LED Holiday Star

By in CircuitsLEDs

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Introduction: LED Holiday Star

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This Instructable will show you how to make a holiday star using LEDs. You can use them as table decorations, for your desk or around the house.

Step 1: Stuff You Will Need

bill of materials:
battery pack (any type of battery will do, preferably 4.8V or less)
8 bright white LEDs (you can use more or less depending on the type of star you'd like to make)
8 resistors, 100 ohms or less [(http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz to calculate your resistor values you can use this online calculator)]
MOSFET (able to handle 1W)
ATTiny 45 or other microcontroller
sand paper
additional wire

tools:
soldering station
programmer
wire stripper
solder
tape

Step 2: Programming Your Microcontroller

The microcontroller will determine how the LEDs flash. You can upload the attached C file or create your own code.

- install WinAVR
- connect your programmer [you will have to generate a driver for the USB programmer*]
- compile the code
- upload the code using AVR dude

*how to create the driver for your USB programmer:

- download and install WinAVR.
- then attach the AVR ISP II when the hardware wizard pops up wait
- go into the utils\libusb\bin folder, run the inf-wizard.exe and create a driver
- then you have to copy the whole bin folder from libusb into the bin folder under avr\bin
- finally check that the makefile has the stk500v2 listed as programmer

Step 3: Sand the LEDs

Use the sandpaper on the LED caps to increase their diffusion.

Step 4: Solder Your Circuit

Follow the attached diagram to solder your circuit. Using tape to hold down your parts while you solder them can be helpful, especially in the beginning until the star shape is fixed.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Star!

Enjoy the stay you've made. You can stand it on top of the battery pack using the latter as a base. You can start to imagine other star shapes to make.....

You can view a video of the LED star blinking here!

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    9 Comments

    0
    nbk12ul
    nbk12ul

    12 years ago on Introduction

    I'd be interested in the code as well, anyone have it?

    0
    The Real Elliot
    The Real Elliot

    13 years ago on Introduction

    That's a beautiful piece of work. I love the star-shaped circuit: simple and elegant. Kudos.

    0
    awosme
    awosme

    13 years ago on Introduction

    what if you dont want it to flash but you just want it to light up

    0
    kaargocult
    kaargocult

    14 years ago on Step 5

    i was pretty proud of my five starred circuit till i saw yours :). i say circuit designs might be science but making them into real world circuits is an art. bravo!

    0
    fwjs28
    fwjs28

    14 years ago on Introduction

    sweet....u rlly have a thing for LED 'ibles...