Changes

After having recently bought in a RGB LED Strip into the hackerspace, I received a lot of positive feedback about it. 2 people even gave me 20 CHF each to buy more LED Strips so that they can be used around the hackerspace. In particular, around the perimeter of the room next to the ceiling, where there is a little ledge. Eventually, they could be added under tables, on shelves, and so on to improve lighting within the HS. Here are 2 videos and a pic I took of how they look like[[Category:<gallery>File:Beta-LED-Strips-at-HS.JPG|LED Strip above the solder stationFile:LED-Strips-from-close-up.mp4|Video of the strip from afarFile:LED-Strips-Up-Close.mp4|Video of the strip from up close</gallery>Closed_Projects]]

I have also uploaded a video on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao-ws8F6UJA youtube] where you can see me looking at them up close. {{warning|'''Please note the many solder points, indicating that the factory that made these strips either used a poor manufacturing process, or simply took rejected strips, chopped them up into the pieces that worked, and soldered them together to sell at a lower pricethis page has been depreciated.''' See [[LED_Lighting]]}}

Here The idea with the LED Retrofit is to provide the HS with an exhaustive explanation and tutorial from [http://www.ladyada.net/products/rgbledstrip/| laydyada]. In essenceeffective yet sleek lighting solution, there are 3 SMD (Surface Mount Technology) RGB (Red Green Blue) LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) on a segment with 3 resistors by using color-changeable LED strips which allow the ~3 v LEDs to be drivven using a 12v power supply. These 'segments' are continuously joined together to form spools 5 meters each. Sometimes you can buy them in smaller bits (1 meter, 50 cm, 1 foot, etc), but sticking to a 5 meter spool is controllable via the bestnetwork.

== Where to buy? ==The dilema I have Here is that for around ~60$ I can cover the perimeter of the hs with basic 5050 LED RGB Strips an exhaustive explanation and tutorial from eBay, like the ones that I bought in, however there are several other, attractive options available:==== eBay ====The precise LED Strips that I bought can be found [http://www.ebayladyada.comnet/itmproducts/120897032000| herergbledstrip/ laydyada]. I am not too happy In essence, there are 3 SMD (Surface Mount Technology) RGB (Red Green Blue) LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) on a segment with 3 resistors which allow the quality, so I may get ~3 v LEDs to be drivven using a refund, or a partial refund in the near future12v power supply. My biggest concern is that there These 'segments' are way too many solder points leading me continuously joined together to believe that these strips are of crap qualityform spools 5 meters each. Sometimes you can buy them in smaller bits (1 meter, 50 cm, 1 foot, and won't last etc), but sticking to a 5 meter spool is the specified 50'000 hoursbest.

You must understand that Currently there are several types 5x5m of LED Strips. If you want RGB LEDs, you can either choose 3528, 5050 and 5060 SMD package sizes. The most common one is 5050, and I highly recommend you stick to that. The next variable is LEDs/meter. The ones currently at the hs are [http://www.ebay.com/schitm/i.html?_stpos=1234&_sop=15&_fcid=193&gbr=1&_localstpos=1234&_nkw=5050+rgb+5m+30+150+-60+SMD-5050-RGB-SMD-LED-Flexible-Strips-300+-cathode&_clu=2&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1| thirty LEDs-Strip-12V-60-LEDs-Meter-/meter], however I sugest that we buy the [http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html150960156950?_stpospt=1234US_Car_Lighting&_sop=15&_fcid=193&gbr=1&_localstpos=1234&_nkwhash=item2325ed3116 5050+rgb+5m+RGB LED Strips] @ 60+300+-30+-150+-cathode&_clu=2&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1| six-ty LEDs/m placed on the ledge just under the ceiling. Each 5 meter] kindsegment is individually connected to the Arduino-based controller via repurposed 230v cables. The Arduino is connected to the local network via an ethernet shield, so that there is double and it controls the LEDs by PWMing a signal to 3 mosfets (1 for each color) which switches the 12vdc from the brightnessmodded 400w ATX PSU.

There are also various degrees of waterproof-ness available. The basic kind (epoxy) is very bad, does not last long, and starts == How to yellow very quicklycontrol them?==You can get the code from git:<pre>git clone ssh://gitolite@foo. Especially if it is poorly madefixme. For this, you have to pay approx 5$ extra for the ch:1337/led-strip on ebay, where as in reality it is nowhere near as expensive. The next kind of coating is epoxy+silicone sleeve. This is better, but still has epoxy. The most expensive kind (although the material price difference is minimal) is silicone coated in a silicone sleeve. This can withstand the toughest conditions, and still look new years from now. git</pre>

==== Specialized sites ====If the website is based anywhere else other than China, don't even botherOr you can use a basic online interface found [http://led. The markup is ridiculous fixme.ch/rgb here] (heck, even eBay's markup is pretty big!accessible only via internal network). If it is in China, avoid, unless the price is very good, meaning that it is either a super-low quality thing, or a fake. Either way, '''avoid'''.

