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This guide provides step-by-step instructions to build and program the Tech-Box.io WiFi LED Matrix kit, purchasable in the Tech-Box.io Shop (Shop Now). Source code and the required libraries and drivers are also available for download within this guide, making it easier than ever to complete your Arduino inspired project!

Below and on the following pages you will find sections for the downloads, electrical wiring, programming, and housing assembly. Be sure to read each part and step fully and carefully as you continue through the guide! Throughout this guide, there will be keywords with highlighted links that you can click to learn more about a particular component or phrase.

Hint: Click HERE to open the above image in a new window for quick and easy reference throughout this guide!

• (A) Two-Tone Acrylic Housing -- This is used to build the case that houses all of the electronics. (Note: A breakdown of housing components as Parts A-1 through A-8 is shown below)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• (B) ESP8266 NodeMCU Arduino Compatible Microcontroller -- This is the "brain" of the kit and is known as a microcontroller. It controls all of the other components/parts through its inputs and outputs and is where the code for the project is uploaded to. This specific microcontroller also has WiFi capability which can connect to your WiFi network and host a webpage that you can visit as long as your device is connected to the same WiFi network. While this microcontroller is not based on an Arduino design, it is a commonly used microcontroller for IoT (Internet-of-Things) devices, such as this kit, and is completely compatible with the Arduino IDE programming environment and Arduino ecosystem
  
  Note: The reset (RST) button on this microcontroller RESTARTS the program from its first line of code, it does NOT completely reset the entire controller. The flash button is not used for this application.
  
  
• (C) 8x8 LED Matrix -- This is an 8-by-8 matrix of individually controllable LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) that operate on the RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color scheme. This means that each LED on the matrix can display Red, Green, and Blue, and will display various combinations of these colors to create each color of the rainbow
  
  
• (D) 30-Pin Breadboard -- This is the base where all of the kit's components will be placed or connected and is the foundation for electronics prototyping
  
  
• (E) Bi-Directional Level Shifter -- This component converts voltage levels from High-to-Low and Low-to-High (bi-directional). For this kit, this part converts the 3.3 Volt output from the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller to the 5 Volt input level required by the 8x8 LED Matrix, allowing the two components to communicate with each other
  
  
• (F) Micro USB Cable -- This cable will act as both the programming cable (when connected to the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller and your computer) and as the power cable (when connected to the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller and US Wall Plug) for this kit
  
  
• (G) US Wall Plug (Only included if selected at time of purchase) -- This is an AC-to-DC power adapter (like the ones used for cell phone chargers) and converts the power from your wall outlet to power that can be used by the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller and other components in this kit
  
  
• (H) Male-to-Male (M-M) Breadboard Jumper Wires -- (Qty. - x5) -- These wires have exposed metal pins on each end of the wire. These pins can be inserted into the breadboard holes to connect separate parts of the breadboard or other components. The wires may come attached to each other, but can be easily separated as shown in the image below
  
  
  
  
  
  Note: The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
  
  
• (I) Male-to-Female (M-F) Breadboard Jumper Wires -- (Qty. - x3) -- These wires have an exposed metal pin on one end of the wire and a plastic slot on the other end into which another metal pin can be inserted. These wires can be inserted into the breadboard holes to connect other components with exposed pins. The wires may come attached to each other, but can also be easily separated as shown in the image above, under the Male-to-Male Breadboard Jumper Wires
  
  Note: The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
  
  
• (J) 330Ohm Resistor -- This piece introduces electrical resistance to the circuit it is placed in. For this kit, it is used as a "current limiting" resistor which is meant to limit the current or power being drawn from the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller by the LED Matrix. If the current draw was not limited, it could damage the microcontroller over time. This resistor will keep the power draw at a safe level for both the microcontroller and LED Matrix components
  
  
• (K) 470uF (micro-Farad) 10-Volt Capacitor -- This piece introduces electrical capacitance to the circuit it is placed in. For this kit, it is used to create a small reserve of energy for the LED Matrix to pull from during its maximum power draw. Thus, this piece "smooths" the power drawn by the LED Matrix to flatten the peaks of the current drawn and to provide more consistent illumination from the LEDs
  
  

Downloads

All required downloads for this kit are linked below. This list is only for reference, and you do not need to download them at this time. You will be able to download each file when it is used later in the guide.

