The lighting in your home can really change the energy and the mood. This modern floor lamp uses addressable NeoPixel LEDs, a QT Py Pico ESP32 with WiFi, and the free, open-source WLED software: a wonderful and easy way to create animations, schedule programs, and take control of the lighting in your house.
This lamp also uses the capacitive touch sensor pads on the QT Py. A copper foil decoration on the base allows me to turn the lamp on and off and change modes just by tapping it with my toe.
This guide uses version 14.4 of WLED.
Materials
Adafruit sells two different controllers that will run WLED: the Feather Huzzah and the QT Py Pico. The QT Py is a little smaller and a little less expensive, so that's the one I chose for this project.
NeoPixel lights come in many different shapes, sizes, and densities. For this lamp I chose 60/m NeoPixels, but WLED will work with any of the types that Adafruit sells. The higher density 144/m pixels would also look great with this project. There are also side-light, dual sided, seed pixels and more -- take a look around the shop to find the lights you like best.
I'm using copper foil tape for the capacitive touch switch. This can be cut into shape by hand or with a Cricut vinyl cutter and will function as a decorative toe switch for turning the lamp on and off, and changing modes.
For lamps with less than around 100 pixels, a power supply can be used that plugs directly into the QT Py with a USB C port. I like this one because it already has an inline on/off switch.
You'll also need some silicone wire in 3 different colors, and it's helpful to have some clear heat shrink to seal the ends of the LED strip.
I used a hot wheels track from Amazon to make the spiral support for my LEDs.
You'll also need a piece of wood or other heavy thing for the base of the lamp, and a pole for the arm. I used a hollow steel tube I found in my garage, but a wooden dowel or PVC pipe would work just as well.
Tools
- Soldering iron & accessories
- Hot glue gun
- Screws & screwdriver
- Drill with small drill bits and large spade bit
- Silicone caulk & caulking gun
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