Hacking a Cheap Disco Light with Arduino

Off-the-shelf lighting effects can be fun. However, Gav Lewis decided to take a purchased RGBW stage lighting assembly and swap out the stock 5mm LED array for a WS2812B 8x8 LED matrix, creating something even cooler. The device uses a 3D-printed adapter to mount the matrix inside, and leaves the outside looking unmodified.

An Arduino Nano running FastLED is added to control the moonflower-type patterns, with about 30 available so far. User interface is provided by the original potentiometer on the back, which regulates pattern speed. The original PSU along with a 5V boost converter are used to feed power to the Nano and LED matrix, and a cooling fan is also hooked up to keep air quietly flowing.

According to the Lewis' GitHub page, “The modified light has a much better spread than the original, and is also brighter! The beam effects are like a poor man's laser scanner.”

You can see it in action in the video below. While it looks neat when the camera is facing directly at it, be sure to watch or skip to around the 0:50 mark, where it shows the light being projected onto the walls and ceiling.