The Maker LED Display Makes Internet-Connected LED Matrices Easy

An LED matrix is a great choice if you want to add an affordable display to your project. They’re low-resolution, but more than enough to…

Cameron Coward
5 years ago

An LED matrix is a great choice if you want to add an affordable display to your project. They’re low-resolution, but more than enough to display text and even simple images. Unfortunately, working with a bare LED matrix can be pretty difficult, and usually requires additional hardware beyond the microcontroller you’re using to drive it. The new Maker LED Display is different, and makes it easy built an Internet-connected display.

The Maker LED Display recently launched as a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply, and has already reached almost half of its funding goal. The first thing you’ll notice about the Maker LED Display is the array of surface-mount LEDs on the board. They’re a single color, but you can choose between white, blue, red, green, orange, or purple. There are also two sizes available: 32 x 9 LEDs or 64 x 9 LEDs. Both can be programmed easily through the Arduino IDE using a custom library.

But, it’s the Internet connectivity that really makes the Maker LED Display stand out. The LEDs are controlled by an ESP8266 module, which has built-in WiFi networking capability. That means you can easily use the Maker LED Display to create an IoT display. And, thanks to an onboard Li-ion battery circuit, you can even make it portable. STL files are available for you to 3D-print your own enclosures.

The Maker LED Display Crowd Supply campaign will be running until April 7th, and backers can get the smaller display for $29 or the larger version for $49. Orders will ship on May 10th.

Cameron Coward
Writer for Hackster News. Proud husband and dog dad. Maker and serial hobbyist.
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