LED Snakes
(Last Updated: )Existing project
Description
Flexible LED tubes controlled by WLED and turned into flow spinning props. I debuted the first edition of these at the Fall 2024 Wildfire Retreat, hastily assembled the night before I left for camp, and wrapped in shrink wrap (liberated from some shipping containers in the camp kitchen) for “safety” at the event, they unbelivably worked on the first try.
The handle/power arrangement looks and feels terrifying, but the LED tubes are sufficiently bright and responsive as well as flexible enough to feel good to spin. Several people tried them and seemed interested by the design.
TODO: include pictures
BOM
- 2x 3.2 foot Flexible Silicone LED Rope Light (5v) from Amazon
- 2x 5,000 mAh USB Battery Pack from Amazon
- 2x ESP-12F aka Wemos D1 Mini (originally bought for another project, but here’s another Amazon link)
Other supplies
- mini breadboards
- heat safe tape
- soldering iron
- solder
Future plans, or “how am I supposed to hold these things?”
While the initial version “worked”, there are several areas for improvement.
Orientation
Due to the amount of tape and bagging situation most folks were unsure which end to hold to spin. I recommended holding the batteries, but it definitely felt more comfortable to have the weight at the end of the flex.
This is open for debate, and will probably relate to what kind of power source is finalized, as well as securing the grip or handle somehow.
Handles
Several proposals for handles were made;
- Chains extending from the tubes with small ball grips (similar to poi)
- static handles, similar to whips, which might contain the power and compute
- longer silicone tubing to make the handle unidentifyable freeing the user from the constraints of predefined choice of orientation
Power
The batteries sourced for the project work fine, but should be housed safely so that they can’t be slapped together or beaten on the ground as easily. Something about maybe not making fireballs by accident was mentioned.
More connectivity
WLED already allows the snakes to sync up, and for patterns to be controlled via bluetooth from another device like a phone. Maybe some kind of other live integration is possible like with the Magfest Swadge
