View Single Post
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 17-02-2014, 00:38
Nirvash's Avatar
Nirvash Nirvash is offline
Registered User
AKA: Bryan
FRC #4676
Team Role: Programmer
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Orland Park, IL
Posts: 221
Nirvash has a spectacular aura aboutNirvash has a spectacular aura about
Re: Controlling 12V lights via arduino

Quote:
Originally Posted by Signet View Post
Would we achieve the same effect by controlling each color with a relay, or with a motor controller (to achieve a fading effect)?
If controlled by a relay, the strip can only have RGB channels in the full on or full off state, which would give you limited colors and no fading.

With a motor controller (or MOSFET) you get the full range of output from every RGB channel, this gives you thousands of colors and the ability to 'fade' the strip.

The bildr post I linked explains how to do this with a MOSFET and a PWM signal from the arduino.
__________________
Team 3488 - Electrical Lead/Programming Lead 2011-2013
Team 4676 - Electrical/Programming Mentor 2013-Present