Comments on: How to Build a 8×8 RGB LED Matrix with PWM using an Arduino

By: Francis

Francis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:20:18 +0000

Sounds like a plan, go for it!

By: Francis

Francis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:19:44 +0000

It’s a simple app I wrote in Processing, works well with the Arduino serial interface.

By: kd5und

kd5und — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:43:03 +0000

What is the interface that your daughter is using to make the patterns in the video?

By: kd5und

kd5und — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:17:05 +0000

Hey Francis,

This is an awesome project….
I am on a similar mission, I’m trying to multiplex 24 rgb leds for an old muscle car project. There are some trim pieces on this car that im going to drill holes in and epoxy 12rgb leds each in the 2 rear trim pieces and sand them flush. Id like set them to scroll when the turn signal is applied and stay on for brake signal and dimm for running lights. I got the rgb leds cause later id like to program rainbow effects and simular things while at car shows.
111 111111122222
123456789012 345678901234
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

That is the real world layout of the leds above
but i think your matrix code would work fine for this
and just build code for a 5×5 matrix and just dont do anything with the 25th led. i curently have a picaxe 28×2 that im trying to use and some 595′s. I have limited programing skill but i did do some basic in middle school about 15yrs ago. im thinking about getting an arduino setup but i know nothing about C language, so i was thinking i would start off by duplicating your project part by part and hopfuly wittle it down to what i need.

any thoughts?

Thanks
Travis
KD5UND

By: adam

adam — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:20:12 +0000

hi! i try to transfer from pc with processing frame data to display but i have experienced some weird action. i read after that and it turned out that the serial uses interrupt process too. so it can cause some missing bytes in the data flow.
for example i send an byte array [1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15] and the arduino gets this: [1,3,5,9,11,13,15,15]
dont you have experienced something like this (missing data)?

By: mistermax

mistermax — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:24:46 +0000

Do you happen to know what the component model for the RGB matrix was? I’ve got a couple of xsm-d1088BRG modules and am trying to identify if they are RGB or purely red/green.

Thanks

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:12:32 +0000

This is basically what you want http://www.sparkfun.com/products/105 but you can order them in bags of 100 or more off suppliers on Ebay in China for MUCH cheaper than the price listed here on Sparkfun. Hope that helps,
-fs

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:11:25 +0000

Bit of a broad question. If you can find a matrix that shape (20×6) then choose that, I’ve only seen square 8×8 matrices. Alternatively you could buy a bag of RGB LEDs, they are fairly cheap and sold by the hundred, then just make your own matrix. A word of warning if you go this route, it’s a LOT of soldering and your best bet would be to make a double-sided PCB board to keep the wiring nice and clean. Not a trivial task. Alternatively you could just order a kit from somewhere like Sparkfun or LadyAda. Hope that helps.

-fs

By: dre dre

dre dre — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:05:44 +0000

hello!
sir if i will be making 20×6 rgb matrix,and make a similar project like this, what components should i use to make it work?

By: steve

steve — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:23:03 +0000

Hi, I am not good at ordering different types of LEDs–there are so many kinds!
Can you tell me a digikey part number or type of LED to search for that I would need to get if I build this with separate LEDs instead of an 8 x 8 matrix?

Thanks,
STeve