My xmas-box project consists of an internet controlled Christmas lights and music show. A Christmas song can be requested on-line which is then put in a queue and played in the order it was requested. The music is transmitted on an FM station within a 300 ft radius from my house.
The xmas-box has 8 Channels (power outlets) where different light modes can be played: vu meter style, ascending, descending, split, merge, sequence and random. During each song one of these modes is used randomly every 10 seconds (to make the show less monotonous).
I started my research right after Halloween and I came across a couple different options, but I settled with the following combination of hardware : arduino + adafruit wave shield + ioBridge + wifi bridge + solid state relays (SSRs).
The xmas-box is enclosed in a small plastic tool box. I have place it on my deck under a roof ( it is not completely weather proof). The tool box has "3 levels." The bottom is where all the SSRs and AC wiring are located. The middle (the inside tray) contains the wall warts for the arduino (9v), ioBridge (5v) and Wifi Bridge with power. The top level contains the Arduino board, the ioBridge module and the FM transmitter.
This is the first time I lit my house so I was just able to put 3,300 mini lights, 3 spotlights,1 LED Rope, 4 LED (40 led each) branch trees and 1 reindeer. I hope the lights last so I can keep adding each year.
The xmas-box has 8 Channels (power outlets) where different light modes can be played: vu meter style, ascending, descending, split, merge, sequence and random. During each song one of these modes is used randomly every 10 seconds (to make the show less monotonous).
I started my research right after Halloween and I came across a couple different options, but I settled with the following combination of hardware : arduino + adafruit wave shield + ioBridge + wifi bridge + solid state relays (SSRs).
The xmas-box is enclosed in a small plastic tool box. I have place it on my deck under a roof ( it is not completely weather proof). The tool box has "3 levels." The bottom is where all the SSRs and AC wiring are located. The middle (the inside tray) contains the wall warts for the arduino (9v), ioBridge (5v) and Wifi Bridge with power. The top level contains the Arduino board, the ioBridge module and the FM transmitter.
This is the first time I lit my house so I was just able to put 3,300 mini lights, 3 spotlights,1 LED Rope, 4 LED (40 led each) branch trees and 1 reindeer. I hope the lights last so I can keep adding each year.
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Signing UpStep 1: BoM - Bill of Materials
Here is the list of materials I used for the xmas-box:
- Arduino Duemilanove
- ioBridge IO-204 Monitor & Control Module
- SD card (up to 1 GB)
- PPA Digital FM Transmitter
- 10 K resistor
- 2N2222 transistor
- Linksys WET11 Wireless Bridge
- 8 Solid State Relays (I got mine from ebay for $5 each!)
- 2 PowerSquid Power Multiplier
- Plastic Tool Box
- Electric Cable
- Wire Connectors
- At least 8 sets of Christmas lights (mini lights, C7, C9, or LED sets)
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They come in 10A, 25A ... some in 3-25mA. range.
- wire up the SSRs like in here: http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FZ6/9Y65/GGPFB9Y3/FZ69Y65GGPFB9Y3.LARGE.jpg
- connect the SSR wiring with the Arduino Uno board (using D2 - D9)
- connect the Arduino board with a PC and load the code to test the relay.
Would that be enough to allow me to (learn to) program the code to sequence of relays on/off? (in other words, program the light to the music).
Thanks
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?WT.z_header=search_go&lang=en&keywords=646-1230-ND%09&x=0&y=0&cur=USD
That should be good enough to keep the lights from lighting up since most LED light strings require about .2 mA to get them to light up at all.
Can you provide more detail on how to set up the iobridge web interface, or provide a link that explains how to create widgets? Where are the commands provided above entered? Is this code stored in the iobridge web interface?
Thanks in advance for any additional info.
xmas_box.cpp: In function 'void playComplete(char*)':
xmas_box:167: error: 'class String' has no member named 'append'
xmas_box:196: error: 'class String' has no member named 'append'
xmas_box:198: error: 'class String' has no member named 'append'
xmas_box:199: error: 'class String' has no member named 'append'
xmas_box:200: error: cannot convert 'String' to 'char*' in assignment
I'm using arduino-0021 which supposedly has string class incorporated in it. Do I need to modify the code? If so, please tell me how.
Let me see if I found something.
I replaced all the "append" references with "concat" in your code, and that seemed to eliminate the errors: "no member named 'append'".
