# 3 Cent Micros And 1000s of LEDs

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-10-21
- Length: 1h 28m
- Episode: 412
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/412-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds/

## Summary

Mike Harrison of Mike's Electric Stuff discusses the engineering challenges of large-scale LED art installations, including the need for gamma correction, RGBW configurations, and managing failure rates through conservative driving. He highlights the discovery of ultra-low-cost components from LCSC, such as 3-cent microcontrollers and embedded DC-DC converters, and details a specific failure caused by a non-keyed connector allowing reverse insertion. The conversation also covers his workshop setup, the use of pick-and-place machines, and new tools like an Ethernet decoding board for oscilloscopes.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=0) Introduction: Mike Harrison and Mike's Electric Stuff
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=200) LED Art Engineering: Gamma Correction and RGBW
- [13:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=794) Exploring New Display Technologies: E-ink and Tunable LCDs
- [24:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=1450) Workshop Operations: Pick-and-Place and Subcontracting
- [30:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=1822) Ultra-Low-Cost Components from LCSC
- [1:14:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=4491) Case Study: Connector Failure in Large Installations
- [1:22:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-10-21-3-cent-micros-and-1000s-of-leds#t=4940) New Project: Ethernet Decoding for Oscilloscopes

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mike's Electric Stuff (company)
- LCSC (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- MUN12A (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- APA102 (chip)
- WS2812 (chip)
- Rigol (other)
- Keysight (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- Yokogawa (company)
- Rohde & Schwarz (company)
- JLCPCB (company)
- HackerBoxes (other)
- HobbyKing (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- James Bruton (other)
- PCBXPRT (other)
- JITX (company)
- Super Micro (company)
- Apple (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [294: Ludicrous Numbers of LEDs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-07-11-294-ludicrous-numbers-of-leds) (Embedded.fm)
- [294: Ludicrous Numbers of LEDs (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-25-294-ludicrous-numbers-of-leds-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 377: Parallel Pixels, Wiggly Consoles, and Seven Segments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-07-10-ep-377-parallel-pixels-wiggly-consoles-and-seven-segments) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [499: This Is Your Problem](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-04-17-499-this-is-your-problem) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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