Programming RGB lighting

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by CooneyTech

For the pwm which color goes where in the PWM(the red, green, and blue wire)? and where does the common wire go(the black wire)?

You will have to put each color onto a separate PWM output channel. Each color needs to be pulsed at a different frequency to generate different colors. The reason you have to pulse the wires to generate different colors is because the digital circuit only goes on or off, there is no in between value. So if you pulse on and off really quickly, you create the "average color" that is seen by the human eye. To achieve this, you should pulse at least 60 times per second, ideally at least 100, to make the colors look smooth.

For the remaining black wire, the wiring diagrams in the link above seem to have some units with this labeled positive, some are not labeled at all. Depending on whether the remaining wire is positive or negative will affect how you need to wire not only this wire, but also the signal amplifiers for the RGB lines.

But... check the control box that comes with these LED lights. See if there are any additional ports on this unit, such as a serial/UART, I2C, SPI, etc. Sometimes these RGB LED light sets have additional input ports, to allow an external controller to communicate directly to the unit to command it what to do. If this is the case, then it becomes simpler to implement it.

[CooneyTech]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

You will have to put each color onto a separate PWM output channel. Each color needs to be pulsed at a different frequency to generate different colors. The reason you have to pulse the wires to generate different colors is because the digital circuit only goes on or off, there is no in between value. So if you pulse on and off really quickly, you create the "average color" that is seen by the human eye. To achieve this, you should pulse at least 60 times per second, ideally at least 100, to make the colors look smooth.

For the remaining black wire, the wiring diagrams in the link above seem to have some units with this labeled positive, some are not labeled at all. Depending on whether the remaining wire is positive or negative will affect how you need to wire not only this wire, but also the signal amplifiers for the RGB lines.

But... check the control box that comes with these LED lights. See if there are any additional ports on this unit, such as a serial/UART, I2C, SPI, etc. Sometimes these RGB LED light sets have additional input ports, to allow an external controller to communicate directly to the unit to command it what to do. If this is the case, then it becomes simpler to implement it.

So for the pulsing how do I choose a color? Is it just the rate at which I pulse that particular color? I see what you mean be by on or off through my DIO blocks. I also understand hexadecimal through my web design class so that no issue for me.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by CooneyTech

So for the pulsing how do I choose a color? Is it just the rate at which I pulse that particular color? I see what you mean be by on or off through my DIO blocks. I also understand hexadecimal through my web design class so that no issue for me.

The duty cycle (the ratio of how much the output pin is on versus off) for the three RGB lines determines the output LED color.

[ProgrammerMatt]

If the strip you are using is 4 wires RGB and Power/Ground, you cannot power it directly off the DSC you will need transistors because the DSC cannot handle that much current.

[CooneyTech]

I talked to some mentors and we are going to power it off a DIO with some solid state relays.

[ProgrammerMatt]

Originally Posted by CooneyTech

I talked to some mentors and we are going to power it off a DIO with some solid state relays.

Solid state relays will not allow you to mix colors you would need transistors
SSR's only work on and off

[Doc Wu]

Originally Posted by ProgrammerMatt

Solid state relays will not allow you to mix colors you would need transistors
SSR's only work on and off

What do you think a solid-state relay is made out of? (power FETs, SCR's, Triacs, etc are all types of transistor.)

The LEDs intensity is controlled by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) which IS an ON/OFF function.

They are on the right track here.