Summary of A Christmas star with Neopixel LEDs
This article describes a compact, modern Christmas star decoration powered by an Arduino Micro and 56 Neopixel LEDs. The design minimizes space while offering 16.7 million color options through individually addressable RGB LEDs arranged in two concentric stars on a five-pointed PCB. It is suitable for tree toppers or doorsteps, blending tradition with innovative lighting technology.
Parts used in the Christmas Star:
- Arduino Micro board
- 56 Neopixel LEDs
- Printed circuit board (PCB) shaped as a five-pointed star
- 35 RGB LEDs forming the external star
- 20 RGB LEDs forming the internal star
- Cascading wiring connections
- Parallel power supply connections
A tech Christmas decoration, created by means of Neopixel LEDs and controlled via an Arduino Micro board, that takes up a minimal amount of space.
With the Xmas holidays approaching, we always try to propose a solution or another, one that is capable of combining tradition and innovation, so to avoid the usual or the trivial – even if always welcome – gadget, that is used as a Christmas decoration: and they cannot be missing from the Christmas tree, the window and the doorstep. For such matters, RGB LEDs and light strips have become a must-have and therefore we could not exempt ourselves from proposing a classic light decoration (the more lights there are for Christmas, the better, as they are a symbol of life and hope…) that has been reconsidered in a modern key, since it has been entrusted to the adaptable and powerful Neopixel LEDs. With a certain amount of the latter, that have been connected in queue and managed in cascade by an Arduino board, we gave life to a 5-star Christmas star, that will show-off at the top of the tree, or wherever you might want to place it (as an example, at the doorstep).
Let’s see therefore what it is all about, by analysing the circuit diagram, that is made of a part that is composed by the LEDs and the control board, that in our case is an Arduino Micro, just for the purpose of minimizing the amount of space occupied by the star.
Circuit diagram
Let’s take a look, therefore, at the project’s electrical section, that is essentially composed of a set of 56 Neopixel LEDs, that have been arranged so to form two concentric stars; the first 35 RGB LEDs (out of 56) form the bigger, external star, while the other 20 ones form the smaller and internal star. The LED number 56 is placed exactly at the center of the printed circuit board, that has the shape of a five-pointed star.
The Neopixel LEDs are connected in cascade but powered in parallel; such a configuration enables to address each single LED and to individually choose the colour; among the possible hues, the 256 possible combinations for each primary colour (therefore we have 256x256x256 combinations!) determine a total of 16,777,216 colours: that’s what one would call true colours!
Read more: A Christmas star with Neopixel LEDs
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What is the main purpose of this project?
To create a minimal-space tech Christmas decoration combining tradition and innovation using Neopixel LEDs. -
How many Neopixel LEDs are used in the circuit?
The project uses a set of 56 Neopixel LEDs. -
How are the LEDs arranged on the board?
The LEDs form two concentric stars with 35 on the external layer and 20 on the internal layer. -
Where is LED number 56 placed?
LED number 56 is placed exactly at the center of the printed circuit board. -
Can each LED be controlled individually?
Yes, the cascading connection allows addressing each single LED to choose its specific color. -
How many total color combinations are possible?
There are 16,777,216 true color combinations available (256x256x256). -
Why was the Arduino Micro chosen for this project?
The Arduino Micro was selected specifically to minimize the amount of space occupied by the star. -
Are the LEDs powered in series or parallel?
The Neopixel LEDs are connected in cascade but powered in parallel.
