Repairing a Neewer 660 Studio light - How Hard Can It Be? -- Episode 594

When I said: "Use what you have and just build a new controller." I did not mean to trash the existing PCB. You have two parts on the current PCB: The drivers, and the 5vdc power supply. So the easy way is to Remove the CPU which gave up the magic smoke. Now you have to identify all of the outputs and inputs. Then you have a choice, use the same CPU as They did or one of your own on a small PCB and wire the IO pins to the others IO pins and write the code. I would stay away from parts that have potential "death upon read" - Good Luck.

I immediately thought I'd just replace the microcontroller with a replacement, and write my own code, especially as the programming header is on the PCB and easy to connect in to.
I'm tempted to challenge myself and replace it with a 555 based circuit though, to output the PWM signal based on the pots to the LED drivers, potentially still using the existing drivers, but if I re do them, I can get a single drop in replacement PCB made with the 555s(/556), LED drivers and power produced, which I think would be a pretty neat solution, just a little more time consuming.

  hifromkatie You are building a bigger box, for no reason. As an Integration & Sustaining Engineer, I used to work on all sorts of stuff,   And I had a problem, which you seem to have. STOP BUILDING BIGGER BOXES! It's a disease. please refer to Occam's razor. Where the simplest solution is most likely the best.  You started to build the bigger box:
     "I'm tempted to challenge myself and replace it with a 555-based circuit though, to output the PWM signal based on the pots to the LED drivers,              potentially still using the existing drivers, but if I redo them, I can get a single drop-in replacement PCB made with the 555s(/556), LED drivers and        power produced, which I think would be a pretty neat solution, just a little more time-consuming." 
I hope you don't. do easier things like wire a new CPU to the board, maybe something different if you have the toolset. You just need to get the I/O of the new CPU to the old CPU and start to program it. AND get rid of the LDO in favor of a better device like an LM780x but with one more component a Zener Diode across the input side of the regulator and you want it about .5vdc above the input voltage. This way a transient from the wall wart, will not do any damage, as when the voltage rises it will be directed to the ground. 

Forget about using C code, go with micropython KISS FTW!

from machine import Pin, ADC, PWM
from time import sleep

warmPot = ADC(0)
warmPWM = PWM(Pin(0))
warmPWM.freq(1000)
while True:
    warmPWM.duty_u16(warmPot.read_u16())
    sleep(0.01)

I like it, assuming that tiny MCU that can handle micropython.

Thanks, and Its a fair point! I had to splurge a few more dollars for a rpi pico.

scottiebabe  Totally agree!  To save $2, you have to get into another programming interface.  If you are already using it, not a problem.  If not... .

Totally agree, I also recognize she has to produce an entertaining and educational video. Whatever she decides to do I know I'll enjoy the video and learn something new, katie is the best!

I have also recently realized clipchamp is free on windows, what a hoot!

Totally agree, I also recognize she has to produce an entertaining and educational video. Whatever she decides to do I know I'll enjoy the video and learn something new, katie is the best!

I have also recently realized clipchamp is free on windows, what a hoot!