[illiac4]

Hi. As promised i will post a list of parts needed for ambilight system. The whole system without power supply will be around 30€ or. even less. Since i do not have a lot of time I will at first list you all the parts needed. It is not a solder less version but you do not need to be an expert to do this.

So the list:
- 5m ws2812 stripe with silicone tubing 30 leds per meter (ip67). You can also buy ip65 or any other version with more leds but i think 30ledy with silicone tubing is a very good choice. It will cost you around 20 usd per roll.
I recommend Aliexpress and there are may available i have bought this one and is perfect. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC5V-1m-4...1e9ea3936e

- Then you will need a controller Leonardo Pro Micro ATmega32U4 (buy this one based on ATmega32U4 because it is faster). It will cost you around 4USD on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leonardo-Pro-Mic...SwstxVZsNU . The arduino software you will find on mine git with pictures to see how it is solder. I am not using resistor at the moment and it is good also without them. ( https://github.com/iLLiac4/Adalight_Hyperion ).

- Then you will need to solder a connector like this one(1 usd) https://www.dropbox.com/s/0dsljheyqnocnh...7.jpg?dl=0 To achieve this you will need one at least two pin jst connector, one 5.5 mm female power plug connector, L shape led connector (there are only 4 pin available so i have mode it so that it has become 3 pin one), one short piece of shrinking tube to secure solder connections.
2 pin JST connector: 1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pairs-2-Pins-J...SwBahVQKW7 or. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pairs-JST-SM-2...SwUuFWxZW0 It is around 1 usd or a little more for more pieces.

5.5 mm female power plug (1 usd): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-5-5x2-1mm-...Sw9N1VrMrj also around 1 USD.

L-shape led connector with pin header (1 usd): You will need at least one or. you can use also those for corner connectors or. you can bend stripes at corners like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v629o1hV0_k
This is the price for one but you can find eve cheaper on ebay when you buy more than one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Connector-Female...XQdGJR3M3G

Piece of shrinking tube to secure connector (see on my picture linked to dropbox). Basically free since you will need 3 cm short one.

- 1x micro usb cable for arduino. I think you already have one at home but otherwise it is also around 1 usd or. less. http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-S0-USB-to-Micr...XQrC9Sa6RH

So the costs till here are around 28 USD. Now you will need a power supply. I have 5V5A and works great. Take a note that almost never or. better say never the lights uses full power when using ambilight. You can find those power supplies in your local electronic store or. get them on ebay.
If you know a little about electronics you can use 12V one with 5V voltage regulator. Take a note that those leds uses 5V only and you will burn them if you will try to use 12V with them without voltage regulator.

So this is all you need for ambilight based on 2812b leds. All the other led versions are more expensive atm. This setup was tested with Hyperion on X64 machine and also on RPiv1 and v2 (wirh arduino) and on all they work great.

[LazerBlue]

Your link to your git is bad. The ). was pulled into the link.

[illiac4]

TNX fixed.

[Piers]

I'm still considering creating a 120 LED set-up. Just waiting on money and then I'll get the parts and create a detailed guide for all on here.

Would you mind if I include some of your instructions?

Also, how did you find shipping to Slovenia, and customs charges?

[Piers]

I'm planning on doing it slightly differently.

What's your view on the following:

Board: Arduino Uno OR Mini USB Leonardo Pro ATMEGA32U4 (8.28 EUR)
Lights: 5 metres DC5V WS2812B 150 LEDs (33.66 EUR)
5.5 mm female power plug: Not sure at the moment.
Power Supply: I think this is correct: 5V 8A switching supply (16 EUR)

Basically going with this, but different LEDs:



Working out the power supply is the hard part. My HTPCs are all ultra low-powered and I don't want to start modifying a PSU. Any suggestions for that and on the above?

