Rob Beschizza
Gear

Make Your Own Ambilight Fireplace

Ambilight adds web 2.0-like gradients to the wall behind your T.V., but what, pray tell, of the fireplace? Firelight just doesn’t have the same new-tech cachet, even if it it’s flickring, so an enterprising geek decided to hack ambilight into their mantlepiece: “It can make ANY COLOR. It can do many different EFFECTS from very […]

Ambilight_fireplace_2Ambilight adds web 2.0-like gradients to the wall behind your T.V., but what, pray tell, of the fireplace? Firelight just doesn't have the same new-tech cachet, even if it it's flickring, so an enterprising geek decided to hack ambilight into their mantlepiece:

"It can make ANY COLOR. It can do many different EFFECTS from very smooth transitions to seizure causing blisterings. Even a fire effect is not missing. It can also be turned off...

Making the lamps from imported LED strips ("Quality from China is always a bit poor ... so I ordered 12") and an RGB controller with three potentiometers, the author cut, soldered and mounted until it all worked. If you'd like to follow suit, email the fellow at [email protected] and he'll send you more information. He's currently organizing a bulk buy of LED strips to get the price down.

Ambilight Fireplace [Thanks, Nona!]