Part 2 of Designing a WiFi enabled LED Array Weather Display.

Choosing an MCU

As the display will require internet access to collect the weather data an MCU with WiFi capability must be selected. For wide ranging support and ease of programming either an ESP32 or ESP8266 will be used, or alternatively a RP2040-W or analogous device could be used.

Sending data to the LEDs

The WS2812B LEDs ar individually addressable. They use a custom single wire communication protocol and this one wire can be used to control each of the LEDs on the array. The Data In wire is connected to the Data In pin of the first LED of the array, the data out pin of this LED is connected to the Data In pin of the next LED and so on for each subsequent LED in the array.

The LEDs are set up in a serpentine pattern beginning at the top left of the array and then alternately working down and back up each subsequent column like so:

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This is the first post in a series documenting the development of a WiFi enabled LED array based display. The display will be used to show the current local weather forecast, provide indicators for Fire and Wind warnings, as well as likelihood of precipitation.

What is an LED Array?

The LED array I will be using is a commonly available array of WS2812B programmable RGB LEDs on a flexible PCB substrate. The array in question is 8x32 LEDs (Amazon PN ASIN:B01DC0IPVU). Other sizes are available.
Here is the link used to purchase it: https://www.amazon.com/BTF-LIGHTING-0-24ft0-96ft-Flexible-Individually-addressable/dp/B01DC0IPVU

Why use an LED Array?

Why use an LED array rather than an LCD, OLED, smartphone, or similar display which can show far more detailed text and numbers? While cost could be a major factor, the primary reason for using an LED array is for the ease and potential speed of information transfer. For example an LED array by the front door of your home with an indicator light for chance of rain would be an almost instant reminder to grab your umbrella. The colour and intensity of the LEDs might be a quick visual indicator that today will be hot and you don’t need your jacket. An indicator light for a High Wind alert might remind you to secure some items in your garden.
Some secondary reasons are:

1. Glowing LEDs are cool.
2. It’s a good excuse to learn a range of skills including embedded programming, web APIs, 3D CAD and printing etc.
3. I have an LED array already…

Development process

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Test page for C/C++ code snippets.

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