LED bargraphs

[Jonitus]

I'm sold on adding bargraphs to my sabers, so I have been looking for a decent source of them and have come up short. Does anybody know where I could locate some kind of like the ones Parks uses in his sabers? I'd like to find a variety of types. Surely there are loads of pre-assembled modules out there that would look at home on a saber.

[xwingband]

Radioshack had RED ones as part 276-081.

http://search.ebay.com/bargraph_W0QQ...dsreturnedZ300

Also turned up some of the same ones in multiple colors. These are the prequel style and ones Parks uses, but I think they are too small. In a clamp with a switch it comes out to a nice size, but alone I think they lack a bit.

EDIT: I know Mouser has them too. I just never ordered any but I remember they are the same in different colors.

[Jonitus]

I was kind of hoping for modules that have the IC already installed and are kind of a "plug and play" type of deal, see what I'm saying? Of course, I don't know anything about adding a bargraph to an IC. Maybe it's not so hard?

[xwingband]

Nah, they are all setup to fit in a 20-pin DIP that even Radiohack sells though.

What are you looking for though? A PLI alternative? I think the PLI is worth every penny... I think if you wanted to try the bargraphs I have and linked seemingly line up to all but one LED. I think you could replace the LEDs with these if you wanted.

[Jonitus]

Oh, I agree that the PLI sold here is the bee's knees. I just wanted to look for some alternatives to mix things up a bit, ya know? The DIP that RadioShack sells...does a person have to program it, or is that already done? Those are the questions that plague me and keep me searching for other modules.

[xwingband]

The DIP would just be a mounting method... I believe the sell most of the stuff to get it to do "blinky" functions, etc. I know I've seen newb "What's a microcontroller" sets.

I've yet to have a saber that I wouldn't want Erv's board in that would have the bargraph. I guess it'd all be in the bag of tricks though. Please look into it... I may not have a need now to look that stuff up, but having something here would be good to go by.