I really should put this up as a project. It's my own software written in assembler to control 12 tri-state multiplexed LED with just four wires.
Rather than just have a single effect at a fixed speed, my software has several different effects and uses a built -in randomiser to skew the effects and delays very slightly for extra variety, and to reduce the effect of lots of units running in sync every so often.
It uses just about any bright LED you can find and encases them in heatshrink sleeving. The chip is a common PIC12F629 and has the option of using a button or bridgeable wire link to select effects.
All choices are stored in non-volatile memory, and on power up a short self test routine checks each LED in turn.
Given that you can buy a set of eight meteor lights from China with a USB power supply, it's almost pointless actually making your own unless you want a specific effect or colour, or just want to do it yourself for the hell of it.
Rather than just have a single effect at a fixed speed, my software has several different effects and uses a built -in randomiser to skew the effects and delays very slightly for extra variety, and to reduce the effect of lots of units running in sync every so often.
It uses just about any bright LED you can find and encases them in heatshrink sleeving. The chip is a common PIC12F629 and has the option of using a button or bridgeable wire link to select effects.
All choices are stored in non-volatile memory, and on power up a short self test routine checks each LED in turn.
Given that you can buy a set of eight meteor lights from China with a USB power supply, it's almost pointless actually making your own unless you want a specific effect or colour, or just want to do it yourself for the hell of it.
I had the idea to use concealed meteor lights for flame effect. It looked ok but need to modify it to fade on as well as off.
I thought you know who probably figured out how to do that years ago…
Please share the circuit diagram
Still waiting 3 years on for the project/plans😕
Where can i buy the microchip, I’ve been searching in the web but no luck
What do you use to seed the randomiser? Does it vary each time the program is started, or is it technically the same random program it goes through every time it's started?
wow you should offer some of those for sale – I can think of a few good uses for the green one – bravo
Nice homemade metor led. Just a little thing that lack your led…. if i should. It lack the pwm tail fading effect. The effect what make me like those meteors white light you have. But noworry. I know it could be a pain in the arse to calculate all the fading effects when you already done a big calculation for charlieplexing with pwm those 12 leds you have. What you think about.
Aniway, you beat the cinas with the effect choice that your implemented.
I love how you nerd out to this. I live vicariously through you sir 🙂
Where is the Knight Rider KITT effect?!
great video. I've watched a few. I've got a question. For a project I need 3 white metor light strips that are synced so they all move at the same speed. not sure we're to find something like that. Can u help? please and thank you.
Yes, indeed I think that would be a fine project – looks great and would be fun. – Mike Mc
Could you run a program that lit 1 random led per tube, or a set of 2 or 3 spaced out leds per tube, that made the led fade on, and stay on for a second or two, then fade off???? ….basically turning an entire meteor string into a firefly light string…. Seems like that would be a really cool thing to do with the green ones hanging from trees…. if possible.
I`v recently bought 10 meters of programmable RGB led tape for around $15 from China.
Tape with leds, controller and remote but supply your own power, Which i already have an abundance of anyway.
how did you add so many different progams in just 1 click?
I love LED's and you're amazing 🙂
You should link this to your video where you show the difference in the power supplies. Perhaps add a link on screen. It seems pretty worthwhile that people (especially beginners such as myself) KNOW how to tell the difference.