How to multiplex with LEDs

Video explaining how I multiplex. This video was made in response to my 4x4x4 LED cube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai7etkM9yD0
This same technique can be used to drive relays, solenoids, or other lights; just make sure to use the proper transistor or mosfet.

http://www.kevindarrah.com/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• multiplex
• arduino
• led
• cube
• transistor
• mosfet
• microcontroller

[WillstDuNichtWissen]

Wow thats great. My english skills are pretty bad, but i think i understand it :)

I'm amazed :D

[kdarrah1234]

@WillstDuNichtWissen great, glad I could help

[soonercarports]

Dude, that is some heavy stuff. I am very good with small electronics and am very good with a solder gun. I want to learn how to do LEDs. What is a good book or magazine I can get. Something along the lines for intermediates. Thanks

[kdarrah1234]

@soonercarports i would check out "practical electronics for inventors" its a pretty decent book

[sudjs96]

ok, i'm very new to this. so, forgive me for being dumb by asking some questions:-

1.what is Pin?

2.what is ground (is it any piece of metal?)

3.why are the bases of the transistors connected to Pins?

[kdarrah1234]

@sudjs96 no problem, the pins are where you actually make the electrical connections to the devices. "they look like little metal pins" the ground is wherever you connect the negative part of the battery or power supply, and the bases "which are pin 2" on the transistors are connected to outputs, or "pins" on the microcontroller, hope that clears things up

[caseyjholmes]

Thanks for explaining how to multiplex the multiplexing! haha

I get it. Now I'm going to make one!

[WarOfHell]

qustion

are u explaning on few floors of leds or only on one floor?

and if u explan on one floor so i need to duble mypin umbers to add each floor above?

for example i need to build 3x3x3

so 3x3 need 6 pins

for the other floors i need more 2x6 pins?

or is 6 pins for all the 3x3x3?

[namero999]

@billynightmare I also too would be interested in some hints on how to build a 3x3 RGB led cube with Arduino. I do not want the sketch, I want to learn how to do that (but yeah, the sketch would be great for this purpose)

[billynightmare]

hi, I know this is an old video but I really need to find out how to wire togther RGB leds for a 3x3x3 or 4x4x4 cube can you email me a sketch for this please?

[KSITREVS]

Thanks a lot to this video, I understand how it all works etc but it gets really confusing multiplexing twice! But thanks again, I ordered a couple 8x8 led matrix's just to make it show my name ( T then R then E ...) but it looks a lot harder, I use picaxe as it uses more basic coding ( I am only 15) but I want to use a Max7219CNG but have no idea how to send serial data to the chip from the pic :/

[FutureInventions]

That is multiplexception! o_0! I would really like to know how you programmed this, very interesting stuff. I just ordered an 8x8 RGB matrix from sparkfun and I'm looking forwards to playing around with it!

[SuicidaRubik]

a BC548 (transistor) will work? Because for the anode it's working, but for the cathode not (for me)..