Raspberry Pi Pico-controlled collection of desk lights
After so many ws2812b projects, I had lots of little strips left over. So, I decided to use them to create some nice ambient lighting for my desk.
This is a simple ws2812b project using leftover parts from previous projects. There are 4 short strips daisy-chained together with a Raspberry Pi Pico as the controller. There are two connections to an external power supply (see diagram). There is an attached light sensor, so it will only light at night.
- pico
- power supply
- power chord
- wire
- ws2812b strip
- ws2812b adapter plugs
- ws2812b plastic strip connectors
- aluminum strips w/light diffusers
- light sensor
- hobby box for pico
- hobby box for light sensor
- junction box for external power supply
- "glands" for junction box
- usb to micro usb connector (for software updates)
- glue for light sensor
- shrink tube wire connectors
- female jumper wires (red, green, white)
- mac usbc-to-usb connector (for software updates)
- lighter (for shrink tubing)
- wire stripper
- wire clips
- cable ties (to tie down power supply)
- crimp wire connectors
- crimping tool
- 1/2" drill bit
- drill (for holes in junction box)
- pico adapter
- soldering iron (to assemble the pico on the adapter)
- solder
- double-sided tape
- PyCharm Professional
- MicroPython Plugin
- The double-sided tape is to secure the light strip to the back of the desk and the two screens.
- The jumper wires (item 17 above) are for the connection between the light sensor and the wire.
- Yes, you are supposed to use a heat gun for the wire shrink-wrapped joiners (item 16). But I find the flame from a lighter (item 19), if gently applied, works better.
