need pointed in the right direction, if my project is possible

If you are going to pay for 16 * 3W LEDs it makes sense to control the current. The forward voltage of the first high power LED I found some data for could range from 2.9 to 3.9V @ 350mA.

3W LEDs will need more current and an even bigger range of forward voltage can be expected. It varies from part to part and with temperature.

Some kind of feedback driven current control is needed to use high power LEDs safely and efficiently. A resistor can be used to limit the current but it wastes power.

MK

Hi Matthew,

3W LEDs require about 900 mA each.

If you want to control the LEDs individually, it will require 16 outputs from the arduino and each output will need to control a separate LED driver that can supply 900 mA. It is possible to use a single serial output instead, but then you need a module to convert the serial back to parallel.

In order to supply 900 mA to an LED with reasonable efficiency, it is necessary to use a constant current switching regulator - so you will need 16 of these driver modules, unless you can find one with multiple outputs.

The power supply for the driver modules will need to supply at least 50 W.

So you will need an arduino, a Bluetooth module, 16 LEDs, 16 driver modules (capable of supplying 1A each), a battery capable of supplying 50 W or a big power supply and a 60 W solar panel.

Doug

so what would you recomend sir

This is great I never thought I'd get a reaction like this. I'm thinking of dumbing down leds to 1w each set in series/parallel of 2 each totaling 12. To cut on power needs. But definitely want to make solar to cut the cord running if I can keep it small enough to contain within the lightbar. Thanks much all

Also what do you think the chances are on the btw module to have feedback to the cell phone to show things such as which lights are active in real time, I am looking all info up however it's a painful to my mind all at once

so matthew and everyone else we will need a lower voltage and amperage thus decreasing the power use and increasing the chances of finding the parts

so matthew we will need less voltage thus increasing the chances of finding parts

im still learning so in the pic you did, thats a series? or parallel? i cant remember but if im remembering i should be able to run 1A or so across both lights and make it work?

Yes you can run the same current from one driver through 2 LEDs in series (one after the other) if there is sufficient voltage from your power supply. You may need 3 or 4 volts per LED - so a 12V power supply would be more than enough to run 2 LEDs in series.

Yes you can use the arduino to send LED status back though Bluetooth to either a PC or mobile device.

Doug

in the picture it was series