Chris Joy
asked on
bi-directional motor and multple LED strips controlled via USB
I've built a flight simulator. Now I want to put lights in it, plus console LED's, plus a bidirectional motor to extend/retract controls. I'm a programmer by nature, and just starting in Arduino/electronics. I'd like all of those components to be controlled via the PC via USB. So, a few questions:
1. This is a lot of components drawing a lot of power, I have sufficient pins on an Arduino to control them all, but for power concerns do I need to make 3 separate devices (Lighting, Console LED's, and Motor) or can I run them all from a single Aruduino connected to the PC via USB (and AC power supply, if needed).
2. I know about the individual aspects needed for those, as in, I can light LED's, and I know I need an h-bridge for the motor to work in both directions, but can those be done on the same board? If so, can someone give me some sketches or designs on how to do it?
The Lighting LED's are RadioShack 39.3" (1m) Tricolor LED Strip for Arduino 2760339. The console LED's would be somewhere between 5 and 10 multicolor single LED's I need to color from green, to yellow, to red. The motor (and I could use some advice on this) needs to spin a threaded rod that will push/pull the drawer the controls are mounted on.
If someone can either provide me with good drawings/sketches, or point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. I'm an expert programmer, but just learning electronics, maybe halfway through the tutorials.
Thanks,
-Chris
1. This is a lot of components drawing a lot of power, I have sufficient pins on an Arduino to control them all, but for power concerns do I need to make 3 separate devices (Lighting, Console LED's, and Motor) or can I run them all from a single Aruduino connected to the PC via USB (and AC power supply, if needed).
2. I know about the individual aspects needed for those, as in, I can light LED's, and I know I need an h-bridge for the motor to work in both directions, but can those be done on the same board? If so, can someone give me some sketches or designs on how to do it?
The Lighting LED's are RadioShack 39.3" (1m) Tricolor LED Strip for Arduino 2760339. The console LED's would be somewhere between 5 and 10 multicolor single LED's I need to color from green, to yellow, to red. The motor (and I could use some advice on this) needs to spin a threaded rod that will push/pull the drawer the controls are mounted on.
If someone can either provide me with good drawings/sketches, or point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. I'm an expert programmer, but just learning electronics, maybe halfway through the tutorials.
Thanks,
-Chris
I've never built anything like this but I have given it some thought. A 5V USB port only puts out about 100mA of current so you could not operate a motor strong enough to turn a screw to move a drawer in and out. For that you need to use relays. I would recommend a 12V circuit to run the drawer mechanism. If you are very handy in the shop and can make your own mechanism out of a 12V motor attached to a threaded rod. For the threaded rod, use an Acme threaded rod otherwise the drawer will take forever to open and close and will probably get jammed up when dirt gets in the threads. If you're not so handy in the shop you can just buy a 12V actuator. The other possibility with a 12V circuit is getting hold of a power window motor from a junk yard or repair shop.
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here an article explaining all modes : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB