Interest in an Arduino LED Controller?

[Shigshwa]

I'm currently coding an Arduino based program for an LED controller. It will be based off of the older Typhon LED controller, if anybody remembers that one, but I am improving it with a new menu style (so that you don't have to iterate through the menu items one by one). I'm also gonna extend the channel capability to 5 channels, and even more is possible if desired. I may also implement other features in, like a selectable dimming pattern (linear, curved) in the future.

I know that other projects like Reef Pi can already control PWM output to LED drivers on its own, but I intend this to be a unit that is integrated into a DIY light fixture, on its own. Is there any interest in the code? If it's large enough, I may release it.

 

[Mandelstam]

I'm just in the planning stage on my first reef setup but for the lighting I've been planning to go down the diy led setup with an arduino controller. So there's definitely interest from this guy at least! Would be great to follow a build thread and see how how you set it up!

 

[Lingwendil]

My suggestion is to either use a more capable base like the ESP8266 (native WiFi too) for its native 10 bit PWM on all GPIO pins, or add a PCA9685 16 channel PWM driver chip for its native (and beautifully seamless) 12 bit dimming, this is what the storm X and similar controllers are doing. This also frees up analog pins for sensors, buttons, etc.

Here is a project that sounds similar to what you are doing, and uses the PCA chip, an RTC, an I2C LCD, and the Arduino Nano. Control is a basic rotary encoder.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/simple-multichannel-up-to-16-led-controller.784531/

I'm running one now and the difference between 12 bit dimming and the 8 bit dimming of the storm and typhon type controllers is an absolute night and day difference, it is so buttery smooth that it's definitely worth the $3 or so the PCA9685 board adds to the cost.