New Project idea questions - Word Clock
#1
Posted 24 February 2011 - 08:49 PM
#2
Posted 24 February 2011 - 08:57 PM
Total BOCS Traveled Distance: 9708 miles | States Visited: 5
Track the Box
#3
Posted 25 February 2011 - 07:08 PM
The Projects page (http://www.netduino.com/projects/) has a tutorial on blinking an LED but conceptually you define an OutputPort for each pin (so you'd have 20, likely in an array), and can simply call obj.Write(true) or obj.Write(false) to switch the pin to HI or LO respectively.
Driving a handful of LEDs off the board itself I don't think is a major problem but I'm assuming for something like the project you've linked even a single pin might control a dozen or more LEDs, so you need to make sure you're remaining aware of the current limits of the pins. I think normal practice would be to use transistors to use the signal from the Netduino to control the larger load needed by the project.
ItsDan:
Thanks for the info, I did get the onboard switch to light an LED and it was pretty simple.
I kind of understand what you mean about driving a lot of LEDS, I believe the most on at a time would be close to 100, one for each letter. Unfortunately I haven't used transistors yet so i'll have to pick them up and mess around with them a bit.
#4
Posted 25 February 2011 - 09:20 PM
Total BOCS Traveled Distance: 9708 miles | States Visited: 5
Track the Box
#5
Posted 25 February 2011 - 09:26 PM
#6
Posted 25 February 2011 - 09:39 PM
#7
Posted 25 February 2011 - 09:46 PM
However it's a bit overpriced I think. I found this just the other day:
http://www.seeedstud...e023ca97644b739
It has many of the same parts, minus the microcontroller, for under $20. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have transistors but if you likewise could use a misc parts bin like I needed it might do well for you.
If your in the US, check out Radio Shack. I picked up a pack of 500 resistors for $12, and a 10 pack of PNP and a 10 pack of NPN transistors for $3. Couple that with a pack of 1N400x diodes for $3-4 and find some caps and you will have all the basics.
AllElectronics.com has a great prices too. You can get a package of 100 1N4004 for $3.80 and a 10 pack of PNP's for $0.80 and they have the resistor pack for $11.50
Then I would pickup a parts bin from your home improvement store, I think I paid $20 for mine and I have all my resistors, caps, diodes, transistors etc all organized and easy to find!
#8
Posted 26 February 2011 - 12:05 AM
Total BOCS Traveled Distance: 9708 miles | States Visited: 5
Track the Box
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users