His intentions are already posted within this thread. However, as you can see from just two posts up, if he cannot resolve his color wash issues, he might be scrapping the entire project. While he's trying to resolve the project issues, why not take some time to read through the 11 pages of posts on this thread. Might find some good information about how its been coming along, Mac's plans, etc.

- Dave

 

C'mon Mac. You can do it. Remember the old attage: "Where ther's a will there's a dead guy!" Wait, that doens't seem quite right,

No matter. We have faith in you. Don't scrap the whole thing. Mabey there is another way. Mabey you can use fiber-optic strands to distribute the light from ONE LED. Just a random thought.

Anyone else have any ideas they think might work?

 

 

we have faith in u mac.

 

Mac

In your design, the color variations as infinite. This is adjusted by the pots. Since each LED differs slightly and this is where the problem is (I think) maybe you lose the infinite variations and select X number and use a dip switch to set your color preferences. This would get you the ability to adjust for this.

Maybe just a thought

 

Jeff, we talked about that possibility in the past, but what works in the digital world doesn't directly translate to the analog world. I believe you said something like "Oops, I've been working with 1s and 0s too long"



rue, NOW you come up with the fiber optic method!!! I may play around with that at some point, but not for this project.



all, SOME success. I'm not sure if I got a couple of bum LEDs in the first string or if my soldering skills needed some help, but I think we're getting back on track I put 4 more LEDs in the string and attached them directly to the power supply (well, through resistors for a 10mA supply)...they all looked equivalent in color!!! The big test came, though, when I hooked it up to the control box (boy was I nervous! ). They STILL looked the same <insert happy dance around kitchen table here>.

Now the downside (which I believe can be fixed)...the red looks a bit washed out. Blue is beautiful, Green is beautiful, mixtures of colors look beautiful, but red is washed out. The reason? There's too much current flowing through the green and blue LEDs in the minimum position. The solution? I will adjust the resistors which determine minimum current flow for the blue and green down a bit (they seem to dominate over red at the same currents...surprising since it's usually the other way around).

But here's the news you all have been waiting for...I will post a thread later today mentioning that this will go into production There's a caveat, though...I will most likely do a few of the local guys first just to make sure I can repeat the performance seen today. If not, I will scrap it (God, I hope not)...but if I can repeat it, we're golden and things should move quickly. Be on the look out for it, and I'll post a link to the thread below once it's up.

Thanks for you patience, and as Bartyles and James Winery always said "We will sell no wine....er, windscreens...before you pay for it!"

 

Oh, forgot to mention...the washed out red isn't an issue with the brake light since that signal completely turns off the green and blue LEDs.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacGyver
[B]rue, NOW you come up with the fiber optic method!!!

 

thanks Mac for all the hard work! i'm sure glad to hear you're not going to take a big hit over this...

and i'm probably only slightly less happy to know i can look into ordering one... hrm... birthday coming up in a month or so.... i'll have to talk to the wife... woot!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PJK3
[B
hrm...