This post currently shows Version 1 of the build. Since then, I have made numerous changes and improvements. These will all be incorporated into a new post in the very near future.
DIY Under Bed LED Lighting with an Arduino
This post contains the details for the DIY Under Bed Lights for my kids loft bed, click here for the entire post on the LED Light Project. Below I show you step by step how to make your connections and solder your Arduino Proto board.
I am connecting to four individually addressable LED strips that use the WS2812B LED chip. I am making this board as my prototype board and each LED strip will only have 6 LED’s. The final product will use 4 strips of 25 LED’s each.I am basically building this version as a prototype and to use to program the Arduino and test the sketches.
Arduino Proto board ready to go. All headers and the reset button have been soldered in place.
Connect the +5v and GND leads of your power supply as shown. I separated the leads to the opposite sides so I could use the pads between without risk of touching them together.
Solder the three wires going to the first LED strip to the proto board. I used digital output pin 11 for this strip (green DI wire). The power and ground wires go to pads with three through holes directly by where you connected the power supply wire. These will later be bridged together with the power supply wire to power the LED strips.
Showing the back of the Arduino Proto board with the first set of wires soldered in place.
Solder the wires that will go to the second LED strip to the Proto board. I used digital output pin 10 for this strip of LED’s (Yellow DI wire).
Solder the leads that will go to the third LED strip to the Proto board. I used digital output pin 6 for this strip of LED’s (Blue DI wire)
Solder the leads for the fourth and final LED strip to the Proto board. I used digital output pin 5 for this strip of LED’s (White DI wire)
A view of the back of the Proto board after all LED wires are connected.
“Bridge” together the contacts for the power by connecting the contacts with a flow of solder. You are wanting to connect the solder pads that the LED power and ground wires are soldered in to the pad where the power supply power and ground are connected to. You want to keep the power and ground isolated from each other.
View of the finished Proto board for the LED Lights
Here is the finished Protoboard with leads for the LED lights.The next step is attaching the LED lights. This will be coming up very soon!
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