SCOTTISH TRADE COUNTER

(Primarily stuff you can't get elsewhere.)

Shipping on all orders just £1 to anywhere in the world.
All prices in GBP.

RGB CONTROLLER CHIP




View the data sheet.

A chip dedicated to the task of generating cool colour changing effects with RGB LED lighting.
There are 23 programs with up to sixteen speed or colour options on each. These range from psychedelic colour strobing through to very smooth and dignified architectural colour changing with a massive pallete of over 16 million colours and a randomiser that produces a continuous stream of over 8 million data bits for truly random results.
Don't confuse this chip with the tacky colour changers that just go through a very short repetitive colour routine. This chip has a virtually endless array of subtle colour moves in a range of colour palletes.
Just to add the icing to the cake, the last program settings are stored to non volatile memory (about 15 seconds after the last button press) so that the unit always powers up in your favourite mode.


The tech specs are equally impressive with a very low component count, a PWM frequency of about 350Hz and an intensity resolution of 8 bits giving each colour a range of 256 intensities.
The output capability is 20mA which can either be used to drive a few LEDs directly for ornamental applications, or used to drive power switching components like Darlington transistors or MOSFET's. The chip incorporates weak pull up resistors for the program selection buttons.

RGB chip £4.65 each.
Pack of 10 RGB chips at 10% discount £41.80 (£4.18 each)
Pack of 25 RGB chips at 20% discount £93.00 (£3.72 each)
Pack of 100 RGB chips at 30% discount £325.00 (£3.25 each)

FULL RGB CONTROLLER KIT




Visit the project page.

They say that simplicity is reliability, and that was certainly the design concept behind this kit. It has a very low component count, but still somehow manages to put multi thousand dollar architectural lighting systems to shame, primarily by it's virtue of being a "fit and forget" device. Once set with your preferred options it will always power up in the correct mode for the life of the installation.
This module can drive up to 1000 LEDs per channel without heatsinks. This assumes a 24V supply, efficiently wired series strings of LEDs and a MOSFET current of 5A. With the MOSFETs mounted off board on a heatsink with suitably rated and protected wiring, the controller could drive much larger LED arrays.
This quality kit uses professional grade components throughout from the gold-insert turned pin socket and rising clamp connectors to the good beefy MOSFET output stages.
The board is manufactured in FR4 laminate and is fully tinned and screen printed with a solder resist mask and component placement data for all the components supplied as shown above.
A set of four mounting feet and matching fixing screws are supplied for mounting the module in your desired location.
Refer to the controller page for assembly tips.

This kit has been amazingly popular, with a lot of repeat sales.
I'd love to know what sort of applications these are being used in. I know they are currently running club lighting, signs, techno art, limousine lights, under car lighting, mood lighting and special effects.

RGB controller kit £15.85 each.
Pack of 5 RGB controller kits at 10% discount £71.32 (£14.26 each)

BUILT RGB CONTROLLER MODULE




A fully assembled controller module supplied with mounting hardware.

Assembled RGB controller £25.00 each.
Pack of 5 assembled RGB controller modules at 10% discount £112.50 (£22.50 each)

BARE MR16 SUPERFLUX "HAPPY COCK" PCB

(Happy Cock give you maximum big joy.)



Visit the project page.

Get some cheap LEDs at Phenoptix.com.

A very nice jet black PCB designed to fit into standard MR16 downlight frames (12V 50W downlights). It is designed to take nine superflux / piranha 4-pin LEDs with either three of each colour for RGB colour mixing, a cluster of nine of a single colour or even a random combination as you please (red and blue mix looks good).
The board has four resistor positions with one each for the green and blue circuits and two in series for the red circuit to spread the heat dissipation due to the lower forward voltage of reds.
The board is manufactured in FR4 and is ROHS compliant with the extra touch of gold plated pads making it very easy to solder. There are four pads on the back for wire connection R,G,B and +. For single colour use just bridge the R,G & B together.
Each circuit is three LEDs and resistor/s in series and the PCB is designed for use at 12V.

Yes it does say "HAPPY COCK" on the back! It's a whimsical reference to it's Chinese manufacture.

Happy Cock PCB £2.00 each.
Happy Cock PCB £10.00 for six.

Extremely bright LEDs!





A selection of Chinese LEDs specially chosen for their extreme output intensity and low cost.
After a shaky start the Chinese seem to have mastered the new Gallium Nitride technology and their LEDs just get better and better. This is a selection of what I consider a good choice for personal RGB lighting projects.
In general 5mm LEDs should be run at 20mA or less.

These LEDs are standard 5mm devices and are not suitable for the "Happy Cock" PCB above.

LEDs are current operated devices. You MUST use a series resistor to limit the current through them. Failure to do so may result in excessive current and early LED failure. Care should be taken to observe polarity. The long lead is the anode (+ve) and the short lead is the cathode (-ve).

All LEDs are supplied in anti-static bags.

5mm RED LEDs.

Bright red LEDs. A good bright red LED that uses a Hewlett Packard chip for high output and a good quality beam.
These LEDs are ideal for use with the greens and deep blues for making colour changing lights.
The typical forward voltage of these LEDs is 2.2V and their intensity is quoted as 5,000mcd.

£2.50 for a pack of ten.

5mm GREEN LEDs.

Green is the brightest of all the gallium nitride colours due to it's closeness to the eyes peak spectral response.
These LEDs are ideal for use with the reds and deep blues for making colour changing lights.
The typical forward voltage of these LEDs is 3V and their intensity is quoted as 10,000mcd.

£2.00 for a pack of ten.

5mm DEEP BLUE LEDs.

A very popular colour, and deservedly so. Blue LEDs produce a very strong rich blue right at the end of the visual spectrum. It has slightly psychedelic properties in that there is very little positional information in blue light. This has made it a strong favourite for decorative purposes like car and PC modding!
These LEDs are ideal for use with the greens and reds for making colour changing lights.
The typical forward voltage of these LEDs is 3V and their intensity is quoted as 5,000mcd.

£2.00 for a pack of ten.

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Any questions? Please feel free to ask.
Shipping on all orders just 1 UKP to anywhere in the world.


Back to "Things to make and do."







Color change controller.
Color changing controller.
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Stand alone controller.
Autonomous controller.