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[Ra'z Kortu]

So I have 2 projects going on here. First is adding a circuit of LED's to my helmet using an Arduino Nano. Second is a much simpler LED circuit for one of my gauntlets also using an Arduino Nano. This is my first attempt at anything like this. I have more mechanical knowledge than i do electrical so this is a big jump for me and so far I'm having fun with it.

Helmet: I purchased a couple of Bluetooth LED name tags that I plan to mount on the inside of each ear cap. There are also 10 other slots that I would like to fill with LED's programmed with the Arduino as well. Bellow are pictures, sketch and diagram using Tinkercad.

>>>>>https://www.tinkercad.com/things/0vYTIZy0fou<<<<<

Code: [Select]

int counter;

int counter2;

int counter3;

int counter4;

int counter5;

int counter6;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
}

void loop()
{
  for (counter = 0; counter < 5; ++counter) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(3, HIGH);
  for (counter2 = 0; counter2 < 2; ++counter2) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
  for (counter3 = 0; counter3 < 5; ++counter3) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(2, HIGH);
  for (counter4 = 0; counter4 < 2; ++counter4) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(3, LOW);
  for (counter5 = 0; counter5 < 1; ++counter5) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  for (counter6 = 0; counter6 < 1; ++counter6) {
    digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(12, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(200); // Wait for 200 millisecond(s)
  }
  digitalWrite(2, LOW);
}










Gauntlet: Simple 3 LED circuit modeled off this tutorial. Bellow are pictures, sketch and diagram using Tinkercad.

>>>>>https://www.tinkercad.com/things/f9gNUJS0OWt<<<<<

Code: [Select]

int leds[6] = {8,9,10,11,12,13};

void setup(){
  for (int jj; jj<sizeof(leds)/sizeof(int);jj++){
    pinMode(leds[jj],OUTPUT);
    delay(10);
  }
}

void loop(){
  digitalWrite(leds[random(0,sizeof(leds)/sizeof(int))],HIGH);
  delay(random(20,200));
  digitalWrite(leds[random(0,sizeof(leds)/sizeof(int))],LOW);
}




Questions:

Am I on the right track?

Any suggested changes in wiring or code?

What is the best way to wire up the Arduino Nano's? (They have no soldered pins or any other connectors and I am also new to soldering)

What is the easiest/best way to add switches to each of these? (Plan is to power each of these with their own 5v power banks also have hold switch for the gauntlet)


Thanks for the help!

[LightningLion]

So I have 2 projects going on here. First is adding a circuit of LED's to my helmet using an Arduino Nano. Second is a much simpler LED circuit for one of my gauntlets also using an Arduino Nano. This is my first attempt at anything like this. I have more mechanical knowledge than i do electrical so this is a big jump for me and so far I'm having fun with it.

That's the most important part.

Questions:
Am I on the right track?

Any suggested changes in wiring or code?

What is the best way to wire up the Arduino Nano's? (They have no soldered pins or any other connectors and I am also new to soldering)

What is the easiest/best way to add switches to each of these? (Plan is to power each of these with their own 5v power banks also have hold switch for the gauntlet)

Thanks for the help!

You're good for now. It's a simple circuit, don't worry about making it super-fancy.


For the Nano, you can simply solder the wires directly to the board in the holes.


You could solder male pins to the Nano, and then to a perfboard.


Or even better: solder male pins to the Nano and female to the perfboard so you can install and remove it.

About your last question, What do you want the switches for?

[Ra'z Kortu]

For the Nano, you can simply solder the wires directly to the board in the holes.

You could solder male pins to the Nano, and then to a perfboard.

Or even better: solder male pins to the Nano and female to the perfboard so you can install and remove it.

Awsome! I was worried soldering wires directly to the board was some what discouraged due to how delicate it would make the components. I did a bit of research and found that a lot of people use shields and cases for finished products. For my gauntlets I was a bit worried to go this route as I want to contain everything in the small space of my right gauntlet. Once done the nano, power bank, and wiring would all be tucked away free of harm and I would add an access door to the inside of my gauntlet. For my helmet I may pin it out and place it in a case as I have much more room to work with.

About your last question, What do you want the switches for?

Basic on/off function.

This is the switch I already have when I bought the gauntlet kit from Kruser. It is an on/off latching switch, other than that I do not know its specs.



For my helmet I would also like to wire in a switch for on/off purposes as well. It does not need to be the same style switch as my gauntlets. I also plan to wire in a couple of fans on a separate circuit also with their own on/off switch. This is almost a must as I live in the dessert. I have quite a bit of room in my helmet to work with so ultimately I want to keep all components in the helmet. If I find I still have room for more gadgets later I may add visor lights and/or a Bluetooth mic setup. These would be later on projects though.

I guess my question for this is, where would be the best place to add this in the circuits and is there any coding that should go with it?

[LightningLion]

Shields are for expanding Arduino capabilities with pre-manufactured solutions. For an application this simple which also has space constraints directly wiring is perfectly OK. You can use hotglue to secure and isolate the solder joints.
On/Off switches go in the Power supply line (conventionally, the +V dc wire) that goes from your powerbank to your arduino or set of fans.
Switches the Arduino needs to know the state of (for activating different sequences of lights for example) need to be wired to the Arduino pins, declared as inputs and read in the code to do stuff.