==== TaoBao ==How to compile ? ==Prices are very similar * There is a library problem which need to eBay. Not worth the riskbe adresse, added shipping costbut since then, and time in my opinion unless buying there's a lotchroot on foo with the correct settings to compile/upload the code ssh foo. fixme.ch sudo su /root/enter-chroot.sh cd /root/led-strip/LedStripDriver make # Put the USB cable from foo to the leds make upload # Remove the USB cable

==== Manufacturers ==Improvements ==Great for bigger orders* '''Figure out a way to fix brightness issue''' I think we should feed each 5m segment from multiple sides, however on or even split it into smaller ones, pieces (it is suspected that the shipping can be prohibitive pcb traces aren't thick enough for the current). Maybe use individual power supplies every couple of meters coupled with their own (most insist on more basic) control circuitry that get commands from central Arduino? I suspect that there is a significant voltage loss along the connecting cable because of the low voltage and long distance, using DHL230v AC could help. We could also experiment in raising the voltage as long as it does not bypass the specified wattage, adding and that no single LED gets more than its designed voltage. Maybe the mosfets are the wrong kind?* '''Better control options''' maybe a ton of shipping fees + unwanted taxesnicer web-interface with more options (See [https://fixme.ch/wiki/LED_Retrofit#Uses Uses] below), as well as an android app. The prices are really good though* '''Moar LED strips''' place LED strips in other places, e. Like 1g.45$ a meter goodto replace the crappy CFL in the middle of the room (maybe use [http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Brand-New-5050-5M-LED-300-SMD-Warm-White-Flexible-non-Waterproof-Light-Strip-12V-Free/465436346.html pure white LED strips] instead of RGB ones), electronics bench, inside fridge, foyer, inside thermibel :) ?

== Plan of Action Uses ==Here are the steps which need to be taken in order to upgrade the lighting at the HS:* Control remotly using a script (netcat)#Decide ** Web server running on type of LED Strip##Get an Arduino board to control the brighter (60 LEDs: http:/meter) or the cheaper (30 LEDs/meter) strip?leds.fixme.ch/rgb##Get ** Little scripts for the cheaper but lower quality one or current implementation inside the better quality but more expensive one?repository#Buy 20 meters of LED Strip and wait a couple of weeks for it to get here#Create an Arduino sketch with networking capabilities to control * Controled by the stripsmusic (color, intensity)#???* Special program: Burger time, etc#Profit!!!* Philips ambilight-like for projected videos* Time dependent light (i.e. automatically dimming)

We will also need a 400w power supply (or multiple smaller ones), some serious mosfets, optocouplers (do we?), an Arduino, network interface, a [user= Photos =<gallery>File:gcmalloc], and a bunch Beta-LED-Strips-at-HS.JPG|LED Strip above the solder stationFile:LED-Strips-from-close-up.mp4|Video of various bits 'n piecesthe strip from afarFile:LED-Strips-Up-Close. For mp4|Video of the strip from up closeFile:LED-night-fixme.png|LEDs strip installed and visible from the outsideFile:LED_Retrofit_blue.jpg|Hackerspace LED Retrofit in blueFile:LED-strip-controller-tinkering.jpg|Tinkering with the setupFile:leds-controler.jpg|Housing for the Arduino and power supply I suggest we get 2 185File:Sofa-200w constant current ones led.jpg|LEDs above sofa area ('''''this is a must''''' if we want to control the 24v 3528 240 LED/m strips easily), or something along the lines. I'm sure we'll find somethingFile:Table-led. Plus, we probably won't be using all the power at once, unless we're outputting white at max power jpg|Bright LEDs above table area (that would be equivalent to the power output of a 60w incandescent lightbulb every metersame as sofa), so I guess a power supply of about 350w total will do File:HS-trigger-and-LED-control.png|Interface for controlling the LEDs and HS status </gallery>

== Links ==* [https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/building-large-led-installations Sparkfun'''Currently, I have 60 CHF out of the 75 CHF required s guide to get the good large LED Stripsinstallations]* [http://nodes.nurdspace.nl/ DMX controlled LEDs], installation/setup [[NurdNodes]]* [http://www.ladyada.net/products/rgbledstrip/ Laydyada's tutorial and background info]* [http://wiki.muc.ccc.de/moodlamp_30 CCC's Moodlamp (DE)]* [http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/19413/why-doesnt-my-5050-led-strip-draw-as-much-power-as-i-expect Why doesn' We will also need to find a constant current t my 5050 led strip draw as much power supplyas I expect?]* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/5m-SMD-5050-RGB-SMD-LED-Flexible-Strips-300-LEDs-Strip-12V-60-LEDs-Meter-/150960156950?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item2325ed3116 The LED strips that were used]* [https://tindie.com/shops/ch00ftech/qr-clock-1/ QR LED Clock]

==== Next time ===Project Leader =Put LEDs under the tables, instead of the lightbulbs, and even on the shelves!* [[User:Sasha|Sasha]]

user* [[User:SashaRorist|Rorist]]* [[User:gcmalloc|gcmalloc]]* [[User:Francois|Francois]]* [[User:Freestorm|Freestorm]]