STEM|Arduino Project: light up neon LED strip

You can control multiple neon LED strips connected to different pins on the Arduino. Here's an example code for lighting up one neon LED strip at a time on different pins:

// Define the digital pins for neon LED control

#define NEON_LED_PIN_1 7

#define NEON_LED_PIN_2 8

#define NEON_LED_PIN_3 9

void setup() {

pinMode(NEON_LED_PIN_1, OUTPUT);

pinMode(NEON_LED_PIN_2, OUTPUT);

pinMode(NEON_LED_PIN_3, OUTPUT);

// Ensure all neon LEDs are initially off

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_1, LOW);

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_2, LOW);

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_3, LOW);

}

void loop() {

// Turn on the first neon LED

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_1, HIGH);

delay(1000); // Adjust the delay as needed

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_1, LOW);

// Turn on the second neon LED

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_2, HIGH);

delay(1000); // Adjust the delay as needed

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_2, LOW);

// Turn on the third neon LED

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_3, HIGH);

delay(1000); // Adjust the delay as needed

digitalWrite(NEON_LED_PIN_3, LOW);

// You can continue this pattern for additional neon LEDs

}

In this example, I've defined three digital pins (`NEON_LED_PIN_1`, `NEON_LED_PIN_2`, and `NEON_LED_PIN_3`) for controlling three separate neon LED strips. The code turns on one neon LED strip at a time, waits for a specified delay, and then turns it off before moving on to the next one.

You can extend this pattern to control more neon LED strips by adding more pin definitions and expanding the loop accordingly. Just make sure to connect each neon LED strip to its corresponding pin on the Arduino.

The number of pins you can use for your project depends on the specific Arduino board you are using. Arduino boards typically have a limited number of digital and analog pins. Here are the maximum numbers of pins for some common Arduino boards:

1. Arduino Uno:

- Digital Pins: 14 (D0 to D13)

- Analog Pins: 6 (A0 to A5)

2. Arduino Nano:

- Digital Pins: 22 (D0 to D21)

- Analog Pins: 8 (A0 to A7)

3. Arduino Mega:

- Digital Pins: 54 (D0 to D53)

- Analog Pins: 16 (A0 to A15)

4. Arduino Leonardo:

- Digital Pins: 20 (D0 to D19)

- Analog Pins: 12 (A0 to A11)

5. Arduino Due:

- Digital Pins: 54 (D0 to D53)

- Analog Pins: 12 (A0 to A11) + 2 extra analog inputs (A12, A13)

These numbers include both digital and analog pins. In your project, you'll likely be using digital pins to control the neon LED strips. Keep in mind that some pins on the Arduino might have special functions, and some might be reserved for specific purposes.

It's essential to refer to the documentation of your specific Arduino board to determine the available pins and their functions. Once you know the available pins, you can plan your project accordingly, considering the number of neon LED strips you want to control and the pins they will be connected to.