Create your own LARGE 7-segment LED display!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 พ.ค. 2024
- 7-segment displays are useful in many electronic projects, but the 4-digit modules commonly used in Arduino or Raspberry Pi tutorials (e.g. those using TM1637 or MAX7219 chips) are just... a bit small...
So, I decided to create my own display using a WS2812B programmable LED strip. It uses a modular design, which means it can be scaled to accommodate pretty much any number of digits, of any size - you just need to use a longer length of LED strip!
If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print an enclosure for each digit and diffusers for the individual segments (the version I demonstrate in the video are 8" high), but you can also create these on a CNC, or just layout LED strips by hand and use baking paper or thin white plastic sheet as a diffuser. And, because the LEDs have separate RGB components, you can even create animated colour-changing effects on the digits !
STLs remixed from a design by sockser (www.thingiverse.com/thing:523..., based on an original design by parallyze: (www.thingiverse.com/thing:500..., licenced under a CC-BY-SA licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) and can be downloaded from drive.google.com/drive/folder...
To demonstrate the display, I've created an Arduino sketch that implements both a count-up stopwatch and also a countdown timer, displaying the time in MM:SS or SSSS format. This could be used in any kind of exercise challenge, escape room, or even as a timer to monitor how much screen-time allowance your kids have still got left :)
Timings---00:00:00 - 00:02:13 Introduction00:02:14 - 00:05:22 Using WS2812B ("Neopixel") LED strips00:05:23 - 00:08:28 3D Printed modular 7 segment case00:08:29 - 00:10:41 Arduino stopwatch timer and countdown
00:10:42 - 00:11:31 Fritzing wiring diagram00:11:32 - 00:39:55 Arduino code
00:39:56 - 00:41:07 Wrapup and conclusionIf you enjoyed this video or found it helpful, please like and subscribe to this channel! And, if you'd like to download the code for the Arduino IDE, the wiring diagram, or other resources used in this and all the other escape room projects shown on this channel (and support me to continue making more tutorials in the future!), please check out my Patreon at / playfultech - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Hi!
Simply brilliant, I appreciate your work, thank you for all the efforts you take to make this wonderful project.
Awesome - love the simple solution of rgb strips with one data line and only 5v
Great job, nicely explained....thanks! Very timely (no pun intended) as I am looking into escape room timers as we speak.
Interesting project explained very clearly. Thank you. 👍
Very good tutorial. Will use the display for keeping score in a roller ball game.
This tutorial is brilliant, thanks for it, finally it helps me to understand the LED strips programming. How could I contact you if I would like to do more stuff like this? Thanks a lot
Nice info, thanks for sharing it :)
super i like u r display program and definition 👍
I have found this very interesting. I am hoping to build a cricket scoreboard during the winter. Would these digits be visible from a wide angle and can the digits be made a bit bigger?
Thank you for this tutorial, this is a brilliant idea. But is it possible to get this countdown timer on the edsim51 simulator?
Awesome!, great tutorial and detailed explanation. I whish I could get some advice on turning this into a Dominoes scoreboard, that is how I found you here.
This is awesome, I have been looking at how to create a set of lap counters for long distance swimming at my club. The cost of lap counters are very expensive and this could be a great way of doing it. I will need to house two digits in a waterproof case counting down in twos from 60 (or 32 for 800m). My initial thoughts was to have them with internal rechargeable battery packs and to swap out the Arduino for a ESP32 so that I can trigger counter for each lap independently.
I am a bit of a noob to all of this but do you think my idea sounds achievable?
This is awesome!
Thank you
Brilliant tutorial.... this is my first comment ever for any tutorial
This is the Video I've been looking for. I want to use this as a count down timer for our Archer Club, but I need to set the time in minuites and seconds. for example if I need 4:10sec. Can it do that. Also when the count down timmer reaches 30Seconds I want to turn the LEDs colour yellow and when it reaches 0 mins. I want it to turen Red. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
Thanks for your great tutorial. I built my own 7-segment display following your instructions. Unfortunately, the timer always stops counting - at different times, sometimes at 1 minute 13 seconds, sometimes at 3 minutes and then starts again from the beginning. Could you give me a tip as to why this could be?
where is the arduino code for this? ty
Hi!
I've a similar project in mind, just wondering: how many led/meter did you take? 30led/m, right? what power supply did you use to work with that much leds? In my case I would need to have 3 digits for hours, 2 digits for minutes and 2 for seconds(so 7 total), if I use like segment of 14 cm/segment, 7 segment/digit, it's something around 686cm. If I check my WS2812B provider, it's 9w/meter, so something around 63W. With a 5V tension, it implies something around 13A, which seems enormous.
Did you had similar issues?
Love your tutorials! In this one, I was wondering how to add the colon to the display. I'd need to adjust the code, of course, to light it and keep it lit throughout. But you'd have to 3d print the colon so you could wrap the LEDs around it, be it a circle or square. Like to know your take on it! Thanks again, Alister.(Not sure of the spelling of your name!?)
