control 240 rgb LEDs individually with a PC

[garynobles]

Hi all, my 1st post here so I hope you can help.

Ok I am a noob to all this although I did take electronics at school and I can solder etc... I also had an introduction to C++ and Java at Uni

THE IDEA
- Create a matrix of LEDs (48 columns x 5 rows)
- Use a PC to control each individual LED
- Power from a 12v DC car battery
- Eventually code some colourful light displays
This may be a unique installation as I will be putting these LEDs under the front grill of my 1978 VW Campervan! This already has an onboard windows computer.

So I am not sure where to begin and I dont want to waste my time and money. By googling I see I might need an Ardunio board and a PWD or possible I read something about shift registers...

Can anyone help me get this project designed?

I will be very greatful and I will post pics once it is complete!!!

Thanks for any help

Gary

 

[garynobles]

also I meant to say, yes Ihave looked through the forum but I cant find any generic 'how tos' all seem specific to peoples problems... as you would expect!

 

[garynobles]

I have been pointed here, are these the way to go? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10444

 

[nickelflippr]

If I'm not mistaken there is an ethernet solution up to the challenge, using a Wiznet and Propeller chip. The project is up on one of the Xmas forums. The WS2801 is also talked about extensively over there, including premade rgb led strings from China.

 

[4pyros]

The project is up on one of the Xmas forums.

Link please

 

[garynobles]

hi, thanks for the suggestion to look at the xmas forums but i cant find any reference to it, do you know of any links?

 

[jbeng]

https://diylightanimation.com/ is one... a lot of the stuff they use over there is DMX512 stuff though.

48x5 RGB devices equals 720 individual leds. Do you want simple on/off for each led or do you want to do more sophisticated color mixing by controlling the brightness of each led? I'm fairly certain that will make things quite a bit more complex.

 

[Ubergeek63]

controlling the LEDs is not the problem. doing so and still having daylight visibility is!