ATmega8 a bit overpowered for controlling 3 LEDs. It’s a cool hack, maybe I’ll build one using the smallest mcu I can (and use SMT…IMO there’s no point to using PDIP if you’re gonna go to the trouble of making your own PCB)

Posted at 8:37 pm on Jun 25th, 2008 by David R

I’m currently building something similar, but I use attinys. I simply use 3 Mosfets and 3 Resistors to limit the current (and waste some power…).
I’m very interested how he has done that with a current limiting IC (lm317) and 3 small transistors, but i cant find the schematics :(

Posted at 4:00 am on Jun 26th, 2008 by maxthereal

wow, how did you guys hear about it. This whole project got started from a discussion on a forum thread (http://shop.rabtron.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49). Atmega8 is a bit of a overkill but thats the only avr’s I had at the time plus the extra pins allowed me to have a analog input for controlling the lights and uart connection for control from a pc.

btw – a local electronics supplier here in South Africa started to sell them as a kit my my homemade pcb’s: http://shop.rabtron.co.za/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3091

Posted at 4:04 am on Jun 26th, 2008 by Tom

maxthereal: schematics will be on the site soon. Just need to clean it up a bit

Posted at 4:18 am on Jun 26th, 2008 by Tom

do you have the LED connected to PWM lines for color mixing?

Posted at 6:05 pm on Jun 26th, 2008 by biojae