If you're new to soldering have a look at this guide
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-guide-excellent-soldering
The cable between the LV panel and it’s transformer plus the EL panel itself has a high potential (high voltage between 60 VAC to 120 VAC) be careful not to damage the cable and panel when installing it, see the Adafruit EL guide for details
Parts
- Raspberry Pi
- Raspberry Pi camera module
- Adafruit USB/serial LCD display
- 2 x Adafruit Neopixel bars
- Arduino Uno
- RGB LED Arduino Shield - by Re-Innovation
- Adafruit blue EL panel plus power transformer
- buck converter or hacked car 12V to USB converter
- 12Vdc PSU 2 amps or more
- 12V 2.1mm barrel socket
- 0.1” plug and sockets plus cable or you could use jumpers as required
- RGB LED strip
- short USB to micro USB lead
- stripbroad
- 2 x 10K resistors surface mount or through the hole
- 2 x 1K resistors or surface mount or through the hole
- 2 x push buttons
The Case
I used Makerbeam for the frame and laser cut Perspex panels for the sides. You can use almost anything, from a cardboard box, wooden box or a fake ginger bread house, for your frame. The case should be at least 200mm high with a base large enough to fit a hand in. The Raspberry Pi is mounted on the top panel with the camera looking down and the Arduino is mount under the panel. The EL panel is mounted between the bottom panel and the base.
The LCD screen
Solder together and test the USB/serial LCD kit, following the instructions here
Neopixel Sticks
Solder the two neopixal bars together, making sure that the power and data connections are same as in the photo. Solder 3 wires, to the 5v, 0v and data in connections, they need to be longer enough to connect to the Arduino.
Hacked Car USB Adaapter
Hack the car USB adapter, by removing the case and plug. Solder cables to the plug connection points, you removed, the centre pin is 12v and the side plates are ground (0v)
