[Noisebridge-discuss] Connecting 128 EL-Wires to an Arduino

[Jonathan Foote]

Gregg,

Garrett over at macetech.com makes expander shields that give you 64
pins of I/O.

macetech.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=23

You may be able to gang 2 of them or just use his design for inspiration.


On 7/20/10, Gregg Tavares <nbridge at greggman.com> wrote:
> Hello Noisebrige,
>
> My name is Gregg Tavares. I'm new to the list. I hope can contribute more
> than I take.
>
> I'm mostly a software engineer, not hardware so I'm looking for advice.
>
> I'm planning to build a el-wire display with 128 individually addressable
> el-wires.  (yea, I know it's a ton of work)
>
> My current plan is an Arduino connected to 8 MCP23018 16-bit I/O expander
> chips
> <http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en537375>connected
> in series with
> 2 of these El Escudo boards
> <http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9259>on each
> of those along with these ifw-3294 power
> inverters<http://www.coolight.com/product-p/ifw-3294.htm>
>
> It seems fairly straight forward. I'll take it a step at a time. If can get
> 1 MCP23018 working with 2 El Escudo boards and 16 el-wires then it should be
> pretty easy to chain in more of that combination to expand the number of
> wires.
>
> The question I was hoping to ask is is there a better way? Should be looking
> at different solutions? One big power inverter to power all the el-wires?
> Some chip I'm unaware of that handle's more outputs?
>
> I'm grateful for any insight or advice you might have.
>
> thank you
>
> -gregg tavares
>