Engineers Garage

  • Electronics Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

How to make a decorative coconut tree using a digital RGB LED strip

By Ashutosh Bhatt May 1, 2023

In this project, we’ll demonstrate how to make a colorful, king-sized coconut tree (5 feet) decorative showpiece using a digital RGB LED strip. 

The RGB LED strip is cut and arranged to form the shape of a coconut tree. The ATMega328 microcontroller is used to control the LED strip, generating several flashing, fading, and blinking LED effects. Much like a light show, more than 15 different multicolour effects will run continuously. 

The structure
To build the tree structure, we’ll use 1-inch diameter PVC pipes, as well as L- and T-joints. These joints are used for the tree’s base stand. The leaves are made of medium-thick 1mm2 copper wire.

We’ll also use a circuit box and a 12V@2A adapter. Additionally, to assemble everything, a hot glue gun and transparent tape is required.

The steps

1. To prepare the tree’s base stand, which has four legs, use four L-joints and three T-joints. Two L-joints and one T-joint make one side of the stand (then repeat). There are two sides (about 30-35cm tall) as shown in the above images.
2. The rubber stands must be fixed to all four legs to ensure a stable grip.
3. Join both sides of the stand using one of the T-joints at the center.
4. Add the main pipe (150 cm) to the center T-joint.
5. Using a hot glue gun, carefully affix four of the 1mm2 copper wire pieces (about 30-35cm long) to the top of the main pipe. Once secure, bend the wire to create a coconut leaf-like shape for the tree.
6. Using transparent tape, stick the RGB LED strip to the main pipe and the copper wire pieces.
7. Attach a small circuit housing box to the tree’s base stand, and connect the LED to the circuit using the 3-pin connector (provided on the box).
8. Carefully connect a 12V@2A adapter to the circuit box. It powers both the circuit and LED strip.

After creating the tree-like structure, we’ll need to build the circuit.

Circuit diagram

The circuit only requires a few components. It uses the ATMega328 microcontroller, LM7805 voltage regulator chip, a 16 MHz crystal, a 10K resistor, two 22pf capacitors, and a micro push button.

  • Connect the 16 MHz crystal to the ATMega328’s external crystal input pins 8 and 9.
  • Connect the two 22pf capacitors with both of these pins to provide stability to the crystal oscillator.
  • Connect the push button between ATMega328’s reset input pin 1 and the ground, with the 10K pull-up resistor.
  • Note: the LM7805 receives 12V of input from the adapter. Its 5V output must be connected to ATMega328’s VCC pin (7) and AVcc pin (20).
  • The digital RGB LED strip has three interfacing pins: VCC, DIN, and GND. The strip operates at 12V, so the VCC pin receives 12V from the adapter. Ensure that the GND pin is connected to the circuit’s ground. The DIN pin (data input) must be connected with ATMega328’s pin 4. It receives the data signal input from this pin.

Circuit operation
The circuit operation is simple. The ATMega328 microcontroller generates different, multi-color lighting effects on the LED strip. This includes blinking, fading, and chasing effects from the bottom to top, and the top to bottom of the LED strip.

The microcontroller provides data input from pin 4 to the LED strip for generating the different colors and effects, such as dual-color flashing, multi-color flashing, dual and multi-color fading, multi-color chasing from the bottom to the top, and vice versa, and so on.

There are about 15 multi-color LED effects that run continuously, one after another.

The circuit operation works, thanks to the software program. It’s downloaded to ATMega328’s internal FLASH memory. The program handles the full circuit operation.

The software
The software program is written in C/C++ language, and edited and compiled using Arduino IDE software. It’s downloaded to ATMega328’s internal FLASH memory using Arduino UNO board and Arduino IDE.

This program uses the flashLED.h library to control the RGB LED strip. This library is specifically for the WS2811-type RGB LED strips. By using this library, it’s possible to generate different colors from the LED strip and control different lighting effects.

YouTube video link:
https://youtu.be/JdASkX8co-o

 

You may also like:

  • beginners guide
    Basic Electronics 01 – Beginners guide to setting up an…

  • RGB LED decorative, tabletop coconut tree

  • What to expect from microcontrollers in 2023
  • battery selection low power design
    What are the battery-selection criteria for low-power design?

  • How to play a video on an SSD1306 OLED

Filed Under: AVR, Electronic Projects, LED Lighting, Microcontroller Projects
Tagged With: adapter, ATMega328, led, ledstrip, ljoints, microcontroller, pvc, pvcpipes, tjoints
 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on EDAboard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: Internet of Things
Explore practical strategies for minimizing attack surfaces, managing memory efficiently, and securing firmware. Download now to ensure your IoT implementations remain secure, efficient, and future-ready.

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“engineers
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • RFsoc4x2 fpga diagram request
  • BOM sent to Contract assemblers doesnt correspond to schem
  • Half-bridge LLC resonant converter using UCC25600
  • Lightbox circuit help
  • Transistor circuit in audio

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Kawai KDP 80 Electronic Piano Dead
  • An Update On Tarrifs
  • Trying to use a L9110s motor driver chip
  • I want to make a CRT with some modifications But i have no Idea where to start
  • Funny Images Thread!

Featured – Designing of Audio Amplifiers part 9 series

  • Basics of Audio Amplifier – 1/9
  • Designing 250 Milli Watt Audio Power Amplifier – 2/9
  • Designing 1 Watt Audio Power Amplifier – 3/9
  • Designing a Bass Boost Amplifier – 4/9
  • Designing a 6 Watt Car Audio Amplifier – 5/9
  • Design a low power amplifier for headphones- 6/9

Recent Articles

  • Fischer connector system adds ratchet locking system designed for 300g shock resistance
  • Littelfuse introduces tactile switch with enhanced bracket peg design for mounting strength
  • Infineon releases GaN switch with monolithic bidirectional design
  • Sienna Semiconductor data converters feature sample rates from 20 to 250 Msps
  • Delta’s 5,500 W power supplies achieve 97.5% energy efficiency for AI servers

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering

Submit a Guest Post

submit a guest post
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search Engineers Garage

  • Electronics Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe