Published July 13, 2021 © CC BY-SA

Make Monitor Ambilight Using Arduino

hii, friends I hope you all are fine today i'll show you how to Make TV Ambilight Using Arduino This is a very easy project.

IntermediateFull instructions provided2 hours19,895

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Nano R3

Arduino UNO

Digilent WS2812 Addressable LED Strip

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

hii, friends I hope you all are fine today i'll show you how to Make TV Ambilight Using Arduino

This is a very easy project.

I won't go into too much detail how each part works, because I have written some information on my blog.

https://www.diyprojectslab.com/make-tv-ambilight-w...

But you should be able to make it work with the information given on this instructable.

Ambibox Software on PC (free, but only Windows)
Arduino with a simple script which uses the FastLed library (further down) (~3$)
50 RGB WS2811 LEDs (~13$)- optional power brick

This setup is very cheap but only works on a PC

Thank You NextPCB:

This project is successfully completed because of the help and support from Nextpcb

NOTE

Linux or MAC is not supported. The Ambibox software I am using is only available on Windows.(For standalone applications there is an RPI variant, quite expensive)

The LEDs work quite good and without noticeable lag on the Desktop and while watching movies! Games are a different story.

If the game runs in Full screen mode, the software will most of the time not be able to capture the image.

But Borderless mode works! (keep in mind the added CPU power needed ~5%)

Step 1: Material Needed to Build.

LED strip WS2812B
Arduino Nano
mini breadboard
Jumper wires
Terminal to DC jack
Mini USB to USB
5V power supply for the LEDs
A computer
Arduino IDE
Programming cable

Thank You NextPCB:

This project is successfully completed because of the help and support from Nextpcb

Guys if you have a PCB project, please visit their website and get exciting discounts and coupons.

Here are midsummer sales at NextPCB

1. Up to 30% off for PCB oders

2. Up to 20% off for PCBA oders

Only 0$ for 5-10pcs PCB Prototypes https://www.nextpcb.com/

Step 2: RGB LED.

1 / 2

The most important part of this project are the RGB LEDs with individual controllers.The most important part of this project are the RGB LEDs with individual controllers.

It doesn't really matter which RGB LED Controller you get, as long these are supported by the FastLed library. Here is a link to the supported LED Chips: https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/wiki/Overview

The most common are the WS2811 or WS2812 LEDs since there are cheap and easy to use.

These are also used in this project. They are sold in at least two different types: - as single bulbs (12mm) with a variable spacing of around 10cm at max.

You mostly get pairs of 50, but you can add or extract LEDs as you wish. -as LED strips (with adhesive on the back).

These you buy per meter with a fixed spacing. (30/60/or more LEDs per meter). With single bulb LEDs, you get the advantage of completely free positioning and spacing.

But on the other hand, you have to find a way to add them to your monitor.

Step 3: Mount LED Strip on TV.

1 / 3

So first things first, measure the size of your monitor from behind, just to see how many LEDs from the strip you need to cut.

When measuring leave about 1cm from each edge, just to make sure the strip won't show when attached to the monitor.

Once you're satisfied with your measurement, cut the LED strip to length.

Each of these LEDs is individually addressable so you can cut after each LED at the marked cutting point (shown in the picture).

Go ahead and cut all 4 strips. Once done move to the next step.

Once you've cut all your strips to size, it's time to re-connect them to act as a single 'flexible' strip.I used some stranded wire.

simply solder the +5v to the next +5v rail, the DIN to the next DIN and the GND to the next GND.

Once you've done that the strip should all be connected together in 4 parts.

Important TIP: Ensure that the led strip direction arrows are pointing in the correct orientation, otherwise nothing will wo

Step 4: Connecting the Arduino

1 / 2

Connect the DIN pin to pin number 5 on the arduino board.

Mine came with some headers which I soldered on.

In the image I accidentally used a white wire for the ground and a black for data.

Don't get confused, the data wire from the strip needs to connect to the 4th pin on the arduino board.

Optional: You can connect the GND pin from the arduino to the PSU GND, this is useful if you're using a separate power source from your PCs PSU.

Next connect the arduino to your PC and install the necessary drivers (if any).

Assumption: You know how to compile the code to your arduino.

