says:
I have finally finished the module and it is working perfectly with the program with -5%. I will use this for changing the color of the dashboard instruments in my car. Unfortunately, the car is still in work and i can not post any images, but as soon as possible i will post some images with the led lighting a crystal flower. Also, i tested a modified circuit for common cathode leds and it is working very well. If it is permitted, i will add a schematic of a change i have made to the circuit to accomodate more leds (i added two more transistors on each output of the microcontroller - inverter circuit to obtain the same output as for one transistor in the original schematic).
Nov 21, 2008. 6:36 AMbigalscorpio says:
Hi again 5Volt, I forgot to mention also that I used the Receiver from a sky box too, all the ones I have are from sky boxes and all so far are the same, with the blob facing you and the leads downwards the pinout from left to right is Out, Gnd and Vdd. Also did you ponder on my question of powering up with the lights on? I would really appreciate this if you could help..............Al
Nov 23, 2008. 1:25 AMtomy says:
Hi 5Volt, I know its old question, but can you find some spare time and modify code also for color fading?I thing its most wanted function for your beautiful lamp! wbr tomy
Nov 23, 2008. 11:30 PMtomy says:
Hi 5Volt,
I tried a lot of rgb fading lamps and the best color fading without jerking has this lamp:http://tobe.nimio.info/led_mood_lamp.php. I have this one in slow color fading mode and looks great. Maybe you can look to its code for algorithm you need.If you find some time of course...
tomy

Nov 21, 2008. 2:39 PMbigalscorpio says:
Hi Alex, I got it working, I must not have hit the 0 button quick enough before! :) You do need to be really quick after the vol - . So its sussed and working great now. You're a real star! Thanks again and I will take some pics and post them as soon as I find the mem card for the camera, someone has borrowed it for something and not put it back as usual. Doh! Al
Nov 21, 2008. 12:00 PMbigalscorpio says:
Hi Alex, Just tried the new code and still no light when powered up :( Did you actually add to the hex code, can you read it as hex, I mean does that really make sense to you? I'm impressed if you did, I'd be satisfied if I could understand the ASM ;) hehehe Al
Nov 20, 2008. 4:41 PMbigalscorpio says:
Hi 5Volt, Great piece of work! I just finished making it using a PIC16F628A and it works fine, and I'm using an old sky remote (code 584) just for anyone who needs to use one. One thing I would like to alter is I would like the light to default to ON when powered up. Is this possible by adding - changing some of the code? I am only just starting PICs and learning MeBasic, so I don't know where to start in your ASM program so any help would be much appreciated, its probably simple to you. Oh and by the way, where do I find this new project you mentioned I can't wait! Thanks again for a great project. :) Al
Oct 23, 2008. 6:52 AMfmatosqg says:
Hi, Great project, that is what I had in mind. I hit into it while searching for information on xtals, lucky me! Only I started with a smooth changing color scheme in mind, so I would ask if you had further elaborated it, or had notice of someone who had. I know gray code, but didn't follow your thoughts with 3Dman back in 2007, how do you think it could help? I though about making 2 or 3 customized tables on a PC and running indexes. So one just needs to randomize the table used. Another question is how white can you get with this scheme? Of course 100% pure white is unnatainable, but is it hard to calibrate it to match a white led? And does your experience tells you how much that calibration changes with old age (current wear)? I should add a microphone and some tuned filters for whistle freqs, so I can change color modes this way. Anyways, you are plenty of ideas I should use before.
Sep 23, 2008. 6:40 AMerrolmorris says:
Thanks for the taking the time respond. I've built the circuit but cannot get it to work. Is there a way to exercise the circuit without a remote to make sure the program and circuitry is working and isolate the problem to the remote. Maybe a demo program that runs when first powered. Also I am using a philips universal remote and have tried all the philips tv codes with no progress. Can you recommend a universal remote that has worked?
Sep 29, 2008. 6:10 AMerrolmorris says:
I've taken your advice and checked all the items you listed. Everything seems to be OK. I think my problem is going to be the universal remote I'm using. Can we get a list from the people on this Instructable about which remotes are guaranteed to work? If need be I'll buy the same remote on ebay. Buy the way the one I've tried to use that didn't work looks like this.
philips-remote-control.jpg
Oct 16, 2008. 8:49 AMerrolmorris says:
I've tried TSOP1138 and TSOP1140 from Vishay. The data sheet is here:

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/46673.pdf

If you can guarantee a different one to work I'll make sure I get it and try it. Thanks so much for continuing to provide support, it is appreciated.
Oct 20, 2008. 10:08 AMerrolmorris says:
I have previously tried an LED at the output of the IR receiver and it does blink when I use the remote. I have hooked a scope to the crystal and I do have a 20 MHz wave there. The suggestion of adding a few lines of code to help isolate things is an excellent one, let me know when its available. In the meantime I presently have this on a bread board and I will trim all the excessive lead length and try again. Thank you
Oct 13, 2008. 1:33 PMskappy says:
Hi 5Volt, i'm tryling to replicate your circuit but i encounter some difficulties. May i ask you what kind of setting have you choose for programming the PIC with WinPic? Is there someting special to do ? I've checked and rechecked the circuit, finding nothing ... The programmation of the pic seems to be ok but .... i'm tseting the output port of the pic with oscillo but nothing appears and the led never switch on when activating the remote. Could you help please ? Thank you very much
1-40 of 110next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
53
Followers
15
Author:5Volt