Make Your Own 10x10 LED Matrix

In this project I will show you how to combine commonly available WS2812B RGB LEDs with an Arduino Nano in order to create a colorful 10x10 LED Matrix. Let's get started!

Step 1: Watch the Video!

The video gives you all the basic information you need to create your own LED Matrix. In the next steps however I will provide some additional information to make the recreation of this project even easier.

Step 2: Get Your Parts!

Here you can find a parts list with example sellers (affiliate links):

Aliexpress:

WS2812B LEDs: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYBI0lv

5V 4A Power Supply: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dT2vweL

DC Jack: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d9FSdL1

Arduino Nano: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dULoNXh

Ebay:

WS2812B LEDs: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

5V 4A Power Supply: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

DC Jack: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Arduino Nano: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Amazon.de:

WS2812B LEDs:http://amzn.to/28IM7Qt

5V 4A Power Supply: http://amzn.to/21tIke1

DC Jack: http://amzn.to/1NtXgmx

Foam Board: http://amzn.to/1YANoOH

Arduino Nano: http://amzn.to/1Nigytq

Home Improvement Store:

4mm beech plywood

2.5mm opal acrylic glass

stiff 1.5mm^2 wire

flexible 0.75mm^2 wire

Step 3: Build the Matrix Case/ Do the Wiring!

First off you need to create the foam board grid (see the attached pictures). Then you need two 24.5x24.5 cm squares out of beech plywood and one made from acrylic glass. The last part of the case are the sides. I chose dimensions of 4.8x25.5 cm. I used the extra centimeter to create rectangle patterns on both ends of each side in order to lock them together. The rest of the case build and the wiring is explained in the video.

Step 4: Upload Your Code!

Here you can download an awesome collection of different animations. But don't forget to copy the FastLED library (http://fastled.io/) in your Arduino folder before uploading the code. Feel free to create your own code as well and share it in the comment section.

Step 5: Success!

You did it! You just created your own 10x10 LED Matrix!
Feel free to check out my YouTube channel for more awesome projects:

http://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes information:

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab

Comments

[Cliverudd]

is it possible to find a circuit scheme on how the leds were connected?

[doormat_1]

Great project, Ive got a ready made matrix but it zig zags rather than runs from left to right all the time. How can I adapt the arduino script to run like this?

[raffce]

hi i want to create this but i want to add the temperature sensor, RTC and a bluetooth module. i want to add some text to show on the matrix and the data and time . you think it is possible to add some code i find online ? i'm not well to write the code

[DenisB108]

can you add a wiring diagram here please

[JamesS511]

This is cool.

I guess I need to watch the entire video to figure out how you are controlling it. I am going to build similar, but using an ESP8266 Wifi enabled Arduino Killer, and am trying to figure out how you controlled the arduino to change patterns. My version will likely need an accompanying app, a Wifi setup mechanism, and I want to add a microphone to allow for music-reactive patterns also.

I will be posting to the Spyderdyne Incorporated Youtube Channel as I go, if anyone is interested. I have some other informative stuff up there as well that you may or may not be interested in. If anyone wants to help out, I need 100 subs to make my channel ID easier to remember. I would appreciate if you could subscribe. :)

[Fabian29LP]

Hey GreatScott, ich habe ein Problem:
ich habe mir eine 9x9 Matrix nach deinem Vorbild gebaut und wollte jetzt meinen Arduino Nano (AtMega328) von Elegoo mit einem Testcode programmieren. Allergings bekomme ich jedesmal wenn ich auf hochladen drücke diese Fehlermeldung:
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xc9

Der Nano wird mir im Gerätemanager auch nicht als Arduino angezeigt sondern nur als Kommunikationsanschluss (COM 1).

Bei meinem Mega den ich vorher benutzt hatte um die Matrix zu testen lief alles reibungslos, hast du eine Idee warum der Nano so Probleme macht?

[Knoten]

Hey, ich habe eine frage zu den LEDs ich hab bei mir alle einfach abgeschnitten und ganz wild durch einander aufgeklebt. So da stellt sich mir die frage war das jetzt schlimm
oder muss man bei den LEDs die Reinfolge beachten?

[djtaylor813]

Ugh my computer doesn't recognize this rar file. Anyone get this to work?

[nicolewoods]

Hi Great Scott Lab,
I'm new to arduino/coding and am trying to bring it into my design and technology classes. its it possible to code this so you can press a button for different sequences to run? Are you able to email me at [e-mail] ? I need help :(

[BrynM3]

Does it matter what sort of wire you use

[KataraZ]

Could you please post the circuits schematic? It's hard to follow why you're doing what you're doing with the wiring.

[pinheadBE]

As always with GreatScott, a clever design and high quality YouTube video (Yes, I already have subscribed).

One remark, though: I think you made your life very difficult by cutting each LED and then resolder them one by one.

Why not use a strip with less LED's per meter and adapt the dimensions of the grid and frames to that. For example, using a 30 LED's per meter would give you a (more or less) 35cm x 35cm total frame, with none of the hassle of cutting/resoldering every and each LED.

Maybe for version 2 ;-)

And again, thumbs up for the good quality of your YouTube channel.

[fizzy123]

That is what I did and it worked great

[NoseyNick]

I was going to suggest the same - soooooo much soldering, when these things are supplied daisy-chained already! If you're going to do that much soldering you could use cheaper bare RGB LEDs and do row/column wiring yourself.
I made something similar, except ws2801 LEDs on ribbon cable, 4x4in pixels, 12x12grid in 4ftx4ft, wood instead of foam. You can dance on it :-)

[Eggcraft]

Hey i'm making a 15 x 15 matrice ( so 225 LEDs ) like that but i will use this : https://www.amazon.fr/LED-Alimentation-50W-MeanWel... will it work ?

[InventedStick]

Needs to at least 5v 13.5A 67.5Watts to power all 225 LEDS

(Well for the ws2812B anyways)

[fizzy123]

i think this would work

https://www.amazon.com/ALITOVE-Transformer-Converter-5-5x2-1mm-100V-240V/dp/B01LXN7MN3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535308893&sr=8-3&keywords=5v+15a+power+supply

[frantac123]

Hi, what is that black material which is used to make the fields for LEDs?

[fizzy123]

foam bord

[jonah.schmidt]

Hey, my leds came today and they don't have 5volt|data in|ground panals instead they have 5volt|B|R|G
Can I still use them if yes how?
Sincerely Jonathan