# Portable light box **URL:** \ **Category:** Arduino\ **Created:** [6 February 2019 22:01 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496 "2019-02-06T22:01:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [6 February 2019 22:01 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/1 "2019-02-06T22:01:43Z")
Jeremy80116 14m Hi this is my first time using arduino, my project is to make a portable light box. I have purchased rgb led strips a power supply and an arduino uno. I want there to be 3 primary functions. the whole box to light up in any color chosenThe borders to light up in sequencesA word to be displayed I would like it to be controlled from both an app on phone and a remote control. My question is what hardware is required to control this type of setup? I should be ok with the code but im struggling to work out the materials ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [7 February 2019 06:06 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/2 "2019-02-07T06:06:56Z")
Hi Jeremy, I would control this with a [Pi Zero W](https://core-electronics.com.au/raspberry-pi-zero-wh.html) personally. That way you will have Bluetooth and Wifi connectivity down the road when you’re ready for it. You could always add Wifi or Bluetooth to an Arduino Uno as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [11 February 2019 11:58 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/3 "2019-02-11T11:58:18Z")
do i have change to the recommended Pi Zero and i have worked out how to control them. i would like to make words out of lights what lights would you recommend i use for this? i was thinking short lengths of RGB strip my question is how do i cut them and change direction to make the letters ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [11 February 2019 23:45 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/4 "2019-02-11T23:45:53Z")
Hey Jeremy, You could start with a project like this one: or this one: > **[HUGE LED Pixel Panel](https://core-electronics.com.au/projects/led-pixel-matrix)** > > I’ve always been fascinated by LED screens and seeing beautiful colours mix and merge to create vibrant displays. I also love games, so what better way to combine the two than a giant LED pixel matrix which can play games, display audio levels,... ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [5 March 2019 05:41 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/5 "2019-03-05T05:41:42Z")
am i able to power the 32 by 64 matrix board directly off a 7.4 volt libo battery with the arduino powered from a seperate 5v power supply? ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [5 March 2019 05:51 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/6 "2019-03-05T05:51:45Z")
![rgb%20matrix%20wiring](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/9/915897ad0904c513ce63bc23c6ff97ba78f62b3f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [5 March 2019 22:12 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/7 "2019-03-05T22:12:09Z")
Hi Jeremy, Those matrix panels require 5V to operate. Providing too much voltage (7.4V) will destroy the LED matrix. You MUST provide the correct voltage for this to operate, it looks like it may be too late from your picture though. Something like this would work, you need 5V and at least 4A: > **[5V 10A switching power supply](https://core-electronics.com.au/5v-10a-switching-power-supply.html)** > > This is a beefy switching supply, for when you need a lot of power! It can supply 5V DC up to 10 Amps, running from 110V or 220V power (the plug it comes with is .. read more ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [5 March 2019 22:30 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/8 "2019-03-05T22:30:57Z")
Hi Stephen, not too late I didn’t apply the voltage. What would you recommend to regulate the voltage to 5v ? ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 00:47 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/9 "2019-03-06T00:47:22Z")
Hi Jeremy, You scared me there for a minute! One of these will work, it can handle 6A and your matrix should only draw about 4A. This will give you a little overhead so the regulator won’t get as hot, and you could use it power your Arduino as well so everything could run off the one battery. Actually if you could power the Arduino directly off the 7.4v battery as long as you go through the 2.1mm power port. There is a voltage regulator onboard that can handle up to 12V. > **[Pololu 5V, 6A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V60F5](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-5v-6a-step-down-voltage-regulator-d24v60f5.html)** > > This synchronous switching step-down (or buck) regulator takes an input voltage of up to 38 V and efficiently reduces it to 5 V while allowing a typical continuous output current of up to 6 A. Typical efficiencies of 80% to 95% make this regulator... ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 01:37 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/10 "2019-03-06T01:37:50Z")
I’ve managed to get it all hooked up with the correct power supply but I can’t make the example codes run. Are you able to share a simple code that will scroll text across the board ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 02:19 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/11 "2019-03-06T02:19:48Z")
Hi Jeremy, The code from the example is your best bet: [https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/64x32\_RGB\_LED\_Matrix\_-\_4mm\_pitch\_SKU:DFR0460](https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/64x32_RGB_LED_Matrix_-_4mm_pitch_SKU:DFR0460) Have you tried this yet? My first thought would be to double check your wiring. Try this tutorial out: [https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/rgb-panel-hookup-guide](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/rgb-panel-hookup-guide) ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 04:49 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/12 "2019-03-06T04:49:27Z")
I’m using a 5v 2.5A power supply it appears to have enough power to supply the matrix. How will under power effect the display? ---
**Author:** ![Clinton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/clinton/32/1515_2.png) [@Clinton](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Clinton)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 05:46 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/13 "2019-03-06T05:46:53Z")
Hey Jeremy, Under power will affect it in one of two ways, if its just under you will probably just get a slight dimming of the lights as the unit struggles to provided the current needed. The other will be the voltage will drop a lot and you will get no lights at all. These cases should not damage your hardware at all though if you have any components with writable memory it may cause corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 22:02 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/14 "2019-03-06T22:02:00Z")
Hi Stephen, I’ve managed to get the raspberry to to control the matrix board I’m trying to make it run through a sequence loop but it seems to stop after about 5mins. Could this be the raspberry going to sleep ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/stephen/32/1599_2.png) [@Stephen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 23:15 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/15 "2019-03-06T23:15:10Z")
Hi Jeremy, It could be, but that seems unlikely. The Pi will not go to sleep unless you have configured it to do so. This could be a result of being under powered. Do you get any errors from your Pi program when it stops? ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy80116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jeremy80116](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jeremy80116)\ **Post date:** [6 March 2019 23:34 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/portable-light-box/4496/16 "2019-03-06T23:34:01Z")
No I get no errors It is running of a 2.5 amp regulator so under power is likely