Make Your Own Ambient Lighting With the Raspberry Pi Zero

In this project I will show you how to combine a Raspberry Pi Zero with a couple of complementary parts in order to add an ambient lighting effect to your TV which enhances the viewing experience. Let's get started!

Step 1: Watch the Video!

The video gives you all information you need to build your own ambient lighting. The next steps will contain additional information to make the project even easier to recreate.

Step 2: Order the Components!

Here you can find a parts list with the most important components that you will need (affiliate links).

Aliexpress:

APA102 LED Strip: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVJ9C0e

1x HDMI Splitter: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dSYogGI

1x HDMI 2 AV Converter: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dV4XRVc

1x Raspberry Pi Zero: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZ5LtEq

1x 5V 8A Power Supply: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d79MZh8

1x USB Video Grabber: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dWcq5Qq

1x USB Hub: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dToxW9u

1x WiFi Dongle: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dWdBsmi

Wago Terminal: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYRuv9G

Velcro Tape: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dYeg8D0

Ebay:

APA102 LED Strip: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x HDMI Splitter: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x HDMI 2 AV Converter: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Raspberry Pi Zero: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 5V 8A Power Supply: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x USB Video Grabber: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x USB Hub: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x WiFi Dongle: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Wago Terminal: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Velcro Tape: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Amazon.de:

APA102 LED Strip: http://amzn.to/2hVn6ZZ

1x HDMI Splitter: http://amzn.to/2hN2DDC

1x HDMI 2 AV Converter: http://amzn.to/2hN4t7e

1x Raspberry Pi Zero: http://amzn.to/2eFXSgR

1x 5V 8A Power Supply: http://amzn.to/2hN3zYs

1x USB Video Grabber: http://amzn.to/2hMSRkC

1x USB Hub: http://amzn.to/2hVwkWl

1x WiFi Dongle: http://amzn.to/2hMZOlW

Wago Terminal: http://amzn.to/2hVrZSX

Velcro Tape: http://amzn.to/2hVwUDl

Step 3: Download / Install the Software

Here you can find the links to the OS for the Raspberry Pi, as well as the HyperCon tool and the Win32DiskImager software.

Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian): https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

HyperCon: https://hyperion-project.org/wiki/HyperCon-Informa...

Win32DiskImager: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/

You can follow the guidelines I mentioned in the video but you can also follow the installation guidelines of the Hyperion website: https://hyperion-project.org/wiki/Main

Step 4: Finish the Wiring!

Here you can find the wiring diagram as well as pictures from my completed wiring. Feel free to use them as a reference.

Step 5: Success!

You did it! You just added ambient lighting to your TV!

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

[jango_0]

can we use the pi zero W and don't have to buy a dongle wifi ?

[peter.birrer2014]

Hi i am not quite shure wich raspian you took. is this the usual without desktop or is an special one needed. ist it possible to make this witch an led stripe wich has only +-data?

[staffansonr]

Is this project compatible with 4k resolutions?

[SimonG19]

Is it not possible to just use the composite video output of the TV to the USB video grabber, instead of using the HDMI splitter and HDMI to RCA converter?

[andyjacobs]

I bought the APA102 lights from Amazon and a big 10a PSU. I wired everything up as per the instructions but (possibly) made the mistake of plugging my Pi into its own, normal PSU. What I found was that when I unplugged my 10a supply and left the Pi powered up, the LEDs and whole system carried on working. So it looks like the LEDs are being powered through the Pi.

[RamonP37]

not sure if you even watching this anymore. but i was wondering if we need the light version of RaspberryPi or can we use the full version?

[RuchitD1]

Hey why does the software say just Rpi 1 for ws2812b strips?? will it not work with pi3??

[MayurF]

Hey GS. Great tutorial. I used a combination of your tutorial and a non-soldering version I found on hyperion-project forum. Would you mind taking a look at my forum post asking for help. I am not sure if I did something wrong or not and I am a newbie when it comes to wiring. Thanks in advance.

https://hyperion-project.org/threads/newbie-help-needed.1038/#post-7570

[RobocrafterSimon]

hey GS! :)

I got a question about the LED strip. That's the only one I could use? Because in the configurator there are different LED strip types. The APA102 cost a bit too much for me, sadly my budget is not so big as I want it to be. I even found a different way to use it with my TV because it uses RCA connectors for my settop box :D Thanks for the answer, the chanel is awesome!

[NilsK1]

Hey, can I use the Raspberry Pi Zero W. It has built in Wlan. Or is there even a better Raspberry?

[NicolasT53]

Hello, I had to connect the Pi ground to my 10A power supply ground for the signal to be correctly passed to the leds. I hope it helps (a bit late I assume)

[aared]

I haven't used a Pi before so I don't know how the compatibility between the models works. Would I be able to do this project with a newer model like the 3 so I can have wireless capabilities built into it, with the video input still working with HyperCon? My idea is to run other stuff at the same time from the same Pi board, like Alexa, which I'm guessing I would need a higher end board for than the Zero.

Thanks for this tutorial by the way, it was the inspiration I needed to take a stab at these electronics boards!

[NicolasT53]

Hello, I just did it with the Pi3, no major issue to report (colors are a bit too "intense" sometimes, but that's just a grabber/color setup) and for sure I use the integrated wifi a lot with the hyperion remote. I'm planning to add a remote controlled HDMI switch to, well..., switch from my various inputs :D

As a general rule: whatever a Pi 0 can do, a Pi 2 or 3 will be able to do it, but faster. The system images to run are different but that's about it.

[ThorstenW3]

Hi Great Scott. Awesome tutorial. I got the LEDs in today and I've been playing with it for a while now. I saw that other tutorials for APA102 use a voltage shifter for the data and clock, but you're not using one. I have 5V (10A) set up alright, as well as hyperion working, but it seems like the signals are not going through properly... Ideas?

[GreatScottLab]

Did you checked whether there is a signal output?

[i-blaze]

Hey guys i wanting to make this for my PC dual monitor setup.

just wanted to know that do i need exactly this same components sine it will be connected to my PC not TV?

[sacortesh]

Hi! Great vids! I have a few questions. In your previous build you connected directly from the end of each strip to the next one including the 5v and GND, Why do you do it differently this time?... Also, besides the PI and the Strip what other component needs an special dedicated source of power?... Sorry for the other stupid question but I do not know how these wago connectors work, my logic says it is for sharing the inputs/outputs (power or ground) but I am not that great at electronics so i have to ask, if so can i put one after the other (in case i cant get the 5slot connectors you use)?

[kalleKolinen88]

I'm not greatscott, but I think why he separated all +5V and GND per strip is to maximize the voltage each led gets, of course at this length, the voltage drop wouldnt be drastic anyway if he connected all in series, could be other reasons aswell why he did that. Also you can connect share source from one wago to other, if you dont have enough space, I had to do this once at one project from cheap employer, who only had 2 and 3 terminal wagos. It's not pretty, but works.

[Nesva]

Is it possible to make without using any entertainment system? So directly from TV?

[AndrewH395]

Hmm.. I was going to try and find a splitter for DisplayPort (I wantt ttis for a gaming setup), but then I realized I could make my computer miror connections to HDMI anyways. Isn't PC Nice.