degradka/led-matrix-magic

My 16x16 LED matrix controller with WS2812B and ESP8266. Control with a web interface for real-time, customizable lighting

LED Matrix Magic

Welcome to LED Matrix Magic! This project brings a 16x16 LED matrix to life using WS2812B LED strips, an ESP8266 microcontroller, and a slick web interface. This README will guide you through setting up and running your own LED matrix display.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Features
• Hardware Requirements
• Software Requirements
• Setup Instructions
• Usage
• The Result
• Contributing
• License

Overview

LED Matrix Magic is a project that transforms a 16x16 LED matrix into a customizable and interactive display. The project uses WS2812B LED strips controlled by an ESP8266 microcontroller, with a web-based interface to control individual LEDs.

Features

• Web Interface: Control the LED matrix from any device with a web browser.
• Paint Mode: Choose any color to light up the LEDs.
• Real-time Updates: See changes in real-time as you interact with the interface.
• Clean All Function: Quickly reset the entire matrix to the default color.
• Preset Effects: Premade effects for the matrix.

Hardware Requirements

• ESP8266 Microcontroller: Such as NodeMCU or Wemos D1 Mini.

• WS2812B LED Strips: Enough to create a 16x16 matrix (256 LEDs).

• Plywood or other Base Material: To mount the LEDs.

• Power Supply: Suitable for the number of LEDs (e.g., 5V 10A for 256 LEDs).

• Miscellaneous: Wires, connectors, soldering tools, etc.

• 3D Printed Parts: Designed and printed to hold the LED strips and components. STL files are available in the stl folder.

• Connection schematic: Smaller matrix for better visual comprehension.

  

Software Requirements

• Arduino IDE: Download here.
• FastLED Library: Install via Arduino Library Manager.
• ESPAsyncWebServer Library: Install via Arduino Library Manager.
• WebSockets Library: Install via Arduino Library Manager.
• ArduinoJson Library: Install via Arduino Library Manager.

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/degradka/led-matrix-magic.git
   cd led-matrix-magic

2. Open in Arduino IDE:

   • Launch Arduino IDE.
   • Open led-matrix-magic.ino file from the cloned repository.

3. Install Required Libraries:

   • In Arduino IDE, go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
   • Install FastLED, ESPAsyncWebServer, WebSockets, and ArduinoJson libraries.

4. Configure WiFi Credentials:

   • Update the following lines in led-matrix-magic.ino with your WiFi credentials:

     const char* ssid = "your_SSID";
     const char* password = "your_PASSWORD";

5. Upload the Code:

   • Connect your ESP8266 to your computer.
   • Select the appropriate board and port from Tools menu.
   • Click the Upload button.

6. Connect the Hardware:

   • Connect the WS2812B LED strips to the ESP8266 (Data pin to D4, 5V, and GND).
   • Ensure the power supply is correctly connected to both the LEDs and the ESP8266.

Usage

1. Power on the ESP8266 and wait for it to connect to your WiFi network.
2. Open a web browser and enter the ESP8266’s IP address (displayed in the Serial Monitor).
3. Use the web interface to control the LED matrix:
   • Use the color picker to select your desired color.
   • Click on any pixel to change its color.
   • Click the "Clean All" button to reset the matrix.
   • Check out the premade effects by pressing the buttons under "Preset Effects".

The Result

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request for any improvements or bug fixes.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.