If not search the countless tutorials online :) Use the arduino programmer to compile and program the arduino board with the following code:

Step 5: The Connections

If you are using the WS2811/12 LEDs there are only 3 connections you have to make.

You have to connect the 5V Power with the corresponding 5V line on the LEDs.

You have to connect the ground of the PSU with the ground on the Arduino and the ground on the LEDs You have to connect the data line of the LEDs with one digital port of the Arduino.

Which one doesn't really matter, but you have to remember the number.

Step 6: Software

Adalight + Perismatic

Go below and download the Adalight code for the Arduino.

(Code)

Open it in the Arduino IDE and make sure you have already installed the FastLED library before.

1 / 8

There in the code, all we have to do is to define the pin, in my case digital pin 4, and amount of LEDs, in my case 60.

Compile, select the COM port and upload the code to the Arduino.

here adjust each color till you match the color of your background wall, in my case white.

Click next and we are done. Now play any RGB test video that you’ll fint in the description and there you go.

You can now watch movies with AMBILIGHT effects and that is awesome.

The application also has sound effect where the LEDs will blink according to the music you play.

visit My website DiY Projects Lab having more than 25 awesome detailed projects

Code

Code

#include "FastLED.h"
#define NUM_LEDS 240
#define DATA_PIN 6

// Baudrate, higher rate allows faster refresh rate and more LEDs (defined in /etc/boblight.conf)
#define serialRate 115200

// Adalight sends a "Magic Word" (defined in /etc/boblight.conf) before sending the pixel data
uint8_t prefix[] = {'A', 'd', 'a'}, hi, lo, chk, i;

// Initialise LED-array
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
  // Use NEOPIXEL to keep true colors
  FastLED.addLeds<NEOPIXEL, DATA_PIN>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
  
  // Initial RGB flash
  LEDS.showColor(CRGB(255, 0, 0));
  delay(500);
  LEDS.showColor(CRGB(0, 255, 0));
  delay(500);
  LEDS.showColor(CRGB(0, 0, 255));
  delay(500);
  LEDS.showColor(CRGB(0, 0, 0));
  
  Serial.begin(serialRate);
  // Send "Magic Word" string to host
  Serial.print("Ada\n");
}

void loop() { 
  // Wait for first byte of Magic Word
  for(i = 0; i < sizeof prefix; ++i) {
    waitLoop: while (!Serial.available()) ;;
    // Check next byte in Magic Word
    if(prefix[i] == Serial.read()) continue;
    // otherwise, start over
    i = 0;
    goto waitLoop;
  }
  
  // Hi, Lo, Checksum  
  while (!Serial.available()) ;;
  hi=Serial.read();
  while (!Serial.available()) ;;
  lo=Serial.read();
  while (!Serial.available()) ;;
  chk=Serial.read();
  
  // If checksum does not match go back to wait
  if (chk != (hi ^ lo ^ 0x55)) {
    i=0;
    goto waitLoop;
  }
  
  memset(leds, 0, NUM_LEDS * sizeof(struct CRGB));
  // Read the transmission data and set LED values
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {
    byte r, g, b;    
    while(!Serial.available());
    r = Serial.read();
    while(!Serial.available());
    g = Serial.read();
    while(!Serial.available());
    b = Serial.read();
    leds[i].r = r;
    leds[i].g = g;
    leds[i].b = b;
  }
  
  // Shows new values
  FastLED.show();
}

Credits

DIY Projects Lab

49 projects • 152 followers

I am a DIY hobbyist by passion and an Electronics Engineer by profession. Sponsor (PCB Manufacturer) - www.nextpcb.com

Make Monitor Ambilight Using Arduino

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Step 1: Material Needed to Build.

Step 3: Mount LED Strip on TV.

Step 4: Connecting the Arduino

Step 5: The Connections

Step 6: Software

Schematics

Schematics

Code

Code

Credits

DIY Projects Lab

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Make Monitor Ambilight Using Arduino

Make Monitor Ambilight Using Arduino

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Step 1: Material Needed to Build.

Step 3: Mount LED Strip on TV.

Step 4: Connecting the Arduino

Step 5: The Connections

Step 6: Software

Schematics

Schematics

Code

Code

Credits

DIY Projects Lab

Comments

Related channels and tags