However, I am still getting the following error:
xmas_box.cpp: In function 'void playComplete(char*)':
xmas_box:201: error: cannot convert 'String' to 'char*' in assignment
The line that the compiler stops at is:
track = tmpTrack;
I'm sorry to be posting so many questions, but I really want to get this thing working for my lights this year, and I am clueless as to what this error has to do with the above line of code. Do you have any ideas?
I feel like I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this project, because my understanding of computer code is almost non existent, which is forcing me to try to fix the code by trial and error. I can't figure out why I would be the only one getting errors. From the other posts, I assume other people have more recently built the xmas box and used the Arduino 0021 compiler, but maybe not. I'm not opposed to using 0017, but even with that compiler I get errors because I can't download the same string library you used.
If you wouldn't mind replying just to let me know you are reading my posts I would appreciate it, even if you don't know how to help me yet. I will try picking this project up again at a later date if necessary when I have some programming under my belt. I've already invested in all the materials and partially assembled the instructable though, so I'm determined to complete it eventually, even if I have to wait 'til next year to get to use it.
Thanks in advance.
Keep up at it...Try the Arduino forums as well...I will let you know if i run in the same issue and how i solve it.
-Noel
The instructable says to use pin connection D10 for LCS. It looks like from the picture that D10 should be connected to CCS. Is this correct?
The link for the string library you have in your instructable only takes you to a page that tells you that the TextString library is now obsolete. String libraries are now included natively with the code compiler.
The instructions for the use of toCharArray() on the Arduino site are limited and some say a bit misleading, so I'll just share what I changed to make the program compile and load with the new string library.
Okay, I seem to have fixed it, or at least changed it to where the code compiles and loads on the Arduino. I replaced the following line of code:
track=tmpTrack;
with this:
char tracklngth[tmpTrack.length() + 1];
tmpTrack.toCharArray(tracklngth, tmpTrack.length() + 1);
track = tracklngth;
Sorry if this is an abomination to all seasoned programmers out there, but it's the best I could come up with. I'm sure it could have been done in one or two lines, but I'm in a hurry to get the xmas_box working.
/*
DIMMERS 120V 60Hz (8-channel Possibly more)
by Gromain59
Translated By Mike Deuschle
mike.dausch@gmail.com
Material part:
- Triac driven by a digital output via an optocoupler
- AC opto-coupler for detecting the zero crossing of phase
Software part:
- A hardware interrupt input 2 at the zero crossing of phase
- A software interrupt that occurs between 100us and 1400us.
=> Interrupt interval is variable to obtain a light curve by linear orders, because of the shape of the sinusoidal signal.
we have:
1. Detection of the transition to zero on input 2
2. execution of detection_zero (): processing channel with a setpoint of 0% and 100%
3. deactivating hardware interrupt, enabling the software interrupt on the basis of delay [0]
4. interrupt after delay [c2] ?s (c2 = 0)
5. execution of controle_canaux ()
=> Index increment c2
and if c2 is greater than 49, then this is the last cycle
=> Turn OFF of all channels
=> Activate the hardware interrupt
otherwise:
=> Activation of output channels with 98% to record (either a 469?s delay) or if
=> Interrupt reconfiguration of time with another delay, delay [c2]
To change the setpoint of a channel, you must send via the serial monitor a frame of the form:
" D/0/45/F"
=> Space
=> "D" to indicate the start of the frame
=> "/" As separator
=> The affected channel (0 to 7 here)
=> "/" As separator
=> The desired level (from 0% to 100%)
=> "/" As separator
=> "F" to indicate the end of the frame
Once the frame received, the function sscanf is responsible for retrieving data.
