Arduino Light Show

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

Hey Guys,


So I have a question about LED lights. So Tyler and I have LED lights that go right to a 12 volt power source. I'm about to purchase some color LED which say not to exceed 5 volts. Why would the plain white ones work on 12 volts but not the color ones? I guess the route I'm going to take would be to get a 12 volt to 5 volt converter. In reality this'll be a way to get Matt to be a part of our bus.  &^beer& and also to start a programing peeing match.  ?/moon2.. ?/moon2.. [gunfiring\ [gunfiring\

[3Gear]

Are you sure it was 5 Volts not 5 amps?

I'd send them back if they are 5 volts, there are plentyful 12V LED lights on Amazon...

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

I need 12 volt individually adressable.

[3Gear]

Ok, you are talking about more than just led strip lighting... I won't be much help, but i know you can make a step down transformer with parts from radio shack...   

[Evil-Tunes (Glen)]

Usb ports are 5V out put and they have the 2.1 amp ones for the I pads.  Just a Thought %$oldcit




Cheers
Glen

[skibumtgm]

im up for a pissing match

[Baha (Shawn)]

LEDs are normally <5v. They stack the ones on the strips in groups so they'll require 12v. That's what you can't " chase" them with a computer program like Arduino

A voltage regulator chip will reduce 12v to 5 v. Matt should know this

[Beetleboi -Greg-]

Ok I was going to get a plug they I can plug into an inverter but I think the inverter would take up too much power. That cigarette adapter sounds like a good idea. Matt suggested the regulator, but I wanted to know why the one strip works when directly plugged to the battery, but the color ones don't.

[3Gear]

I wanted to know why the one strip works when directly plugged to the battery, but the color ones don't.

The color strips will work when plugged directly to the battery. the 4 wires are Red Green Blue and negative. at least that is how the strip I have works...  2@cent