My LED Matrix Handbag project is featured in this month’s Make magazine (Vol. 55). There is also a link to the article online: http://makezine.com/projects/led-matrix-handbag/, with some extra detailed information about the IOT connection. Check it out!
This is FANTASTIC! I am new to this wearable LED thing… could you tell me if the matrix is water tolerant? I wanted to make a jacket that has an LED matrix on it, as I want to make something like this for walking my dog…and often I have to deal with the rain. Any help would be great! Thanks!
Hi, thanks! As made, the handbag and matrix is not waterproof or even really very water resistant. The LEDs peek through holes in the prose, and I wouldn’t wear it in the rain. You could try to put a layer of clear vinyl over it to prevent water getting in. Depending on your comfort with soldering, it’s probably easier to make a wearable LED project using an LED strip rather than a custom matrix (or you can purchase pre-fab flexible LED matrices) A lot of LED strips are a available with waterproof casings. If your project risks exposure to moisture, then making it waterproof is VERY important. I think I’ve seen some wearable project write ups for LED dog collars. It might be worth searching for some for a simpler starting point.