SparkFun Forums

[Mee_n_Mac]

You're a little confused. You can either use the Neopixels or "regular" RGB LEDs. If you go w/the later choice you'll also need that 'PWM LED driver' board that you linked to above. With Neopixels, you don't need it.

Both of those choices then require some kind of controller. As you saw in the wig tutorial that controller could be an Adafruit Trinket. That is the lowest cost, but also the most limited choice. There may be next to no flash left to store the above mentioned "sequences". Next up would be an Arduino Pro Mini but then you'll also need a USB->TTL adapter (aka an FDTI cable) to program both skates. Last up would be the Pro Micro. It has USB onboard (so you don't need the FTDI) but costs more. For just 2 skates, the last 2 cost the same, w/the Pro Micro easier to use.

Lastly you need a power source. You may try to run all the above off a single LiPo but there's no guarantee it'll run, and if it does, for how long. Using 2 LiPos in series (or a 2S LiPo) will give you > 5v to run on. You could then use the regulator on the Arduino to make 5v. Or, w/a single LiPo, use a DC/DC Booster to make 5v.

Personally I'd go the Neopixel route and use a 2s LiPo battery (per skate). Get 6 (per skate) of these type (to make soldering easy)
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1260
or these if you're OK w/a soldering iron ...
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1655
and a Pro Micro (per skate). An Arduino Micro is functionally the same and sold by Adafruit.
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1315
You'll also need a LiPo charger.
Wire it all up, package it, and code away.
http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neop ... e/overview

EDIT: I note the 5v regulator on a Trinket is only good for 150 mA, not enough to run the Neopixels. Use of a Trinket and 2 LiPos in series will require another 5v regulator for the Neopixels.

[p0g0]

Thank you for the explanation, I get it now. Btw, a few months ago I bought a FLORA board by adafruit and a neopixel ring.
i can use flora again with those single neopixel leds. Perfect

[Mee_n_Mac]

i can use flora again with those single neopixel leds.

Yup, the Flora has the same 32U4 microcontroller as the Micro or Pro Micro, just running at 3.3v and (I assume) 8 MHz. At the very least you can find out if the Neopixels (normally run at 5v) run well, and how bright they are at 3.3v. The ring is the same as the other Neopixels in that regard. If they are bright enough, that simplifies things ... no 2'nd LiPo, no DC/DC and a simple 1 cell charger. Also a good tester of how long the battery will last.

http://learn.adafruit.com/flora-rgb-sma ... s/overview

It occurs to that if every works at 3.3v and you like the simplicity but they aren't quite bright enough ... you could just add more Neopixels and get a larger capacity battery.

[p0g0]

indeed thanks!