The 74HC164 Shift Register and your Arduino

Step 3 Projects

Okay, enough lecture and theory, lets do some fun stuff with this chip!

There are 3 projects to try in this instructable, the first 2 are easy and can be breadboarded out in moments. The third one, the 4x4 led matrix, requires more time and thought to construct, due to the led wiring.

List of parts

Project 1: '2 Wire' bargraph LED display controller
1 * 74HC164 Shift register
1 * solderless breadboard
1 * arduino, or arduino compatible (5v)
1 * 330 ohm 1/4 watt resistor
8 * normal output red LED's
12 * jumper wires

Project 2: '2 Wire' 7 segment display controller
1 * 74HC164 Shift register
1 * solderless breadboard
1 * arduino, or arduino compatible (5v)
1 * 330 ohm 1/4 watt resistor
1 * common cathode seven segment display
9 * jumper wires

Project 3: '2 Wire' 4x4 led matrix display
1 * 74HC164 Shift register
1 * arduino, or arduino compatible (5v)
4 * 150 ohm 1 1/4 watt resistor
8 * 1Kohm 1/8 watt resistor (or larger)
8 * NpN transistor (2n3904 or better)
16 * normal output red LED's

a means to construct it and regulated 5 volt power that can handle 160+ma (you can turn on all the LED's at once like a brake light)