As long as it flashes at the correct rate it should pass.Magicarcher wrote: ↑Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:13 pm Don't want to be a killjoy, because I love what you have done and Audi indicators are my favourite. but what is the legal/MOT/Insurance implications.
Do you mean how would you use the "second half", eg the section cut off. Yes you just solder wires to the +5, DI, GND pads. If you look at the LED strips you'll notice they are designed to be cut to wha ever length you want, with cut points after each LED.Magicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 1:30 pm How do the LED strips work? For example how do you terminate them, particularly when the strip has been cut. Do you just solder wires to them?
A thought, it is very easy to get the surrogate bulb the wrong way round in the holder. Why not solder an inline diode in the supply to the arduino, that way if connected wrong way round accidentally no damage.
A simple Zener diode should suffice yes, I just didn't have any at the time of putting this together so thought I should make that point very clearMagicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:30 pm A thought, it is very easy to get the surrogate bulb the wrong way round in the holder. Why not solder an inline diode in the supply to the arduino, that way if connected wrong way round accidentally no damage.
Yup that's the one. That may be specific to Adafruits version of the WS2812 LED, so if purchasing a non-adafruit led strip, you should see if they have a datasheet but the adafruit should do as a generic WS2812 datasheetMagicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:35 pm I am interested in getting a datasheet for the WS2812 LED strip, would this be correct: https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812.pdf.
It just needs to be a plain diode wired in series, a 1W should clear it, but to be safe probably go a little higher. If you use a zener diode, depending upon the value of the zener it may drop too much voltage if wired in series and if you wire it in parallel you will need a resister to limit it from damage which will dissipate unnecessary heat.
True, however the voltage drop should be negligible since the arduino nano can operate from 6v - 20vMagicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:41 pm It just needs to be a plain diode wired in series, a 1W should clear it, but to be safe probably go a little higher. If you use a zener diode, depending upon the value of the zener it may drop too much voltage if wired in series and if you wire it in parallel you will need a resister to limit it from damage which will dissipate unnecessary heat.
Thinking about it more (it's been a long day) a zener diode in series will not work. In series it will give no protection as it will let current through both ways. If you are going to use a zener you would need to wire it in parallel with a ballast resister to protect it against reverse polarity, it isn't the way to go. A conventional diode in series is far simpler.Magicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:41 pm It just needs to be a plain diode wired in series, a 1W should clear it, but to be safe probably go a little higher. If you use a zener diode, depending upon the value of the zener it may drop too much voltage if wired in series and if you wire it in parallel you will need a resister to limit it from damage which will dissipate unnecessary heat.
You’re absolutely right, I’m having a senior moment today - a Zener diode is no good. Just a bog standard diode should do the trick. You could always use a dc dc buck converter to help protect the arduino (0.50p from Ali express) although from memory I can remember if they have polarity protectionMagicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:27 pm Thinking about it more (it's been a long day) a zener diode in series will not work. In series it will give no protection as it will let current through both ways. If you are going to use a zener you would need to wire it in parallel with a ballast resister to protect it against reverse polarity, it isn't the way to go. A conventional diode in series is far simpler.
Regardless, a standard rectifier diode like a 1N4004 is the correct part to use for reverse polarity protection in this instance. You may however want to install a TVS diode (perhaps 18V rated?) to protect from any spikes on the 12V power lines.IAmOrion wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:46 pmTrue, however the voltage drop should be negligible since the arduino nano can operate from 6v - 20vMagicarcher wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 7:41 pm It just needs to be a plain diode wired in series, a 1W should clear it, but to be safe probably go a little higher. If you use a zener diode, depending upon the value of the zener it may drop too much voltage if wired in series and if you wire it in parallel you will need a resister to limit it from damage which will dissipate unnecessary heat.
Someone did ask, I said £10 (+ £2.90 postage)Scooba_Steve wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:12 pm The printed parts could be useful to sell for anyone thinking of doing it. I was just going to seal in strip but this looks much neater.
