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Spinning LED ball (RGB) HELP!!

Former Member

Hi all,

 

Does anyone know what the components list and plans are for this project?

Or can anyone find them?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPQzrA2OZ8

 

It seems like an interesting project to try.

 

Cheers,

Chris

  • 0

    Hi Chris,

     

    That is a great video, but it looks quite complex. I would start with something quite simple and build up. Pick a microcontroller first, and learn how to use that. The Multicomp Arduino clones, the Amicus boards and mbeds are a good place to start. That would give you a choice of PIC, AVR or Cortex processors. Start form scratch and learn how to control hardware from the chip using software..

     

    I've a degree in electronics but not practised for a while. I bought a book recommended to me on another thread on PIC 32 programming. I'll get a starter board, and then I will build up something simple and build on from that.

     

    I think you sound more interested in getting a recipe and throwing it together (which is fun), but in the longer term it is more satisfying to know how and why stuff works, and be able to tailor projects to suit your own needs, than trying to suit your needs to the project.

  • 0

    This project doesn't look like one of those spinning wheels that displays an image or text, so it should be fairly easy to accomplish.

     

    PWM of two motors.

    Control 3 LEDS, and you don't have to do any major timing calculations of them either.

     

    That's it. I'm just curious about the coupling used to control and deliver power to the LEDs while spinning. Let me know if you find out how they do it.

     

    Cabe

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Hi Cabe,

     

    He using slip rings to deliver power to the LEDs, they're similar in concept to how a DC motor commutates power to it's windings. Google slip rings and you'll get enough info to understand what they are.

     

    Best Regards,

    Jorge Garcia

  • 0 in reply to Jorge_Garcia

    Cheers Jorge,

     

    That was a lot of helpful information thank you. Here is some more information. Think it says that it's done through electromagnetism. I still don't fully understand it but I will after I read it a few times. I have a bit of a sick head after last night  image.


    Source: http://www.gcsescience.com/pme18.htm

     

    Regrds,

    Chris.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    A simple generator is similar to an electric motor.
    With a motor, we put electrical energy in and get rotational energy out,
    with a generator we put rotational energy in and get electrical energy out.

    http://www.gcsescience.com/Current-Generator.gif

    As with the motor, the current direction changes
    with each half turn of the generator.
    The generator produces alternating current
    because slip rings are used in place of a split - ring commutator.

     

    The slip rings keep a continuous connection
    with the wire around the armature (continued).

    If a simple electric motor with a split - ring commutator
    is used to generate electricity, you do not get alternating current.
    A different type of electrical output is produced.

  • 0

    I know this is a very old thread but I just got into all of this LED stuff and I managed to track down that guy in the youtube video. He doesn't give any real prints on how he did it but he has a lot of photos and detailed shots of the whole thing in action. I'm sure someone on here can provide more insight to what he did and how to remake it.

     

    http://laserpointerforums.com/f57/led-orb-2-0-a-50012.html

     

    Please anybody who knows this stuff please help me decypher how he made it. For whatever reason this person does not want to share...