New project goes to work tonight and tomorrow - the PiZero Shirt

[JonB256]

Sean keeps talking about putting lights on Band Members on the field.
Others about Dancers in a stage routine.

The PiZero makes it very easy. 5vdc pixels, Wifi and a smartphone battery pack.

Anyway, I dummied up a quick, lighted long sleeve shirt to wear in a Relay for Life event on Saturday night.
I'm on the committee, not a team, but I'll participate on my wife's team for their parade.
I'm using 10,000mAh batteries. One for the PiZero (24 hour run time!) and one for the pixels (over 4 hour run time). I can change out the pixel battery without disturbing the Pi. While I can control it via wireless, I've set my sequence in a 24hour schedule, so it will always start when it boots up. I'll have a router there in case I want to access it from a smart phone.

https://youtu.be/gFI7-1z2Q7c

[mararunr]

Just a suggestion - you can also use your phone's hotspot to access the PI (no need for a router) if you set up the PI as DHCP for wireless.  This is how I did it at the xLights conference last weekend.  Just a thought if you don't want to have to carry a router.  (I have Verizon so running a stand alone wifi hotspot network from my phone is included in monthly features.)

[JonB256]

I will try that since I also use Verizon, but one of my battery packs is also a Router, so it isn't a problem. Thanks.

[gerry]

Very nice !!! Would look cool if one wore this whilst going out to great people during the show.

Would appreciate pictures of your Pi/battery combination physical setup and the link to the battery

[JonB256]

On the top surface, you see the 4 wire connector. The outer black wires go to the GPIO pins, the inner wires are ground. I could run a second string easily.

The back side is where I wired in a USB cable for an Edimax wireless. The white goo is for insulation since it shrank back when soldering.

Since I'm using a 32gb uSD card, that is also where my FSEQ files are stored. I don't use nearly as many USB drives now.

All power connectors are micro - usb or full size usb to fit the smartphone battery packs.

[gerry]

Thanks for the pictures Jon. So you'd just then place these in a bag or something ?

[markrvp]

Very Cool!!

[JonB256]

Thanks for the pictures Jon. So you'd just then place these in a bag or something ?

Yes. Using a front pack with zippered pockets. It all fits easily. I positioned Pixel #1 off to the side (my right side) where the pack would be. The batteries are the big items. I modified a small cardboard box to protect the PiZero. If you knew it wouldn't be running too long (less than 4 hours), a single battery could work.

[Broadway Lights]

Jon
Where did you find the pin out info to connect
the lights also you can add a wifi adaptor to the
zero
Thks Robin

[JonB256]

The GPIO pinout info is in the FPP Help Screens on the Raspberry Pi.

Go to the Outputs tab, then click on the F1 - Help at the top.
Near the bottom it tells you the info.

WS281x Function   Raspberry Pi
Data String #1   Pin 12 - GPIO18
Data String #2   Pin 35 - GPIO19 (Only on A+/B+/B v2)
Ground   Pin 25 - GND

The wireless connection was found at:

http://hackaday.com/2015/11/28/first-raspberry-pi-zero-hack-piggy-back-wifi/

I used their info but did not break open the wifi dongle