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Step 5Wiring the LEDs
Two diagrams in the PDF document show colour coded guides to wiring the LED anode and cathode connections.
A cathode connection is the shorter lead adjacent to the flat side of each led.
Using thin,single strand insulated wire (You can use stranded wire instead if you like, although it doesn't look as neat ). Make the connections by carefully striping just enough insulation to wrap the wire around each led lead without completely cutting the wire.
(I used two different colour wires for the anodes and cathodes to make it easier to trace any errors)
Solder each connection as you go.
After making the last connection in a row or column, leave enough wire free for connecting to the pcb which is intended to fit in the space under the centre led.
Do not solder the leads closer than about 5mm from each LED and trim the leads after making all of the connections.
(TIP: Hold each LED lead while trimming to prevent it flying off.)
TIP: If you use small pieces of PVC tape or sticky labels to mark each Row/Column wire it will make it easier to identify when connecting to the PCB.
The trimmed LED leads are sharp, you may want to cover them over later using another similar sized plastic sheet or card.
A cathode connection is the shorter lead adjacent to the flat side of each led.
Using thin,single strand insulated wire (You can use stranded wire instead if you like, although it doesn't look as neat ). Make the connections by carefully striping just enough insulation to wrap the wire around each led lead without completely cutting the wire.
(I used two different colour wires for the anodes and cathodes to make it easier to trace any errors)
Solder each connection as you go.
After making the last connection in a row or column, leave enough wire free for connecting to the pcb which is intended to fit in the space under the centre led.
Do not solder the leads closer than about 5mm from each LED and trim the leads after making all of the connections.
(TIP: Hold each LED lead while trimming to prevent it flying off.)
TIP: If you use small pieces of PVC tape or sticky labels to mark each Row/Column wire it will make it easier to identify when connecting to the PCB.
The trimmed LED leads are sharp, you may want to cover them over later using another similar sized plastic sheet or card.
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Jan 4, 2009. 12:35 PM
neilh
says:
neilh
says:
Great instructable! I just built one, and it came out really well. Would you consider posting the source code so I can play with my own patterns more easily? I was hoping to have it complete before christmas, but the LEDs took a while to ship (I found them on ebay for a reasonable price). I can supply a pic of my snowflake if you like. Happy New Year to you! Thanks again! --Neil.
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Jan 5, 2009. 3:12 PMunusualelectronics (author)
says:
Hello Neil, Sorry, I don't release the source code for my projects. Perhaps next Christmas I could add a user config facility via the serial link? Please do post your snowflake photo here. Thanks, Dave
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