Make: Online : Weekend Project: Ultimate LED Fan Sign (PDF)

Weekend Project: Ultimate LED Fan Sign (PDF)

Fan Sign copy.jpg

If you are a sports fan, here is how to make the Ultimate LED Fan Sign!
View the PDF

Related:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Rosco Greens on October 3, 2008 at 6:58 AM

Here's hoping...

I just hope never to have this guy in front of me. When he raises his (admittedly cool) sign, you can't see the field anymore!
Somehow I don't think the stadium security will let him in with this kind of thing.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 3, 2008 at 7:19 AM

@ Rosco Greens - I just love it when the first comment is sorta negative. No, this sign is no larger than any other posterboard sign that you see all over the stadium. It fact, it's actually smaller than many and It certainly does not block the view of the entire field. And, I did not keep it up the whole game! Only when the team deserved it. Video to follow...

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Patti Schiendelman on October 3, 2008 at 8:22 AM

It's totally smaller than the huge signs I see people holding up at the ballpark! And mostly people who go to games are polite about not blocking views at inappropriate times. Like waiting until the end of an inning before you leave your seat, etc.

Unfortunately, my team is the Mariners. *sobs*

Reply to this comment

Posted by: maushammer on October 3, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Awesome project & video, Kip!! It looks beautiful - I'm surprised no one thought of this before.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Mike Grundy on October 3, 2008 at 1:59 PM

This is Awesome!

@KipKay - Thanks for posting this, this is a really great project. I'm going to make one for a friend of mine (Huge Giants fan, don't hold it against him :-)

I have a question about the schematic. The two caps on the right hand side are labeled with "connects to NPN". Do they connect together and to both NPN collectors, or does each go to it's respective transistor? Also does it connect before the resistor on NPN C ?

Thanks!

Mike

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 4, 2008 at 7:31 AM

@Mike Grundy - I have posted a revised schematic in the PDF. They connect seperately to opposite NPN collectors. Directly to the NPN collector. See if the revised schematic makes more sense. Thanks for the comment.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Anon on October 3, 2008 at 4:40 PM

You know this is not the best method for powering the leds right? - you should have built a parallel array of leds in series. You would only need a resistor for each bank on the array.

http://ledcalculator.net/

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 4, 2008 at 7:19 AM

@ Anon - I believe the way I built it is the best method. 203 LED's can vary in their brightness, voltage, and other factors. The resistors make sure that each LED is the same brightness.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Anon on October 4, 2008 at 12:57 PM

Kip - Not really, the voltage drop across leds of the same colour and spec will be about the same. Wiring them all in parallel will just result in higher current draw from the cell. i.e significantly lower operating times.

A better way is still to build series of leds each linked in parallel so you get the best of both worlds.

Maybe try it on your next project ;-)

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 4, 2008 at 1:08 PM

It's not just the voltage drop as it is the difference in the LED's when they are manufactured. Not all LED's are exactly the same intensity even though they may be rated the same. Also, In this circuit, if one LED shorts out or dies, they rest will stay lit.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Mike Grundy on October 4, 2008 at 6:15 PM

@KipKay - That makes much more sense now. Thanks for the update!

Reply to this comment

Posted by: paul on October 16, 2008 at 4:28 PM

what kind of relay is used in your project

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 20, 2008 at 1:43 PM

@paul - The one that was used was an NEC MR62-12FSRY, found in the spare parts bin.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Paul Altavilla on October 20, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Any substitute for that relay that I can buy on digikey

Reply to this comment

Posted by: loplop95 on October 23, 2008 at 6:34 PM

RELAY??

Im sorry but what's that type of relay?

Reply to this comment

Posted by: KipKay on October 24, 2008 at 7:03 AM

@loplop95 - The one that was used was an NEC MR62-12FSRY, found in the spare parts bin.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: Zaid on April 25, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Order...

Is there any cheap website i can order all electronics needed for this project.. like LED's ,, resistors and the flashing circuit... !!!

Reply to this comment

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!

Make: television is here! Visit makezine.tv or iTunes to see all the episodes.

Connect with MAKE

	MAKE on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
	MAKE on Twitter Follow our MAKE tweets!
	MAKE on Flickr Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!

make_tips on Twitter

MAKE's RSS feed is here.
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Add MAKE on FriendFeed

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

MAKE wins Treehugger Best of Green Award

Make: Online authors!

Gareth Branwyn, Chris Connors (guest author), Collin Cunningham, Marc de Vinck, Peter Horvath (intern), Kip Kay, Goli Mohammadi, John Park, Sean Ragan, Becky Stern, Phillip Torrone

Suggest a Site!

Current Podcast

Weekend Project: Fire Piston Make your own fire starter that uses compressed air and burns at 500 degrees! Thanks to Bill Gurstelle for showing us this at Maker Faire. To download The Fire Piston MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes. Pick up... More...