# 220: Cascading Waterfall of Lights

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-10-27
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 220
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights

## Summary

Ben Hencke, founder of ElectroMage, discusses his Pixelblaze WiFi LED controller, which is based on the ESP8266 microcontroller and drives DotStar (APA102) LEDs. He explains how he reduced the iteration cycle for LED programming by using a web-based expression parser that compiles math into a stack machine executed on the chip. Hencke details the transition from hobbyist projects like a Wi-Fi hat and the Synthia synthesizer to selling hardware on Tindie, covering challenges in sourcing components, international shipping, and pricing. He also describes his nightlight project using laser-cut acrylic and 3D printed brackets, highlighting the benefits of APA102 global brightness for subtle lighting effects.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=6) Introduction: Ben Hencke and ElectroMage
- [3:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=231) Open Source Hardware Summit and Community
- [7:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=453) Wi-Fi Hat and Expression-Based LED Control
- [14:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=874) APA102 vs WS2812 LEDs and Power Handling
- [24:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=1488) Selling Hardware on Tindie and Shipping Challenges
- [33:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=1985) Product Iteration and Market Fit
- [39:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=2359) Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Pricing
- [49:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-10-27-220-cascading-waterfall-of-lights#t=2990) Acrylic Nightlight and Synthia Synthesizer

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pixelblaze (product)
- ElectroMage (company)
- Tindie (other)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- APA102 (other)
- WS2812 (other)
- Synthia (product)
- OSHPark (other)
- Small Batch Assembly (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep035: LED Cubes Taking Over, Ada Vanquishes C Bugs, Rad Monitoring is Hot, 3D Printing Goes Full 3D](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-09-12-ep035-led-cubes-taking-over-ada-vanquishes-c-bugs-rad-monitoring-is-hot-3d-print) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep067: Winking Out of IoT, Seas of LEDs, Stuffing PCBs, and Vectrex is Awesome](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-05-15-ep067-winking-out-of-iot-seas-of-leds-stuffing-pcbs-and-vectrex-is-awesome) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [An Interview with Uri Shaked (Wokwi.com)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-15-an-interview-with-uri-shaked-wokwi-com) (The Amp Hour)
- [Arduino Light Lock, Raspberry Pi Pico Cluster, Multiplayer BLE DOOM, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-01-09-arduino-light-lock-raspberry-pi-pico-cluster-multiplayer-ble-doom-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Ep005: Undead Lightbulbs, Home Chemistry, and the Strength of 3D Printing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-08-ep005-undead-lightbulbs-home-chemistry-and-the-strength-of-3d-printing) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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