Neon Arrow Sign (Using wLED)

 Introduction:
 

This is a neon style sign (so not with actual neon gaz) that uses WS2812B LEDs with the wLED library so the neon sign can be controlled using wifi via the wLED app on your phone and you can use all the cool wled effects (for example here is one of the numerous effects you can use). It costed me about 50€ to make.

Things to buy:

• Neon Tubing, the arrow uses 2.5meters of tubing so you need to buy 3 meters of the T-1023 type
• WS2812B LEDs, I used 60LEDs/m you can take 144 if you want but you may need a bigger PSU. Take at least as much as the tubing
• 5V 8Amp PSU, just take the 5V 8A one
• ESP 8266, the NodeMcu-CP2102-V2 version is fine but really any would work
• Barrel plugs, just for the PSU power
• You will also need 3 or 4 screws (with anchors if you want but the sign is pretty light) to attach the arrow to the wall.

Other materials:

• Glue (for gluing all the pieces of the neon sign together and to glue the barrel jack connecter to the esp 8266), you can use a hot glue gun or Loctite for the barrel jack (or print an enclosure) and I used neoprene glue for gluing the parts together
• Soldering iron
• Wires to connect the esp 8266, the power and the LEDs 
• And of course any filament, it's better if it's white because it defuses better the light I just used white Geeetech PLA because it was on sale

Assembly Instructions
 

1.Print all the parts: 

I used 0.2 layer height, you can print in any layer height you want, no supports are needed.

Also I recommend writing the number and the direction of the part like so:

2.Glue everything together

Just glue every Neon Arrow part together in the right order, the image shows the complete 

arrow with the numbers next to where the part show be, just glue it like this and it should work.

3.Cut the tubing

Once you glued the whole sign together you can fit the tubing inside of these “rails”, no glue is needed you just need to clip the silicone tubing inside and it doesn't move. After seeing how much is needed cut the tubing with a cutter to the exact length and then remove the tubing from the 3d printed "rails".

4.Fit the LEDs inside of the tubing

I recommend soldering the wires to the first pads of the LEDs before the next step. Normally there is rope inside of the tubing. Use this rope to make a knot around one LED on the side with the wire soldered before the cables so you can pull as much LEDs as you need inside, Do NOT cut the LEDs before pulling them in.

After puling all those LEDs place the tubing starting with the side with the wires inside the rails with the 3 wire inside the hole where start is written (see image). The other hole has no purpose

5.ESP8266

Next plug your ESP8266 into your computer and download wLED, using their website didn't work for me, so I recommend following Chris Maher's video on  how to download wLED if you don't know how. 

To change you LED parameters go to Config>Led Preferences and then change maximum current to 5000mA, led voltage to “5V default (55mA)”, in "LED outputs" 1 to WS281x, color order to GRB, Start to 0, Length to 138 (for me at least, this is your number of LEDs so it may vary by 2 or 3 if you are using 60LED/m and if you are using another density than me you will have to find it by yourself, it is easiest to find it by trial and error, you see when not all of your LEDs are on and then you change etc.). and finally GPIO to 2.

6.Soldering 

Just solder using the following schematic:

I used hot glue to glue the barrel jack to the ESP8266 but you can do want.

7.Attaching it to the wall

Use the hooks to attach it to a wall you need at least three (look at the pictures to see where to attach them) do not screw them totally in, screw them almost totally in then place the sign on top then screw them totally in.

7.THE END! 

Now you have a neon arrow light!