[Doc.Ex]

Is your question how you should supply the arduino with power? If it doesnt get its power via USB you could also run the 5V wire from the LEDs to the 5V header on the arduino. And the gnd wire to the GND header obviously. It shouldnt matter whether the 5V come in from the header or the DC plug. Maybe there is a fuse on the plug. But as long as you power supply is half decent a supply via header shouldnt be an issue.

[Piers]

Is your question how you should supply the arduino with power? If it doesnt get its power via USB you could also run the 5V wire from the LEDs to the 5V header on the arduino. And the gnd wire to the GND header obviously. It shouldnt matter whether the 5V come in from the header or the DC plug. Maybe there is a fuse on the plug. But as long as you power supply is half decent a supply via header shouldnt be an issue.

I was planning on powering the Arduino via USB, although I do have a 5V 1.5A plug that will work.

The part I'm trying to work out is the LED to power supply. The connector used in the diagram looks about right.

[LazerBlue]

For 120 LED's your gonna want to power it from each end. If you only power it from one end, it will dim over the distance of the strip.

[Piers]

I've found a UK supplier for all parts, which certainly makes this easier in terms of shipping and returns. I've sent them an email. I'm going with the Adafruit design but with different LEDs (as in the diagram).

I will create a YouTube guide once all the parts have arrived, so beginners like me find it easier.

[Piers]

For 120 LED's your gonna want to power it from each end. If you only power it from one end, it will dim over the distance of the strip.

I've thought about that but am unsure about the solution. I don't think the Uno would be too happy with 5V 10A going through it. Power is the area I'm stuck on, unfortunately.

[LazerBlue]

The power won't be going through the arduino. All that is connecting to the strip is the data line. I'll try to take a picture of mine tonight in a few hours when I get home to show how I do my power. It works great and looks a bit like a slightly finished project. Basically your strip will be going around the tv, and if you taking all the way around the both ends will already be there and you can wire both powers together or use a y connector. I managed to get the ws2812b's over 2 1/2 years ago but never had the time to do a proper write up.

[illiac4]

I'm planning on doing it slightly differently.

What's your view on the following:

Board: Arduino Uno OR Mini USB Leonardo Pro ATMEGA32U4 (8.28 EUR)
Lights: 5 metres DC5V WS2812B 150 LEDs (33.66 EUR)
5.5 mm female power plug: Not sure at the moment.
Power Supply: I think this is correct: 5V 8A switching supply (16 EUR)

Basically going with this, but different LEDs:



Working out the power supply is the hard part. My HTPCs are all ultra low-powered and I don't want to start modifying a PSU. Any suggestions for that and on the above?

The picture for leds are for ws2801. Personally i have newer seen a fade out so am always powering from one side. Arduino does not need additional power and can be powered from usb cable. I'd recommend arduino pro micro because it is small.
Check pictures on my git since there stands everything. Basically you need one ground connection on arduino and data. And for leds you need power and ground. You can see on the photo i have shared in my first post.

There were no problems with customs and shipping. It has cost me 20 incl sipping and have ordered from the link that i have posted in my first post.

[Doc.Ex]

I was planning on powering the Arduino via USB, although I do have a 5V 1.5A plug that will work.

The part I'm trying to work out is the LED to power supply. The connector used in the diagram looks about right.

Yes you could use one of those adapters. What I meant before was, you can also power the Arduino with the power supply for the LEDs. Since you have a separate 5V and GND wire you can connect the strip to the headers of the arduino. It is than in parallel to the Leds and only draws the currrent it needs. Or you can get a DC splitter, which is what I did. Then you have multiple DC male plugs to power multiple devices. For me it was convenient because now I power the LEDs, an HDMI splitter, a Lan switch, the RPi and a HDMI2AV converter with only one PSU.

But anyway, if the arduino gets enough power via USB, that would be the most convenient solution, because it is connected to USB anyway.

[LazerBlue]

Here is how I made my controller and how the wires come off the box. Both connectors on the box are wired identical so it doesn't matter which end is plugged into which, but only the in side of the strip had the data line wired.