Top 5 Strangest LED Projects

Honorable Mention – Programmable Spinning LED Fans

Polo Tech takes the idea of a spinning LED fan to a whole new level of customizability — allowing users to program messages and other text via USB. This patented technology consists of “a rotating circuit board with a vertical array of LEDs attached” that “uses persistence of vision to display the graphics”. [Source]

5. Giant MP3 LED Display

To build your own nifty “Giant MP3 LED Display”, you’ll need lots of 128×64 two-colored LEDs, approx. 80×40cm panel, 110A/5V = 550W power input, an Ethernet interface, and a 16-MHz ATmega128 processor. Full instructions here.

Again, this was such a crazy project for me. It began with the mountain of LED modules I bought off eBay. And from this this enormous pile of LEDs came this panel

[Source]

4. 32 RGB LED Magic Ball

You may have seen these cool — but sometimes annoying — LED devices before, so why not make your own?

This one was made using a Microchip 16F628 microcontroller and serial to parallel converter chips since the 16F628 doesn’t have 32 outputs.

[Source]

3. LED Touch Sensor

JustDIY proves that LEDs can be used for more than lighting, but also as an input device.

This is a collection of the work I’ve done with using the bi-directional properties of LEDs. I have also included links to information I’ve found on the subject and the project by an NYU research that inspired me

[Source]

2. Computer-Controlled LED Lamp

The “headLamp” consists of “about 300 leds soldered into a metal colander (like you use for straining noodles)” and are “wired to a circuit and controlled by the [computer’s] parallel port”. Video demonstration after the jump.

The iTunes plugin is written to accept sample data from iTunes when a song is playing, which takes the form of an integer between 0 and 128. The plugin operates under the assumption that a rhythmic beat is likely to send a higher value, around 120. If a sample value over 120 is sent, the plugin changes the lamp’s state based on preprogramed patterns like rotations, buildups, etc.

[Source]

1. Blue Bawls Automatic LED Light

To make your own “Blue Bawls Automatic LED Light”, you’ll need a 9V battery, photo-cell, NPN transistor (2N 4401), one super bright white LED, 100K ohms resistor, 470 ohms resistor, 9V battery snap, one empty bottle, and around 2-3 hours of time. [Source]