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The Lightning Simulator/Breathalyzer/Graphic Equalizer - Arduino Powered

The Lightning Simulator/Breathalyzer/Graphic Equalizer - Arduino Powered
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  • led strip lighting simulator.jpg
  • DSC_0020.jpg
  • DSC_0057.jpg

*** UPDATE: A portable version of the Talking Breathalyzer is here http://talkingbreathalyzer.com ***

The LED strips are mounted on an outdoor trellace which functions as a lightning simulator, outdoor breathalyzer, graphic equalizer synced to music, and a few other effects with sound.

Materials:

8 12v RGB Waterproof Flexible LED Strips 10ft long (usledsupply.com) - $800
8 RGB 4A/Ch Amps (usledsupply.com) - $200
8 RGB 4A/Ch Amps with TTL input (usledsupply.com) - $200
RGB Controller 8 Key Touch (Wall Plate) - $25
1 Arduino Mega - $60
1 Arduino Mega ProtoShield - $15
1 AdaFruit WaveShield - $22
1 Electrical panel enclosure to house the Arduino and LED Strip amps - $30
18-4 cable for wiring the LED strips - $30
2 Power Supply 12v 48W 4A
1 5VDC Power Supply
Waterproof Butt Connectors
Standard CAT5 wire
2 pairs of Audio Baluns
Molex connectors and crimping pins
Alcohol Sensor
Various switches and two 10K potentiometers
Other sensors of your choice
Speakers
Audio Amplifier or Whole House Audio System
Electro-Seal by Ducky (waterproof, flexible rubber coating)  - Optional
 
 
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Step 1The Schematic & Audio Solution

The Schematic & Audio Solution
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  • trellace led.jpg
  • DSC_0062.jpg
I needed to be able to control each of the 8 LED strips (each strip is 10 feet long) individually. Controlling each LED in the strip individually would have been nice but was not required for this project.

After a bit of research, I landed on the folks over at usledsupply.com. Their service was great, they answered all of my questions even the dumb ones in a timely manner. They also did a custom wiring schematic based on my requirements and pre-cut the LED strips to the lengths I needed.

The project also needed sound for the Breathalyzer feature as well as some of the other effects, the Adafruit WaveShield fit the bill for this. Line level audio comes out of the WaveShield and goes into an existing whole house audio sound system (the Nuvo Grand Concerto). It was a 70ft run to the Grand Concerto audio system and unfortunately line level audio picks up noise very quickly on long runs so audio baluns over CAT5 were used to eliminate the noise.

For the Graphic Equalizer (VU Meter) feature, line level audio goes out from the Grand Concerto audio system into an analog input pin on the Arduino Mega.

usledsupply.com had an off the shelf LED controller for controlling the colors, dimming, flashing, etc. So I wanted to be able to use this controller along with the Arduino Mega for the lightning simulator/breathalyzer/graphic equalizer functions. The way this works is you simply turn on the controller you want and turn the other one off.

A higher resolution pic of the schematic


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21 comments
Apr 8, 2012. 11:48 AMtornagen says:
Inspiring project
Feb 6, 2011. 9:04 PMtechfreek says:
I am doing a project involving supplies from usLEDsupply as well, and I am wondering, you have 3 power supplies and 8 LED strip amps... how did you connect them? did you chop the existing connector off, and solder new leads onto the end? or did you just solder onto the existing connector? Thanks!
Dec 23, 2010. 6:23 AMTECHMASTERJOE says:
the way the RGB amps work makes the switching rev direction
i have been done that road
Nov 24, 2010. 7:57 AMHans Medietül says:
Absolutely amazing. Ill definitely be trying this.
Nov 19, 2010. 7:00 AMJimmacle says:
That's really cool! Congrats for being a grand prize winner!
Nov 18, 2010. 6:36 PMPenfoldPlant says:
What a brilliant bit of makery! Congratulations!
Nov 18, 2010. 6:40 PMtommielee40 says:
congrats, enjoy that CNC
Oct 21, 2010. 7:00 PMtechfreek says:
This i pretty awesome!
I am really tempted to build something similar to this, I was just wondering how you got the audio inputs (You had the waveshield for the output) and also how you did the spectrum analyzing.

Thanks!
Oct 20, 2010. 9:09 AMnoik says:
This is really awesome, especially the white button is nice
Keep up
Oct 18, 2010. 9:02 AMMrKazekage says:
im wondering how well it works in weather. also what is a rough estimate of cost for all these items. o right and can you help me figure out where to place all of this because i do not have a basement so its a bit of a problem figuring out where to place everything.
Oct 19, 2010. 9:07 AMMrKazekage says:
well thank you for the reply it was helpful. geting such a box would probably be cheaper on wire costs seeings how everything is right there and it saves me from making a million trips inside haha
Oct 18, 2010. 5:46 PMQhubarb says:
Wow! That is just awesome, great job!
Oct 16, 2010. 10:54 PMerinkwhite says:
Awesome!
Oct 16, 2010. 7:52 PMmary candy says:
shocked again! you 'ibles are fantastic !
congrats.

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Author:alinke
Al is an IT Director by day and a tinkerer by night (when his wife lets him). Al maintains two open source projects: the DIY Magic Mirror / Photobooth at http://diymagicmirror.com and the Droidalyzer ...
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