cool 2600 mod idea

[etrader99]

I was thinking of taking a 2600 jr and replacing the rainbow stripe with some type of transparent plastic with read LEDs behind it.

 

The idea is to use multi color LEDs all across the stripe and when the power is on, the colors would rotate around the spectrum to look like a real animated atari rainbow.

 

Unfortuntely Im going to need a bit of technical assistance if I ever want to see this in action. I was hoping someone here could help me out.

[doubledown]

Would you want to keep it along the same size as the original or would you want to make it bigger? I've done multi-colored lights on some of my ColecoVisions, and I've done some other blinking light projects. The biggest problem is that the original logo is so small. I think you'd be better off if you make it quite a bit bigger than the original.

[etrader99]

Well I was thinking of making it go across the entire length of the atari 2600 jr system where the large rainbow currently resides. Maybe cut that strip out and replace the full length with the LED version of the rotating rainbow.

[Delicon]

Well I was thinking of making it go across the entire length of the atari 2600 jr system where the large rainbow currently resides. Maybe cut that strip out and replace the full length with the LED version of the rotating rainbow.

895935[/snapback]

I am working on something like this right now. Mine is sort of a matrix of RGB LEDs controlled over TCP/IP. I am using an Atmel ATMega 128 microcontroller to handle everything. I know you could use a cheaper controller. I am not sure how many LEDs you need, but if its only a couple it is super simple to do with a controller. I am sure there is an analog way, but it might be hard to get a nice smooth circular color change. If you want a bunch of LEDs it gets a little more complicated. You will need to use a scanning style of updating the LEDs.

 

Its really not that hard and there are tons of web sites out there with circuits and code to do this stuff. These kinds of projects are great starters for people getting into microcontrollers.

 

Vern