RGB LED night light

Ok this is what I'm trying to do. I want to create a RGB LED night for my girlfriend using an Arduino and have the LEDs fade through different colors. I want to drive at least 6 LEDs. I've been talking to people on the Arduino Google+ group but this one guy gave me a schematic for my idea, but I'm really really new to all this. Is there a driver board for RGB LEDs that I can buy and use that and the Arduino to make this? I just want something that will do what I'm planning but is easy for newbies like myself. It would be cool too if the Arduino could detect the ambient light in the room and come on as needed. I would also buy a 9V wall adaper for so the Arduino could run off power from a outlit.

If someone on here is able to help me work through this project and give me ideas and easy ways of creating this for my GF that would be amazing!

P.S. I have a Arduino Uno

Thanks!

Josh

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billabott over 12 years ago

You say that you have an Arduino Uno? It is great for learning digital interfacing, experimenting, and making your own projects, but the Picaxe can do all the same stuff and is 1/5 the price. Even the TI LaunchPad w/Energia (Arduino like IDE) is very low cost compared to UNO.

Happy Trails
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josh_j over 12 years ago in reply to billabott

That's great information, however not helpful. Does anyone else have some actual help they can give me?
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billabott over 12 years ago in reply to josh_j

If it is not too much trouble, you could post the schematic and your Arduino Sketch and I am sure there will be some feedback provided by the membership.
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josh_j over 12 years ago in reply to billabott

All I want to know is there simple premade RGB led driver board I can buy and wire it to an arduino to make a simple night light.
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R_Phoenix over 12 years ago in reply to josh_j

Well if you provide the specs of the RGB LED you are useing you may not need a driver. A simple transistor of FET might be enough.

But here are a couple from Sparkfun,
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9834
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11850
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billabott over 12 years ago

Step 1: Goto http://shieldlist.org/

Step 2: Type in KeyWords for what you want.

Step 3: Research and choose what it is you like.

I would choose THIS or the current standard RGB LED Strip as seen on ebay, AdaFruit, and many others.

2 hours later: Additionally, you may be looking for this one.

- end of line -
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josh_j over 12 years ago in reply to billabott

This RGB LED Shield is exactly what I've been looking for! Now the next question I have is there scoure code to go with this? Also what can I do to defuse the lights so their a soft glow. Can I use a Cds cell so the Arduino Uno can sense ambient light?

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/rgb-led-shield-v14-kit-p-430.html
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josh_j over 12 years ago

Here is something else I found on adafruit! http://www.adafruit.com/product/1430 The only thing I need to know is how to code this. I want it to fade through the normal RGB but also have Yellow and Purple. Now can I use a variable resister and use a 1K resister so my gf won't over volt the shield? I want to be able to manually adjest the brightness instead of using a Cds cell to check ambient light.
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mcb1 over 12 years ago in reply to josh_j

By chance did you look at the Adafruit tutorial.?

I'm sure the fact you did the code (rather than have someone else supply) will impress you girlfriend.

mark
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josh_j over 12 years ago in reply to mcb1

Yeah I did go look at adafruit and found what I was looking for.http://www.adafruit.com/product/1430 Now how do I add a variable resister so she can adjust the brightness manually?
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