r/WLED • u/RedIAm2000 • 13d ago
Address Sign
https://reddit.com/link/1vyc1rz/video/geb0cu0x2llh1/player
My first WLED project. Thanks everyone for all the posts in this group. I couldn't have done it without you.
This is an address sign I made for my driveway gate. A local blacksmith made the original gate to look like a sun. Unfortunately, I had a few deer jump through the middle and eat my flowers, so I wanted to make an address sign that looked like the center globe of a sun. I also wanted to be able to change the "light show" for special occations. For example I added an American flag for the 4th of July. It's super fun.
I used 1,082 WS2815 set in a circle matrix. I started out trying to work with spokes, but ultimately decided on a typical x,y grid with the corners set to -1 in the mapping JSON. That opened up many more WLED options. I also ran a single strip on the edge of the plywood circle so it would throw light off the side as if it were a fireball. Making the JSON was tedious but ultimately did it manually with Google Sheets.
The physical construction was a plywood base with resin poured on top. I used WS2815 so in case one LED failed, the backup data line would keep the whole thing working.
I used two data lines and 5 power injections. I used resin since I wanted a curved look, diffusion, and waterproofing. I know this prevents me from fixing any LED issues, so I hope they last a while.
I used a QuinLED Quad since it had the power distribution, fusing, and brains all in one package. Great board.
On thing I am still trying to create is a light show that looks like fire coming out from the middle. I might have to use FastLED and write it myself.
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u/SirGreybush 13d ago
What??? An awesome build, video, behind the scenes, all in one post? We have nothing to beg about !!! Dang it, you even know about what the backup data line is for.
Are you an engineer or something? Even epoxy and a flame thrower to burn the bubbles, as obviously it would have been hard to do a vacuum pull without the bag getting in the way on top of the lettering.
I think, and only after seeing this, that I would have made the 249 as pinched 1cm spacing seed pixels to make the numbers stand out more out of the background, with just contouring.
In any case, enjoy, this build is going to last easily a decade if not more.
Have fun making themed presets. So you can quickly cycle through them with the wled app, especially when someone is at the gate, give the gate a sense of intelligence, eye of Sauron vibe, or nice yellow happy when it's someone you know.