Customizable Holiday Display

I made this instructable for the Instructables Advent Calendar. I hope it adds some fun to your waiting time for Christmas.

This display is highly customizable. I used a mini breadboard instead of a solid circuit board to give you the ability to customize the behavior of the LED by changing the components around the NE555. So this display is not only beautiful - its also educational. Learn about the timer IC NE555 by playing with your "Customizable Holiday Display"!

I added a small contest. Win a 1 year pro membership with your own circuit! See step 4 for more information.

Step 1 Parts and Tools

Here is what you need:

• Altoids tin
• spray paint
• mini breadboard
• some wire
• 9V battery+ battery clip
• NE555
• wire
• black paper
• translucent paper

for the "default mode":

• 1 resistor 33k
• 1 resistor 330 ohm
• 1 capacitor 100uF
• 1 transistor BC547
• 1 LED yellow

for customizations:

• various resistors
• various capacitors
• various LEDs
• various transistors
• ....no limit in creativity!

tools:

• knife
• wire cutter
• credit card sized plastic card
• pen
• scissors
• paper cutter

Comments

[Robot Lover]

Cool! I might try this (with an ATtiny85).

[mischka]

Its a great idea to use a µC for that. I am very curious about your circuit!

[Robot Lover]

Here is mine. It's kinda lame. I didn't have any orange or yellow LEDs so I made a tree.

[mischka]

Thanks for sharing. Would you also post the circuit and the code for the µC?

[Robot Lover]

Sure!

[Robot Lover]

I will post a few pictures of it in an hour or two.

[canucksgirl]

Very cool entry to the Advent Calendar.
A contest within a contest is an original idea too :)

[mischka]

Thank you!