LED Noodle Holiday Tree

published November 06, 2023, last edited January 21, 2025

posted in LEDs 3D Printing CircuitPython Tools/ Soldering Programming/ MicroPython / CircuitPython

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Project guide

Overview

Build a light-up tree with LED noodles, QT Py RP2040 and an AW9523 LED driver. This 3D printed project features eight helical spokes that spiral and taper to form a tree. Each LED noodle fades sequentially creating a subtle effect that brings the lights to life.

The AW9523 LED driver connects to the QT Py RP2040 over STEMMA QT to easily control the LED noodles using PWM with CircuitPython.

Choose from a range of LED noodle colors to create your own color combination. Each easily press fits into the spokes of the tree making a glue-free assembly.

An elegant tree topper sits atop the tree, concealing the various wires. A piece of heat shrink tubing keeps the wires held together and passes down to the bottom connecting to the LED driver board.

Prerequisite Guides

Take a moment to review the following guides to learn more about the products.

Parts

Video of hand holding a QT Py PCB in their hand. An LED glows rainbow colors.

Adafruit QT Py RP2040

What a cutie pie! Or is it... a QT Py? This diminutive dev board comes with one of our new favorite chip, the RP2040. It's been made famous in the new

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$9.95

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Adafruit AW9523 GPIO Expander and LED Driver Breakout

Expand your project possibilities, with the Adafruit AW9523 GPIO Expander and LED Driver Breakout - a cute and powerful I2C expander with a lot of tricks up its...

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$4.95

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Video of a pair of white hands coiling and playing with a 300mm long green LED filament.

nOOds - Flexible LED Filament - 3V 300mm long - Lime Green

Our favorite food when hacking on code or electronics is a hot bowl of noodles - and around NYC these are often called 'noods'! What we've got here are flexible LED...

$6.95

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Video of a pair of white hands coiling and playing with a 300mm long red LED filament.

nOOds - Flexible LED Filament - 3V 300mm long - Red

Our favorite food when hacking on code or electronics is a hot bowl of noodles - and around NYC these are often called 'noods'! What we've got here are flexible LED...

$7.50

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STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-Pin Cable - 50mm Long

This 4-wire cable is 50mm / 1.9" long and fitted with JST SH female 4-pin connectors on both ends. Compared with the chunkier JST PH these are 1mm pitch instead of 2mm, but...

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