Yeah, definitely! My enclosure was based on a remix of this design, which already features a colon so you could probably use that one (or something very similar!): www.thingiverse.com/thing:3136688
A suggestion ... Instead of coding in the LEDs as part of the strip, you could do two LEDs separately on their own Arduino pin to change color with the rest of the digits. Or, if you didn't use the color changing aspect, you could just use two LEDs (non-neopixel) that are just connected to power, since they would be on all of the time.
Just a thought!
Hi! This is exactly what I was looking for. I'm designing a two-player, two digit score board with a two-digit shot clock in the middle and I love the idea of using the WS2812B strips. I was wondering if there is an easy way to scale up/down the size of the digits. Say, for example, I wanted to make the shot clock in the middle the size in your project (4 LEDs/segment) but wanted to flank it with two score counters on either side that were smaller, using only 3 LEDs/segment. Can you maybe point me in the right direction to do something like this?
nice !!!
I don't see this project on your Patreon website. Is there a way to get the sketch code, I just want some pieces of it for a different project?
great video......Id like to change a bulb incandescent scoreboard to LED.....can I use your instructions? thanks..
Ahub Oktevs,
I wanted to make a watch according to your instructions. Unfortunately, the 300 line keeps showing me the error: RTC' was not declared in this scope
RTC.read(Now); I'm a beginner and I don't know how to solve this problem.
Hello, I can not find this project in your Patreon. can you please send me the link?
Thanks.
4:30 It's good practice to add them why? What electrical effect does it 'solve'
Do you have a copy of the STL file that you could share of the 8" LED Holder and the defuser? I'm trying to make a 2 digit counter for a horseshoe league. The score ranges from 0 - 21.
I made my cloak whit wled + a D1 mini 👍
How can I find this project in your Patreon? I've spent quite long time scrolling down, tried using Date filter, etc. but with no luck.
Where can I find the code for this?
How would you turn it into a clock?
Great work. I'm going to cut the strip and solder it with wires to save on wasting that single LED. It's so easy so why not?
Absolutely, you can do that instead!
Are you selling the complete materials project?
Nice. What software did you use to display the components.tnx
Fritzing.
@@PlayfulTechnology thanks
Your Google Drive Frame.stl model is bad. Ultimaker Cura says "The highlighted areas indicate either missing or extraneous surfaces. Fix your model and open it again into Cura." The model from Thingverse does not have the opening for the wires and seems like your model from Google Drive is exactly what I am looking for. Do you have a Fusion 360 file for this model?
Did you ever get them as the links are broken now too
Can we please mention how satisfying the counter on the 7 segment display matches the video time... Anyone?
It's almost as if a second is a universal concept.. /rolleyes
I can seem to find 470 uf 6.3 capacitors. Can I use something else?
I couldn't find them either. His words in the video were "anything greater than about 6.3V & about 1000 micro farads." From my limited research I think you just need more voltage than the circuit (that's why 'at least' 6.3V) I found a variety pack with some 10V 470uf capacitors in it. They seem to work fine.
The two links to the models have gone :(
the code please
XFA EL DIAGRAMA O ESQUEMATICO PARA REALIZAR UNO DE ESTE PROYECTO Y LOS MATERIALES A USAR XFA
Hi Alastair, I can't seem to find this project on your Patreon? Is it still available?
Hi Leigh, you can find the download here: drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1QjP0X0SCyLuz6ssbjkV6EwPs4TFJ1ZTz It was removed following a v. confusing legal issue with Patreon - because I was using 3D models that had been based on a previous CC-licensed design (even though that was perfectly allowed under the licence!), I was informed that I had to remove the project from my subscription Patreon because it was felt I was "charging" for someone else's work... even the Arduino code which is entirely my own!
@@PlayfulTechnology Wow! The crazy part is the code is really the only thing the full DIY person requires, is your own work, and, charged accordingly! You just can't win. Thank you all the same, I'll drop some cash in your Patreon.
@@PlayfulTechnology Not confusing. You used my CC licensed model without providing attribution.
I dont have access to a 3d printer. Could I purchase the "pre-made" from you?
Just need the plastic parts, I can do all else
I am in the same predicament - don't have access to a 3d printer and would like to try my hand at this.
my friend asked how long its typicallly takes u to post the patreon only post
It normally goes up within an hour of the main video - it just takes me a while to gather together all the links and upload the resources!
@PlayfulTechnology Can you please post the code for this? I built the display and am now truing to get it to function.
BUENAS TARD ER S TALVES UN DIAGRAMA O PROYECTO COMO HACER UN TABLERO PARA FUTBOL CON NOMBRES DE CLUBS TIEMPO MARCADOR Y HORA GRACIAS ME PUEDE HAYUDAR HACIENDO UNO ASI O UN DIAGRAMA
😊
Where's the STL link?
It['s a remix of this design: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3136688
Other DIY Digital Clock th-cam.com/video/XnfvoI5Gk7U/w-d-xo.html
not of any use to anyone
TOO LONG!!!
No such thing as too long.