By popular demand, we've got a project tutorial for making your own programmable, super-blinky LED belt. It's perfect for all kinds of events like parties, raves, parades, weddings, funerals, and bar mitzvahs. Wear it with pride and show off its blinky lights! Follow our soldering tutorial to build an LED belt that can be passed down as a family heirloom. This project shows you how to use the digital LED strip, our Atmega32u4 breakout board with the Arduino IDE, and how to create a portable battery-powered project running on AAs. It's not too tough and can be finished in a day. Some soldering experience helps as 'free wire' soldering is a bit harder than PCB soldering, but beginners can handle it. Note, we don't include an Arduino IDE tutorial, so it's better if you've used Arduino before. The pack includes an Atmega32u4 breakout board (the brain of the operation), a 1-meter digital LED strip (LPD8806 with full-color PWM for amazing color ranges), a 6-pin IDC cable, an inline cable pair (male and female), a 4xAA battery holder with a switch, a 1N4001 diode, 3 feet of 3/32-inch heatshrink, 4 feet of 1-inch heatshrink, and a zip/cable tie. You'll need common electronics tools like a soldering iron and solder, wire cutters and strippers (or a combo tool), a heat source (heat gun, hairdryer, or lighter), pliers, a 3rd hand tool or something to keep your work steady, and a basic multimeter. You also need a mini-B USB cable for programming the belt and 4 AA batteries (alkaline or rechargeable) to power it. The belt lasts 6 - 12 hours depending on your programmed designs - more LEDs mean faster battery drain. Check the full tutorial on the project page.
Using the LED belt kit is a fun and rewarding experience. First, gather all the tools you need from the list in the description. Start by following the soldering tutorial to connect the components. Make sure to handle the soldering iron carefully as it gets very hot. When using the heat source for the heatshrink, keep it at a safe distance to avoid overheating or melting other parts. Once you've assembled the belt, use the mini - B USB cable to program it with your desired designs. Insert 4 AA batteries into the holder and switch it on to see your belt come to life. As for maintenance, store the belt in a cool, dry place when not in use. If the batteries run out, replace them with new ones (either alkaline or rechargeable). Also, be gentle with the belt to avoid damaging the LED strip or other components. Check the project page for any software updates to get new and exciting designs for your belt.
