Introduction: Led Light Bar

About: Electronic and engineering geek! Enjoy my projects :)

This instructable will teach you how to make a LED light bar to use at home for cool effects!! Let's get started!    


DISCLAIMER- DO NOT MAKE THIS PROJECT IF YOU HAVE PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY.

Step 1: Parts

All of these parts could easily be found on amazon or even Maplins if you are willing to spend a lot on relatively cheep components!

- 24 Super bright white 12000mcd 5mm LEDs

- 1 Arduino

- 5mm drill bit

- drill

- saw

- wood. A piece 60 cm long is about right although you can go larger or smaller. It doesn't matter how wide it is.

- wire

- solder and soldering iron

- saw

- hot glue and got glue gun

Step 2: Cut the Wood

Now you are going to want to cut your piece if wood to length. 60mm long is best and the width does not matter. Preferably smaller.

Step 3: Drill the 5mm Holes for the LEDs

Now you are going to want to roughly drill 6 sets of 4 holes all along your wood.

Step 4: Hot Glue Your LEDs Into Place in There Holes in the Wood

Step 5: Solder All of the LEDs Negative Leads Together to Create One Ground for All of the LEDs

Now you are going to want to solder all of the LEDs negative (-) leads together to make one ground wire for all of the LEDs.

Step 6: Positive Connections

Now solder one wire to every set of 4 LEDs positives. You would end up with 6 positive wires and one ground wire if you have done all of the steps correctly.

Step 7: Plugging In.

Next attach the ground wire to the GND header on yours Arduino.

Attach the furthest away set of LEDs positive wire into pin 13

Next into 12

Next 11

10 and so on until you get to pin 8.

Step 8: Code

I have pasted some free effects I have made myself. It is easy to make your own though! Thanks for reading and have fun! I want to also create more of theise and create a daisy chain of led light bars with this one being the master and the others being slaves. :)



A cool little light show script ---

//Sketch for led light bar

//6 sets of 4 leds


//By Charlie Bolland


int led1 = 13;
int led2 = 12;
int led3 = 11;
int led4 = 10;
int led5 = 9;
int led6 = 8;


void setup() {               

  pinMode(led1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led6, OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);
}


void loop() {


  Serial.println(led1);
  delay(1);

  Serial.println(led2);
  delay(1);

  Serial.println(led3);
  delay(1);

  Serial.println(led4);
  delay(1);

  Serial.println(led5);
  delay(1);

  Serial.println(led6);
  delay(1);


  digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
  delay(250);               //Effect Scroll 1
  digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH); 
  delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End


digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);  //Effect scroll 2
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);  //Effect scroll 2
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

  digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
  delay(250);               //Effect Scroll 1
  digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH); 
  delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End


digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);  //Effect scroll 2
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);  //Effect scroll 2
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
delay(50);                 //Strobe Effect
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
delay(50);                 //Strobe Effect
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
delay(50);                 //Strobe Effect
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
delay(50);                 //Strobe Effect
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);  //End

digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  //Start
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  //Strobe effect 2
digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led6, LOW);
digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
delay(50);                //End
}



Cool Strobe effect type thing. 

//Sketch for led light bar

//6 sets of 4 leds


//By Charlie Bolland


int led1 = 13;
int led2 = 12;
int led3 = 11;
int led4 = 10;
int led5 = 9;
int led6 = 8;


void setup() {               

  pinMode(led1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led6, OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);
}


void loop() {

  digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
  delay(25);
  digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
  delay(25);
  digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
  delay(25);
  digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
  delay(100);
  digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
  delay(25);

    digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(led5, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(led6, HIGH);
  delay(25);
  digitalWrite(led1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(led3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(led4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(led5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(led6, LOW);

}

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