SparkFun Forums

[biohazard1987]

hey ppl im a noob here. im looking to use about 132 LilyPad LED Micro. but im wondering..........

where do i start? i want to be able to select the sequance in which the lights light up. also the speed in which they like up.

it will be run off a power cell but im looking at using the raspberry pi but what i want to know is what do i need to connect 132 maybe more to the raspberry pi.

so if i have the LilyPad LED Micro -- sequance knob -- ??????? -- raspberry pi.

any help please? thanks. jay.

[Mee_n_Mac]

Do I understand correctly that you want to individually control 132 LEDs ? If so you really don't want the huge hassle of trying to use LP LEDs. You should look at LEDs incorporated w/a controller for each LED. These 'individually addressable' LEDs generally come in strips but can be had as single LED+controller. They are based on the WS2801 or the (more commonly) WS2811/12b controller. Adafruit's version of the latter are known as 'Neopixels'. A WS2812 version of a LP LED is a Flora RGB Smart LED.

https://www.adafruit.com/search?q=neopixel&b=1
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12024
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12877
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11821

I'm not sure what hardware or software exists for using them w/the RPi.

To use LP LEDs (Micro or other) you'd need multiple LED driver ICs, something like this (only does 8 LEDs).
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10136

[biohazard1987]

well id doesnt have to be on a RPi tbh, i just want to be able to select a light sequence that i choose when i choose using some kind of dial or switch. is there anything that can do that?
oh and thanks for your help with the LEDs then. im thinking the single LEDs are a good idea. thanks mate.

[Mee_n_Mac]

... i just want to be able to select a light sequence that i choose when i choose using some kind of dial or switch. is there anything that can do that? ...

Sure, using the WS2812 LEDs you can do most anything you care to imagine w/some programming, using a variety of micro-controllers (MCU), including the ever popular and used Arduino. Google "Neopixels" and see what Youtube has for the kind of displays possible. Also look that the Adafruit link I posted.

Short of doing POV stuff, they're great.