Led Disco Box

How To Make Your Own Led Disco Box

Step 1: Materials Required

square cardboard box

Ws2811 LED string

Frosted matt acrylic glass (6x6 inch)

Scrap cardboard pieces

Black paper

Black tape

Arduino Uno

Jumper wire

Slider switch

Some wire

Super glue

Some foam sheets

Double sided tape

4xAA battery holder with dc jack

White spray paint

Step 2: Preparing the Box

First, we will measure the box and decide accordingly the size of acrylic sheet needed.

I used a square box which was a bit bigger than 6 inch, so I used a 6x6 inch frosted matt acrylic sheet.

I marked on the top of the box where the glass would be and then cut it out.

Then I printed a 6x6 grid and pasted it on a square piece of cardboard just the size of the box so that it is a tight fit

Then I marked where I wanted to place this grid. I decided the depth from top to be 5 cm and used double sided tape to secure it

Now we will cut a foam frame same as the size of the box frame as shown in the picture and will stick it to the cardboard form 3 sides leaving one side open so that the acrylic sheet could slide in, and then spray paint it white.

Step 3: Preparing the Grid

Now we take the grid which we pasted on the cardboard and make a hole at the centre of each square and insert the LEDs. I have only used 25 LEDs out of 50.

Now in order to differentiate the LEDs from each other, we will cut 8 strips of cardboard of length 6.5 inches and of depth 4.5 cm and make slits in all the pieces according to the grid printed and attach it according to the picture

It should look similar to the one in the picture

Step 4: Electronics

This part is the easiest.

The WS2811 led has 3 wires mine has red , white and green colour

So to add a switch we will first we will solder the red wire to the switch and then a jumper wire that will connect to the Arduino (as shown in the picture)

The connections to Arduino is as follows

The red wire is attached to pin 5v

The green wire is attached to pin 5

The white wire Is attached to pin Gnd

Step 5: Coding

Here I have use the FastLed code. But to use it you first have to install the FastLed library

Step 6: Attaching the Glass

Now we will slide the glass in the frame and add super glue to the edges so that it becomes secure .

Make sure that you do not apply to much glue otherwise it will seep through and ruin both the cardboard and the glass.

Step 7: TRY IT !

Connect 4xAA battery or power bank to Arduino, switch it on and enjoy!