It converts the received record levels (0 to 50 levels)
Resources:
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1230333861/30 for first test
http://www.hoelscher-hi.de/hendrik/english/dimmer.htm for electronics
http://www.abcelectronique.com/bigonoff/domocan.php?par=3efd4 for electronics and soft (PIC)
arduino forum
*/
#include <TimerOne.h> // for the interruption time http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/Timer1
#include <stdio.h> // for the treatment of the frame containing the change orders
// timeout value for the reception of the frame
int tps_max_lecture = 200; // reading code, counter max between all the characters of a code
int tps_max_carte = 1000; // max meter between reception of a character
long curve[] = {
1469 , // 98 % 1 225,3V retard / zéro = 1469 ms
287 , // 96 % 2 222,7V retard / zéro = 1867 ms
234 , // 94 % 3 220,6V retard / zéro = 2154 ms
201 , // 92 % 4 218,2V retard / zéro = 2388 ms
180 , // 90 % 5 215,4V retard / zéro = 2589 ms
164 , // 88 % 6 213,3V retard / zéro = 2769 ms
152 , // 86 % 7 210,8V retard / zéro = 2933 ms
143 , // 84 % 8 208V retard / zéro = 3085 ms
135 , // 82 % 9 205,7V retard / zéro = 3228 ms
129 , // 80 % 10 202,8V retard / zéro = 3363 ms
124 , // 78 % 11 200,5V retard / zéro = 3492 ms
120 , // 76 % 12 197,6V retard / zéro = 3616 ms
116 , // 74 % 13 195,2V retard / zéro = 3736 ms
112 , // 72 % 14 192,4V retard / zéro = 3852 ms
110 , // 70 % 15 189,6V retard / zéro = 3964 ms
108 , // 68 % 16 186,8V retard / zéro = 4074 ms
106 , // 66 % 17 184V retard / zéro = 4182 ms
105 , // 64 % 18 180,9V retard / zéro = 4288 ms
103 , // 62 % 19 178,1V retard / zéro = 4393 ms
102 , // 60 % 20 175,1V retard / zéro = 4496 ms
101 , // 58 % 21 172,1V retard / zéro = 4598 ms
101 , // 56 % 22 168,9V retard / zéro = 4699 ms
100 , // 54 % 23 166,2V retard / zéro = 4800 ms
100 , // 52 % 24 162,6V retard / zéro = 4900 ms
100 , // 50 % 25 159,3V retard / zéro = 5000 ms
101 , // 48 % 26 155,8V retard / zéro = 5100 ms
100 , // 46 % 27 152,6V retard / zéro = 5201 ms
101 , // 44 % 28 149,1V retard / zéro = 5301 ms
102 , // 42 % 29 145,3V retard / zéro = 5402 ms
103 , // 40 % 30 141,8V retard / zéro = 5504 ms
105 , // 38 % 31 138V retard / zéro = 5607 ms
106 , // 36 % 32 133,8V retard / zéro = 5712 ms
108 , // 34 % 33 130V retard / zéro = 5818 ms
110 , // 32 % 34 126V retard / zéro = 5926 ms
112 , // 30 % 35 121,7V retard / zéro = 6036 ms
116 , // 28 % 36 117,1V retard / zéro = 6148 ms
120 , // 26 % 37 112,6V retard / zéro = 6264 ms
124 , // 24 % 38 107,7V retard / zéro = 6384 ms
129 , // 22 % 39 102,4V retard / zéro = 6508 ms
135 , // 20 % 40 97,2V retard / zéro = 6637 ms
143 , // 18 % 41 92V retard / zéro = 6772 ms
152 , // 16 % 42 85,7V retard / zéro = 6915 ms
164 , // 14 % 43 79,4V retard / zéro = 7067 ms
180 , // 12 % 44 72,8V retard / zéro = 7231 ms
201 , // 10 % 45 64,8V retard / zéro = 7411 ms
234 , // 8 % 46 56,4V retard / zéro = 7612 ms
286 , // 6 % 47 46V retard / zéro = 7846 ms
399 , // 4 % 48 32,4V retard / zéro = 8132 ms
500 , //
1469 // 2 % 49 0V retard / zéro = 8531 ms
};
int set[] = { // set channel level (0 = 100%, 50 = 0%)
0, // Output 0
0, // output 1
0, // output 2
0, // output 3
0, // output 4
0, // output 5
0, // output 6
0, // output 7
};
int output [] = { // assign a pin for each channel.
