I need around 120 digital outputs for a project, how would you suggest I do this?

Hi there!

I am planning a project using a bunch of LEDs that I want to be able to control separately and I need to be able to control around 120 digital things. I would like to use an arduino to do this but I am open to suggestions on other platforms. I want any system that will let me control around 120 digital LEDs and maybe a few buttons all independently. I am looking for something relatively inexpensive and not too complicated (although I can handle some difficulty, that's why I want to do the project).

I was thinking I could use an I/O expansion board on an arduino or something similar to the gertboard for raspberry pi.

I would really appreciate any help people could give me, I would love some links to things so I can compare them too!

Thanks in advance,

-Leon

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dougw over 9 years ago +1

One simple way to do this is using addressable LEDs (such as WS2811, WS2812) - one serial output can easily control 144 LEDs individually, including colour and intensity. You can buy them in flexible strips…

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sarunaszx over 9 years ago

To me the easiest way (although probably the least professional) would be to get cheap a couple of cheap microcontrollers (arduino uno or whatever) and connect them to one master controller using spi or i2c.

Otherwise, you could use port expansion chips like these NXP I2C Agile I/O Peripheral Expanders :: NXP Semiconductors, but as far as I have found, microcontrollers are cheaper lol.
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12buckleo over 9 years ago in reply to sarunaszx

@Sarünas Staigis : Thanks for the comment! As for the two microcontroller idea, I had touched on using two arduino mega type ones but I would need more than two of those and I am not sure at all how the code would work. Another problem that I am still uncertain about is that I need it to fit into a relatively small space (not sure what size yet) and arduinos are chunky for what they are. Thank you again for the ideas, I may use the master + slave system with PIs one day for something. I am glad you made your comment as it clarified that my original idea was in fact possible and that I wasn't being crazy! Thank you again.
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sarunaszx over 9 years ago in reply to 12buckleo

You could also use 32bit expander: Arduino Interface PCA9555 GPIO Expander

And this is probably the cleanest solution: ams’ AS1130 is the smallest LED dot-matrix driver for 132 LEDs
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sarunaszx over 9 years ago in reply to 12buckleo

You could also use 32bit expander: Arduino Interface PCA9555 GPIO Expander

And this is probably the cleanest solution: ams’ AS1130 is the smallest LED dot-matrix driver for 132 LEDs
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