Introduction: Zelda RGB LED Lamp Controlled With Arduino and Bluetooth
Learn how to make your own color changing lamp. In this guide, we will show you how to control RGB LEDs with your mobile. We will explain how to make the circuit and how to program it with Arduino. Also, we will describe how we made our Zelda Triforce lamp, for you to learn how to create a simple yet striking case for your project. Are you ready? Let's start!
Step 1: Materials
You are gonna need:
- Arduino Uno
- Breadboard
- Bluetooth Module H-05
- Android Cellphone
- 4 RGB LEDs
- Cables or Jumpers
- 9 volts battery
- 9 volts battery snap connector
For the case:
- Battery Paper of medium thickness
- Translucid Polypropylene
- Golden acrylic paint
- Brown acrylic paint
- Brushes
- Sandpaper
- Ruler
- Cutter
- Hot Glue gun
- Exact Knife (Optional)
Step 2: Connecting the LEDs
For connecting the circuit you need to take into account the following: Identify the RGB LEDs as common cathodes or common anodes, because cathode LEDs are connected to ground and anodes are connected to voltage.
Once you identified the LED type, connect them in series ( all legs connected in the same breadboard row with the R,G,B, and ground matching ), and connect the RGB legs to the pins 3,5, and 6. See the diagram above.
Step 3: Connecting the Bluetooth Module
Now the LEDs are connected to the Arduino. For connecting the HC-05 Bluetooth module you will have to do the following: first, check the back of the module, it has written the names of the parts that have to be connected. They are named TX, RX, VCC, GRND and they will be connected as follows:
HC-05 >> Arduino
TX >> RX
RX >> TX
VCC >> 5V
GRND >> GRND
Step 4: Arduino’s Battery Connection
For keeping the Arduino turned on, we will use a 9V battery with its connector. For connecting the battery to the Arduino it is fundamental to identify the poles of the battery, in this case, the positive and negative pole; commonly, the battery’s connector identifies the poles with a red cable for the positive pole and the negative with a black cable. Take the positive pole/red cable and connect it to pin “Vin” and the negative pole/ black to GRND.
Step 5: Step 5: Check the Connections
Make sure that everything is connected correctly and that the cables will not get away from the breadboard or the arduino. Use the scheme above to verify your connection.
Step 6: Step 6: Uploading the Code to Arduino
Step 7: Connection the Mobile App
Download the “Color Led Controller” app to your Android device. Activate your bluetooth and sync to the “HC-05” device that will appear and type the password, try with 1234 or 0000.
Once the HC-05 is connected to your phone, open the just downloaded app, click on the “BT List” button and choose the bluetooth module, you can identify it if a lot of things appear by looking the last letters, you may find HC-05. Now you can choose the color of the LED from your cellphone.
Step 8: Triforce Case
Once our circuit is functional, we can now build the case for our lamp. For this exercise we are going to explain how to build the case with the shape of the the Triforce from the Legend of Zelda, but you can make the model you desire.
Trace in battery paper, two equilateral triangles of 24.5 cm and three rectangles of 9.5cm x 24.5 cm, and cut off the pieces.
Step 9: Holes and Painting
In one of the triangles you just cut, trace three little triangles as it is shown in the image above and leave a margin of 1 cm, then cut three of the four triangles, considering the margin, just leave the middle triangle; if you wish, you can trace and cut Zelda’s symbol in one or both rectangles.
Paint the pieces with water based paintings, for this case, we used color brown for the outer face and a golden color for the inner face. Leave it till the paint is set, once the paint is dry, take a brush and make quick golden strokes to the outer face in order to give the case a texture.steps.
Step 10: Final Details
Take the propylene sheet and cut an equilateral triangle of 24.5 cm (the same measures of the case); carefully, sand the new plastic triangle until it gets opaque, this will make the light look better. Paste it with silicone to the triangle you made the holes. If you decided to make the Zelda’s symbol in the other faces, follow the same steps.
Step 11: Assembly
Use the hot glue to paste the edges of all the pieces, except the main face (big triangles with little holes). Let the silicone dry and introduce your circuit. Make sure that it is functional out. Now your lamp is complete. Enjoy it!
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