Arduino Controller

[Steve H.]

Does anyone have any experience building a LED or reef controller using the Arduino Mega?

I leaped before I looked. I thought I could find plenty of resources on the net to build one, however this has not been the case.

I find plenty of code to use, but my isse is actually putting the circuit boards together.

Any help finding resources or personal experience would be helpful.

Thanks!!

 

[DrRob]

Do you have the mega pre-made, or the kit?

What other parts are you trying to wire to it? Are you using a display and button controls or are you using it as a pure controller with no hardwired extras?

 

[Steve H.]

The Mega board is pre made.
The kit was the Mega with a 3.2" tft lcd, and an lcd shield.

It all plugs together and stacks on the Mega. Easy enough. But, can't seem to find any information on how or what I would need to connect LED lighting, fans, pumps ect.

I know one if the first things that I will need to add is a real time clock. Maybe some extra memory.

I just lack the knowledge if what needs proto boards or shields, and how to wire those up.

 

[Cactusface]

Hi Steve,
I've been playing with the Picaxe micros for a long time, and I have something basic just to control lights (on/off) and heater, well it's only part build. I have only heard of the Arduino and it's Shields, etc of late. Years ago I programmed in Z80 assembler and a bit of Pascal but never moved on to C/C+ etc, shame as it's very popular now!! and faster then the basic the picaxe (PIC) uses.

I have just won a prize for my own picaxe 20m2 shield design! I can drive DC and stepper motors, use U/S to detect distance or IR, etc but not done a lot at mains voltage, or using triacs, etc. I did think of an LED array slowly ramped up in the morning would save the fish from that sudden shock of the lights coming on..

Here's a couple of links, if you think we might be able to help each other, get back to us.
http/www.btinternet.com/~melvynsaunders
http/www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?21659-My-Shield

Regards
Mel.

PS. My Shield as a RTC and EEprom memory that some don't!!