I've included two different diagrams: a simpler option with a AAA battery pack, and a slightly more advanced option with a LiPoly charger and Lithium Polymer battery pack.

Use Option 1 if you want a safer, versatile campfire that runs off disposable or rechargeable AAA batteries -- easy to find, hard to break, and can be switched out to last all night. Lithium Polymer batteries are great but they do have their dangers and challenges, so if kids will be using this campfire or you plan to let it bounce around in the back of your truck, this is the option for you.

Use Option 2 if you want to be able to recharge your campfire by plugging it in with a USB charger.  If you use a good-sized Lithium Polymer battery, it will last for hours, but you'll need to stop and recharge it when it dies (or, have a spare Lithium Polymer battery which can be changed out).  If you do it this way, the fire can also run indefinitely while plugged in, so this is a great longer-term backyard solution.

You don’t need to actually solder any parts together yet, this is just a reference for what’s ahead…

Option 1

The JST connector solders to the back side of the Pro Trinket so you can plug your battery pack in.

Then the following connections are made between the microcontroller and Dotstar LED strip:

  • Dotstar G --> Pro Trinket G
  • Dotstar + --> Pro Trinket BAT+
  • Dotstar C --> Pro Trinket 9
  • Dotstar D --> Pro Trinket 10

Make sure you are connected to the “input” end of the LED strip. Examine the face of the strip and look for the arrows…these indicate the direction of data from “in” to “out” (as in the diagram above).

Option 2

The LiPoly Backpack is designed to “piggyback” atop the Pro Trinket board. The diagram shows them side-by-side to make the connections clear, but in reality just use a 3-pin header to stack them.

  • LiPoly backpack Bat --> Pro Trinket Bat
  • LiPoly backpack G --> Pro Trinket G
  • LiPoly backpack 5v --> Pro Trinket Bus

The on/off switch connects into the two switch pads on the LiPoly backpack.

Four connections are made between the Pro Trinket and LED strip:

  • Dotstar G --> Pro Trinket G pad on back
  • Dotstar + --> Pro Trinket 5v pad on back
  • Dotstar C --> Pro Trinket 9
  • Dotstar D --> Pro Trinket 10

This guide was first published on Jun 29, 2016. It was last updated on Jun 29, 2016.

This page (Wiring Diagram) was last updated on Jun 09, 2016.

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