4, // Output 0
3, // output 1
5, // output 2
0, // output 3
0, // output 4
0, // output 5
0, // output 6
0, // output 7
};
volatile int c1 = 0; // index c1 for reading data from each channel (No pin, luggage)
volatile int c2 = 0; // c2 index number passing through the loop control phase delay (49 passages)
// Definition of macros to drive the output
#define lightON(index) (digitalWrite(output[index], HIGH))
#define lightOFF(index) (digitalWrite(output[index], LOW))
void setup () {// Start of setup
// Initialize the serial
Serial.begin (9600);
// Initialize the channel outputs (triacs)
for (c1 = 0; c1 <= 7; c1++) {// we traverse the 8 channels to configure
pinMode(output[c1], OUTPUT); // we associate each channel has a pin, which sets the output digital
lightOFF(output[c1]); // and we switch off the output
}
Serial.println( "Gromain 8-CHANNEL DIMMER v0.2");
Serial.println( "FRAME EXPECTED: <space> 'D' / 'Output Port' / 'Value of DIM' / 'F'");
// Initialize the interruption time Timer1
Timer1.initialize(); // Initialize TimerOne library for the freq we need
// Attach the interrupt 0 to pin 2 for the detection of zero crossing (Zero Cross Detection)
attachInterrupt(0, detection_zero, FALLING); // Attach an Interrupt to Pin 2 (Interrupt 0) for Zero Cross Detection
} // End of setup
void detection_zero() {// function associated with the interrupt 0
detachInterrupt(0); // disables the interrupt on zero crossing
c2 = 0;
for (c1 = 0; c1 <= 7; c1++) {// we scan the 8 outputs to check their orders
if (set[c1] >= 49 ) {// if set 0%
lightOFF(c1); // then we switch off
}
if (set[c1]<= 0){// if set 100%
lightON(c1); // then we light
}
}
Timer1.attachInterrupt(controle_canaux, curve[c2]); // we attach the interruption time
} // End of detection_zero
void controle_canaux() {// here we verified whether the triac must be initiated
c2=c2++;
attachInterrupt(0, detection_zero, FALLING); // we attach an interrupt on pin 2 (interrupt 0)
Timer1.detachInterrupt(); // we detach the interruption time
if (c2 >= 41) {// If last cycle then (best at 41 for 60Hz)
for (c1 = 0; c1 <= 7; c1++) {// we scan the 8 outputs
lightOFF(c1); // and we put out the channel for the next cycle
}
}
else { // else
Timer1.attachInterrupt(controle_canaux, curve[c2]); // we attach a break time
for (c1 = 0; c1 <= 7; c1++) { // we scan the 8 outputs to check their orders
if (set[c1] == c2) // if is set equal to the processed (no change in the loop)
{lightON(c1);} // then we light the channel
}
} // End function controle_canaux
}
void loop() {// Main Loop
int n = 0;
if (Serial.available ()> 0) {
n = lecture();
}
}
int lecture() {// read a frame type: "D / aaa / bbb / F
// Or "D" starting character frame
// Or "yyyy" No output which is set to modify
// Or "bbbb" new set of output (between 0 and 100%)
char buf[15] = " ";
int timeout = 0;
int i = 0;
int n1 = 0;
int n2 = 0;
char c1, c2;
while (Serial.available() > 0) {
if(i!=14){
buf[i] = Serial.read ();
i++;
}
timeout++;
if (timeout>tps_max_lecture)
{Serial.println("T1");
return -1;
}
if (timeout> tps_max_lecture)
{Serial.println("T2");
return -2;
}
}
sscanf(buf, "%c/%d/%d/%c", &c1, &n1, &n2, &c2); // decoding frame
if (c1 == 'D' && c2 == 'F') {// Check if the plot starts out by D and ending in F
int nouv_cons = n2; // we store the new value for the work then
nouv_cons = constrain(nouv_cons, 0, 100); // on the new terminal value between 0 and 100%
Serial.print("Output ");
Serial.print(n1);
Serial.print(" , new value of: ");
Serial.print(nouv_cons);
Serial.print(" % index, delay: ");
set[n1] = (50 - (nouv_cons / 2)); // it converts the value 0-100% in no phase delay
Serial.println (set[n1]);
}
else // if character from the beginning or end of frame not recognized
{Serial.println("Code Unknown");}
return i;
}
By the way, seeing as how you're just starting this project yourself, have you uploaded the code to the arduino yet? If so, did you experience any error messages?
This is a really neat Instructable. Good to see that you are using LED Christmas lights as well!
But one thing I wanted to ask you is if you coded your own website?
If so could you point me in the direction to making my own song queuing system maybe using php.
Is just a matter of creating 2 tables. One to hold the request (queue) and one to hold the songs...then a couple REST calls to update the queue from the mcu and one to retrieve what is currently playing.
I've heard good things about gEDA (http://www.gpleda.org/) on Linux, but I've not tried it yet myself.
There are also some schematic/PCB editors made by PCB companies that you can possible export an image from after creating the schematic.
I hope that helps.
i am deff going to do this!!
thanks
keep up the great work!!