1. Tech-BoxIO_WiFi_LED_Matrix.ino
2. Tech-BoxIO_WiFi_LED_Matrix_Webpage.html

Electrical Assembly

The first step when assembling this kit is to start assembling all of the electrical components. The following instructions will walk you through the process, with step-by-step images provided underneath each step:

1. Begin by locating the bottom of the WiFi LED Matrix housing (Part A-1) and position it with the black side facing up. Peel the protective backing off of the Breadboard (Part D) to expose the adhesive tape and place the breadboard (Part D) onto the bottom of the housing (Part A-1) exactly as shown in the image below, making sure to align the corners of the breadboard (Part D) with the "L" shaped alignment cutouts on the bottom of the housing (Part A-1), as highlighted by the arrows. The orientation and position of the breadboard (Part D) are very important, so be cautious when completing this step. DO NOT attempt to remove the breadboard (Part D) from the bottom of the housing after it is adhered or the breadboard will become damaged. (Hint: Use the ROW and COLUMN numbers on the breadboard (Part D) for proper orientation)
   
   Note: The bottom of the housing is NOT shown in the following steps for greater clarity!
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Remove the ESP8266 NodeMCU (Part B) microcontroller from its packaging and insert it into the Breadboard (Part D), ensuring that pin ‘3V3’ is placed in pin location I30 on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below. It is important to ensure that the ESP8266 NodeMCU (Part B) is pushed all the way into the breadboard so that the pins are securely connected. To do this, ensure the pins are properly lined up with the holes in the breadboard to avoid damaging them, and then push firmly until the ESP8266 NodeMCU rests against the breadboard. The ESP8266 (Part B) will be the main controller for this project and will also act as the webserver that your internet browsing device will connect to when customizing the display. 
   
   Note: The wiring for this kit is VERY important. Be sure to double-check each connection and make sure that the location is correct and matches each image shown before moving onto the next step or your kit may not work correctly!
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Place the Bi-Directional Level Shifter (Part E) onto the breadboard (Part D), with the ‘HV1’ pin inserted into pin location F6 on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below. It is important to ensure that the Bi-Directional level shifter (Part E) is pushed all the way into the breadboard so that the pins are securely connected. To do this, you will need to push firmly. The ESP8266 NodeMCU (Part B) is a 3.3V microcontroller, meaning that its signal outputs are 3.3 Volts. However, the LED Matrix (Part C) is designed to accept 5 Volts for reliable signal reception, so the voltage needs to be shifted from 3.3V to 5V. This bi-directional level shifter (Part E) creates this shift.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Insert the 330 Ohm Resistor (Part J) leads (or exposed wires) into pin locations J3 and J11 on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below, bending the leads as needed to route them correctly. Additionally, the orientation of the resistor does not matter, as resistors are inherently bi-directional (or can pass electrical current and signals in both directions). This resistor (Part J) acts as a current limiting resistor between the output of the bi-directional level shifter (Part E) and the LED Matrix (Part C), which serves to protect both components.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Insert the 470uF 10V electrolytic Capacitor (Part K) into pin locations H8 and H9 on the breadboard (Part D). Ensure that the negative (grey) side of the capacitor (Part K) has its lead (or exposed wire) inserted into pin location H9, as highlighted by the arrow in the image below. This capacitor (Part K) will smooth the power supply to the LED matrix (Part C) and allow for more consistent illumination. Note: Make sure that the leads of the capacitor (Part K) and resistor (Part J) are not touching. Damage may occur if they make contact.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Connect one Male-Male Breadboard Jumper Wire (Part H) to pin locations A11 and J18 on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below. This wire will connect the output pin of the ESP8266 NodeMCU (Part B) to the input pin of the bi-directional level shifter (Part E). (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
   
   The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Use four Male-Male breadboard wires (Part H) to connect pin locations A25, A26, A29, and A30 to pin locations A9, A8, G9, and G8 respectively (A25 -> A9, A26 -> A8, A29 -> G9, A30 -> G8) on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below. These connections supply the 3.3 Volt power and ground and the 5 Volt power and ground to the bi-directional level shifter (Part E). (Note: Previous wires removed for better image clarity. Also, remember that you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Connect the three Male-Female Breadboard Jumper Wires (Part I) to pin locations I3, I8, and I9 on the breadboard (Part D), as shown in the image below. These wires will be connected to the VIN, V+, and V- pins of the LED matrix (Part C) in the following steps. (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Locate the LED Matrix Support Bracket (Part A-7) and pass the Male-Female breadboard wires (Part I) through the upper left square near the circle cutout when oriented as shown, with the colored side facing forward. This piece will keep the LED Matrix (Part C) pressed against the LED Lens (Part A-8) for consistent illumination.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Connect the Male-Female breadboard wires (Part I) which are inserted in pin locations I3, I8, and I9 on the breadboard (Part D), to the VIN, V+, and V- pins of the LED Matrix (Part C), respectively as shown in the image below (I3 – VIN, I8 – V+, I9 – V-). These connections will supply power and data to the LED matrix (Part C) so that the desired pattern, image or message can be  displayed. (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
    
    
    
    
    
    

Congratulations! You have completed the wiring of your WiFi LED Matrix! It is now time to program the ESP8266 NodeMCU (Part B). (Note: You must open the link to this instruction guide on your Windows or MacOS computer to download the required files and programmer. This is necessary to complete the programming section of this guide. To do this, go to https://tech-box.io/WLM on your computer's internet browser and select Section 2 - Programming!) Continue to the next page and follow the steps in that section to complete the programming and testing.

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