Hyperactive LED Xmas Tree
With elaborate light show and daisy-chain capability
While in the past we usually had to make do with a string of tiny, fragile light bulbs, which would flash at the most, now we can choose from many different types of LED lights with built-in light effects. But as a real electronics enthusiast you can, of course, make one that is much better and more elaborate, such as this Xmas tree which, with 56 LEDs can display an extensive light show lasting more than three-quarters of an hour.
Materials
Gerber file
CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.
Elektor recommends the Elektor PCB Service service from its business partner Eurocircuits or AISLER as the best services for its own prototypes and volume production.
The use of our Gerber files is provided under a modified Creative Commons license. Creative Commons offers authors, scientists, educators and other creatives the freedom to handle their copyright in a more free way without losing their ownership.
Components
The BOM (Bill of Materials) is the technically exhaustive listing of parts and other hardware items used to produce the working and tested prototype of any Elektor Labs project. The BOM file contains deeper information than the Component List published for the same project in Elektor Magazine. If required the BOM gets updated directly by our lab engineers. As a reader, you can download the list here.
Want to learn more about our BOM list? Read the BOM list article for extra information.
Component list
Resistors
R1,R4,R14 = 4.7kOhm
R2,R3 = wire link
R5 = 330Ohm (optional)
R6–R13 = 680Ohm (820Ohm, 1kOhm, see text)
Capacitors
C1 = 47µF 16V
C2,C3 = 22pF ceramic
Semiconductors
D1 = LED, red, 3mm (optional)
IC1 = PIC18F2685-E/SP, programmed
Miscellaneous
X1 = 24MHz quartz crystal
K1 = DC adapter socket (e.g. Lumberg type 1613 20)
K2 = 2-pin SIL pinheader (optional)
K3 = 5-pin SIL pinheader
K4 = 16 pin-SIL pinheader (or short length of 16-way flat cable)
Optional: pushbutton for mode and reset
PCB # 120634-1 (see [1])
LED board
D1–D56 = high-ef ciency LED, 5mm
K1 = 16-pin SIL pinheader (see K4 controller board)
PCB # 120634-2
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