Anyone built an Arduino based Caution Light Panel?

[TigersharkBAS]

I am specifically interested in how drove the 4x12 LED matrix required to light up the caution panel.

 

I am investigating some methods but curious to see how others did it.

[Stevos758]

I have not but I would guess some sort of matrix?

 

http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/DirectDriveLEDMatrix

http://www.instructables.com/id/Multiplexing-with-Arduino-and-the-74HC595/step8/Current-Limiting-Resistors/

 

Looks like some work is involved.. Especially since one would need ever LED to be a separate output.

 

I am pretty new to the arduino so dont take my answer to serious. Just trying to help!

 

I do want to build a UFC and a Caution panel though so maybe its time to have a crack at it.

[icemaker]

here you can see a quick video showing my Caution panel and my CDU both based on arduino boards.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2042908&postcount=13

Tomorrow i'll post a new video from my front panel fully controlled by arduino.

Regarding the Caution Panel i made it simple i used an Arduino MEGA 2560 R3 with 52 outputs so enough to dont care about led matrix, send data to board trough serial com port.

[TigersharkBAS]

That is very slick Icemaker!!! Nice looking pit. The CDU is just a monitor replicating the CDU screen in the sim?

 

 

I am trying to do this using only an Arduino and whilst there are plenty of methods I am trying to understand which one people used.

 

I have identified 4 possible ways.

 

1. A large arduino like IceMaker used
   
2. Chaining 8bit shift registers together.
   
3. Using a Max7219 to multiplex as posted by Stevos.
   
4. Using an Adafruit 16x8 LED Matrix Driver Backpack (HT16K33 chip)
   

 

I am trying to do this with an Arduino Uno so IceMaker's method doesn't work for me.

 

I am interested in what LEDs you used Icemaker. 3mm or 5mm? Superbright? Driving them all off 5V?

[icemaker]

5 mm superbright, 2 LED for each Caution Light, driven with 5v.

[BluFinBima]

[4] Using an Adafruit 16x8 LED Matrix Driver Backpack (HT16K33 chip)

 

I've been running with HT16K33 based switches and LEDs for about a year now and this works well. The caution panel was where I started and moved on to UFC and other switches from there. I ordered the HT16K33's from China so the cost is reduced compared to the AdaFruit boards and they're all being driven using a single Arduino Pro Micro Leonardo compatible (ATMEGA 32U4) because these are great value at the moment.

 

Happy to share info if anyone is interested in going down this path.

[Rockeyes]

I've been running with HT16K33 based switches and LEDs for about a year now and this works well. The caution panel was where I started and moved on to UFC and other switches from there. I ordered the HT16K33's from China so the cost is reduced compared to the AdaFruit boards and they're all being driven using a single Arduino Pro Micro Leonardo compatible (ATMEGA 32U4) because these are great value at the moment.

 

Happy to share info if anyone is interested in going down this path.

 

That would be great, please share some more information and pictures if possible.:thumbup: