Additionally, as the perceived brightness of different LED colors can vary quite a bit, we’ve included a specific set of per-color resistors to even out the overall brightness levels. While the electronic components- the microcontroller, resistors, control switch, and LEDs -are essentially the same as in the Deluxe LED Menorah Kit, we’ve had to make quite a few changes to the layout and firmware to redesign the circuit to lay out so neatly on a breadboard. The kit includes a 6″ transparent breadboard, 10 mm LEDs in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and warm white, a control button, battery holder, and a pre-programmed microcontroller. The first kit, the Deluxe Electronic Breadboard Menorah Kit, is a response to two requests that we frequently receive: (1) for an LED menorah kit that doesn’t require soldering and (2) for a menorah kit with assorted multicolor LEDs- for that assorted-color candle look. Today, just in the nick of time, we are releasing two new LED menorah kits for 2013 that complement our consistently popular Deluxe LED Menorah Soldering Kit. Hanukkah comes remarkably early this year, starting on Thanksgiving day, November 28. Mega Menorah 9000 begins shipping this week. From a control standpoint, it’s awfully nice that they’re managed by just a single pin of the microcontroller, and have the built-in ICs to handle colors and dimming. We’ll write more about it later.Īnd, wow does this thing do colors! The nine WS2812-style individually addressable RGB LEDs in 5 mm packages, look reminiscent of candle flames, but can be tuned to just about any color in the rainbow. It’s an assembly jig that helps to align the parts in place so that it’s easy to build and looks neat. MM9k FAQ: Why is there a binder clip there? The circuit is actually an implementation of the Adafruit Trinket, which allows for reprogramming the microcontroller without requiring any hardware other than a regular USB cable. The base circuit board has rubber feet, the control buttons (color, night, reset), an ATtiny85 AVR microcontroller, USB power/programming jack, and a programming indicator LED. The “top” PCB is shaped like a menorah and the components (mainly just the nine WS2812-style LEDs) are for the most part hidden on the back side. It just slipped out when we were trying to come up with a working title for the project - a name that meant “better than deluxe” so as to distinguish this model from our old favorite Deluxe LED Menorah Kits.Īlas, it was funny. Yes, we must (grudgingly) admit that it is. MM9k FAQ: OK, but isn’t the name “Mega Menorah 9000” perhaps just slightly on the excessive side? All together it’s over 9000 stippled dots of black silkscreen! (To be more specific, there are roughly 17,000 dots on each side.)
COME ON BABY LIGHT MY MENORAH WITHOUT STAR SOFTWARE
We then rendered the CAD model, and used our StippleGen 2 software to convert the resulting image into a vector stipple drawing- one that could eventually be converted into the artwork for the circuit board. The outer contours of the model became the outline of the circuit board. To make it, we started with a 3D CAD model of what we wanted the circuit board to look like. As you can see above, it’s actually flat as a board. One of the cool things about this kit is that it has a unique “ Trompe-l’œil” circuit board design that gives some illusion of a rounded 3D surface. Flickery flame effects built in too, of course. It’s USB powered, USB programmable with a built-in interface based on the Adafruit Trinket, and features 9 discrete RGB LED “pixels” that can produce all kinds of bright colors. Once built, it stands just over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, and is 7.5 inches (19 cm) wide. This is a great new easy soldering kit to make a handsome and decently-sized menorah. Introducing our newest Hanukkah menorah kit: Mega Menorah 9000!