• PCB design

    esenes • 05/17/2025 at 20:26 • 0 comments

    Since last time soldering the LED strip turned out to be a huge pain, I decided to design a PCB to make the job easier.
    The LED pitch is 20 mm, and the max dimension is 100x100 mm. This allows to keep the cost reduced, and to panelize as many panels as needed. Each PCB onboards 25 LEDs (5x5 matrix), and I aim for either 2x2 PCBs or 3x3, depending on the frame size.
    A raspberry pi zero can be soldered directly on the back of one of the PCBs (U2).

    The LEDs are connected sequentially row by row.

    Instructions to assemble larger panels:

    1. Join the panels side by side. The exposed copper areas on the corners can be used to create solder bridges and help the assembly.
    2. Decide the where the DATA IN is connected. Use the DATA IN PORT area on the top left, and create a solder joint to use either one of the edge connectors (L=left, B=bottom, T=top, R=right) or the designated jumper on the left of LED1 to use the onboard raspberry pi (pin D18).
    3. Decide where the DATA OUT are connected. Create a solder joint in the DATA OUT PORT at the bottom right to connect one of the edge connectors. 

    Note: for larger panels, LEDs 1-25 will be on the first panel, then the second panel will follow, and so on. If you need to have a row sequentially switching on across the whole panel, this will need to be remapped in the code base.


    Final result assembled for test