Comments on: Get on the BlinkM Bus with a BlinkM Cylon http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/ Random experiments, circuits, code, rapid prototyping, sometimes things to buy, and the odd tune by Tod E. Kurt. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:13:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Will http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-62802 Will Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:20:45 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-62802 Awesome project! I have a question that maybe you'll be able to answer. I would like to have multiple BlinkMs be connected to a motion sensor, so that the light animation turns on and off due to motion. For instance. Maybe someone waves their hand in front of the BlinkMs and the light animation lasts for 3 seconds after the movement stops. How in the world do I go about achieving this? Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Awesome project! I have a question that maybe you’ll be able to answer. I would like to have multiple BlinkMs be connected to a motion sensor, so that the light animation turns on and off due to motion. For instance. Maybe someone waves their hand in front of the BlinkMs and the light animation lasts for 3 seconds after the movement stops. How in the world do I go about achieving this? Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

]]> By: todbot http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-58078 todbot Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:26:41 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-58078 Hi Michael, That's a really good question, not stupid at all. In fact it's one of the more complex BlinkM topics and one that I don't describe nearly well enough. The BlinkMs have to have their I2C address set by hand. This is done by setting up an Arduino with the BlinkMTester sketch, and one-by-one sticking a BlinkM into the Arduino and sending the 'A' ("Set Address") command it. Hi Michael,
That’s a really good question, not stupid at all. In fact it’s one of the more complex BlinkM topics and one that I don’t describe nearly well enough.

The BlinkMs have to have their I2C address set by hand. This is done by setting up an Arduino with the BlinkMTester sketch, and one-by-one sticking a BlinkM into the Arduino and sending the ‘A’ (“Set Address”) command it.

]]> By: Michael http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-58074 Michael Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:37:18 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-58074 Just a stupid question, how the first blinkM know that it is the address 10 and the second the address 11.. and so on? Is it the Arduino that define these addresses? Because BlinkM's looks fucking same, so no way to have a specific address built on hardware, right? Just a stupid question, how the first blinkM know that it is the address 10
and the second the address 11.. and so on?
Is it the Arduino that define these addresses? Because BlinkM’s looks fucking same, so no way to have a specific address built on hardware, right?

]]> By: todbot http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-57252 todbot Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:56:32 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-57252 To power them, correct, you do not require an Arduino. However, to get the coordinated "cylon" action, you need a central controller. (Or a different firmware on the BlinkM boards that allows them to talk to one another) To power them, correct, you do not require an Arduino. However, to get the coordinated “cylon” action, you need a central controller. (Or a different firmware on the BlinkM boards that allows them to talk to one another)

]]> By: Rook http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-57249 Rook Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:40:54 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-57249 Awesome idea - gives me some of my own! Thanks! Question: could you power the lights independently of the arduino? It looks like you could, but I'm not sure. Thoughts? Awesome idea – gives me some of my own! Thanks!

Question: could you power the lights independently of the arduino? It looks like you could, but I’m not sure.

Thoughts?

]]> By: todbot http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-56393 todbot Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:52:59 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-56393 Thanks! We've used several places for BlinkM PCBs in the past. Currently we use OurPCB. They're very good. Thanks! We’ve used several places for BlinkM PCBs in the past. Currently we use OurPCB. They’re very good.

]]> By: boppyer http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-56003 boppyer Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:32:28 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-56003 Out of interested but where did you get your PCB's made for Blinkm? They look great! Out of interested but where did you get your PCB’s made for Blinkm? They look great!

]]> By: todbot http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-53014 todbot Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:35:11 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-53014 The ribbon cable is standard 0.05" spacing 28-gauge ribbon cable used for IDC connectors. A link to a Mouser part for one kind of this cable is in the Components list of the post. I usually use old ribbon cable from old computers or buy a <a href="http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=643938&catalogId=10001&freeText=643938" rel="nofollow">big spool of the cheap stuff from Jameco</a>. The ribbon cable is standard 0.05″ spacing 28-gauge ribbon cable used for IDC connectors. A link to a Mouser part for one kind of this cable is in the Components list of the post. I usually use old ribbon cable from old computers or buy a big spool of the cheap stuff from Jameco.

]]> By: nick http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-52460 nick Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:55:14 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-52460 Hi I am a total noob here . Could you give me a bit more specification of your ribbon cable so's I can get some from Mouser. Thanks N Hi
I am a total noob here . Could you give me a bit more specification of your ribbon cable so’s I can get some from Mouser.
Thanks
N

]]> By: TheKhakinator http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-50252 TheKhakinator Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:33:59 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-50252 Hey, The reason the Tesla coils would screw your stuff up is because they're putting out massive amounts of RF energy. Nice stuff you've put together. TK Hey,

The reason the Tesla coils would screw your stuff up is because they’re putting out massive amounts of RF energy.

Nice stuff you’ve put together.

TK

]]> By: Alan http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-50029 Alan Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:26:36 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-50029 These lights look like they work well. Love the ample use of hot glue. :) That is what holds together most of my projects! These lights look like they work well. Love the ample use of hot glue. :) That is what holds together most of my projects!

]]> By: Will http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-49817 Will Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:59:38 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-49817 If you are having trouble locating the 2x4 connectors, I am now stocking some 1x4 .1" connectors and cable here at FunGizmos.com http://forums.fungizmos.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5 --Will If you are having trouble locating the 2×4 connectors, I am now stocking some 1×4 .1″ connectors and cable here at FunGizmos.com

http://forums.fungizmos.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5

–Will

]]> By: jd http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-49741 jd Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:20:06 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-49741 brilliant! thanks todbot brilliant! thanks todbot

]]> By: todbot http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-49738 todbot Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:52:31 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-49738 Hi jd, I've updated the post to include the parts I used. They're pretty standard IDC components you should be able to find them at several large electronics distributors. Hi jd,
I’ve updated the post to include the parts I used. They’re pretty standard IDC components you should be able to find them at several large electronics distributors.

]]> By: jd http://todbot.com/blog/2008/06/17/get-on-the-blinkm-bus-with-a-blinkm-cylon/comment-page-1/#comment-49735 jd Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:09:44 +0000 http://todbot.com/blog/?p=244#comment-49735 can you share the part numbers for the connectors and ribbon cable? can you share the part numbers for the connectors and ribbon cable?

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