From ee3aa7c019985aee7407778a028172bbd8640fbb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: =?UTF-8?q?King=20K=C3=A9vin?= Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 14:50:39 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] add file to describe project --- README.md | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+) create mode 100644 README.md diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f22dfc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +LED Light Controller +==================== + +The LED Light Controller is a simple board to control light strip. +These have hundreds of LEDs (60-120 led/meter) and use 12V (and ~1A/m). +This board offers 2x5 outputs, so to be able to control 10 light strips independently (1 per color, RGB requires 3 channels). + +The brightness of the light strips is PWM-controlled (this only works for LEDs). +Different "modes" can be saved so to be able to rapidly select between user-defined settings. +You can control the lights over bluetooth, or using (almost) any infrared remote control (which you will have to configure using the serial or bluetooth port first). + +The power for the light strips and the board is provided by an off-the-shelve PC power supply (compliant to the ATX specification). +These offer ~10A for the 12V output through the main large connector (with 20 pins for ATX v1.x and 24 pins for ATX v2.x), which is used for the 5 first output channels. +An additional 12V output is provided through a smaller 4-pin connector by ATX v2.x power supplies, used for the 5 last output channels. +**The second connector has 4 pins, with 2 yellow cables on the side with the clip, and 2 black cables on the other side. DON'T CONNECT the one with 4 different colors.** +This is just an extension for the 20-pin connector from ATX v1.x to become the 24-pin connector from ATX v2.x. + +Each channel supports up to ~8A, but the total of each 5-channel group is limited by the current provided by the ATX. +You can check on the side of your power supply to know the limit of the 12V outputs. + +The board has the same size as the side of an ATX power supply, so to be fixed on it. +Don't directly attach it on the case, as this will create short circuits. +Use the mounting hole to put stand-off screws, which you have to drill yourself on the power supply. + +The board has a power resistor so to put a heavy load on the 5V output. +This increases the performance of your ATX power supply (which is a switch mode power supply), so to have better 12V outputs for the light strips. +A fan (standard 80mm 3-wire PC fan), which you have to connect to the board, will take care of dissipating the generated heat.