Fade In/Out On/Off switch for LED strip

zYx · 23 Aug 2013 at 11:28

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody here would know how to build a simple on/off switch for 5m LED strip so that they fade in and fade out slowly?

I googled some examples, but I'm not sure which diagram would be best for me considering there are different LED strip out there with different currents etc.

It's got to run on 12V DC and say up to 2A.

Thanks in advance!

Sliver · 23 Aug 2013 at 11:35

Maybe something like this ?

http://genericnerd.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/arduino-mood-light-controller.html

Absomalutely · 23 Aug 2013 at 11:42

Another vote for PWM using an Arduino

zYx · 23 Aug 2013 at 11:57

Sliver said:
Maybe something like this ?

http://genericnerd.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/arduino-mood-light-controller.html

Thanks, I'll take a look. Hopefully it won't be too expensive to build

I actually have two different dev boards, let's see if I can make a see of them.

I'd like it similar to this, but with fade out as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oJE6aHUwzg

BuToNz · 23 Aug 2013 at 14:24

I used one of these for my LED's:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Ultra...5279?pt=UK_Light_Fittings&hash=item4858d53daf

Works a treat and cheap too.

zYx · 23 Aug 2013 at 14:58

BuToNz said:
I used one of these for my LED's:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Ultra...5279?pt=UK_Light_Fittings&hash=item4858d53daf

Works a treat and cheap too.

Can you describe what this controller actually does? Can I use an external switch to turn the LED strip on or off without touching the LED controller?

BuToNz · 23 Aug 2013 at 15:59

It just goes inline between the input voltage and the LED strip. It uses the onboard controller chip to allow adjustment of the brightness/fade mode type.

You could wire a normal switch between the positive input voltage wire and the positive connection on the controller if you want to turn it off. But you can turn off the LED's by cycling the brightness level to zero.

If you look around ebay they also do versions with a remote control which will allow you to turn the LED's/LED fade mode remotely.