Electronic Arm Wrestling Game With LED Strip and Arduino Nano

🦾Electronic Arm Wrestling

If you’ve got one meter of Neopixel LED strip lying around and don’t know what to do with it, today I’ll show you how to build a super fun game: Electronic Arm Wrestling!

It’s perfect for the holidays – and surprisingly, a decent arm workout too!

PROJECT COMPONENTS PART

1m WS2812B LED strip: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCHZGPL

Arduino Nano: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oF9GTfu

1.44-inch LCD display (non-touch): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCLJkQD

Passive buzzer: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl2mV13

MP1584EN step-down converter: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddpd1q5

5.5x2.1 mm metal power connector: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oB7FGh0

On-off switch: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdaNlJr

Perforated PCB board: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_opn8kpY

LED connectors: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDe74GV

Female pin header strip: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dmhlf7X

12V 3A power supply: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dmr29up

M2-M2.5-M3 screw kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dlwu5d7

22AWG silicone wire: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFgmPFP

JST 2.54 connector kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBK039u

Screw terminal connectors: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFewQ3j

1 m Aluminum LED profile: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DltNTBf

10 mm push buttons: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dc6CTi9

100 mm push buttons: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCeyZzF

22AWG 3-pin electrical cable: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDqsgYd

Adhesive rubber feet: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_olO6Kdk

➡️3D print file: Makerworld

➡️Scheck arduino Italian version: Braccio_di_ferro_elettronico_ITA.zip

➡️Scheck arduino English version (Only comments translated):Electronic_Arm_Wrestling_ENG.zip

➡️Wiring diagram: Wiring diagram

⚠️Pay attention: the lamp holder must be connected to 12V, while the micro switch must be connected to GND and a PIN from the Arduino. Reversing these connections can damage the Arduino.

Apply solder to the faston terminals of both the lamp holder and the micro switch. Once the micro switch is secured, choose one of the two faston terminals to connect the GND (the other will be connected to the 12V positive). Solder a black wire to the chosen faston on one end, and to one of the micro switch contacts on the other end.

Now let’s move on to the lamp, which is a 12V LED. To insert it correctly into the lamp holder while respecting the polarity, keep in mind that the longer pin is the positive one. You can easily identify it because it is coiled more times. If you insert the LED with reversed polarity, nothing will be damaged it simply won’t light up.

Insert the button into the 3D-printed support and secure it using the locking ring. Place the lamp holder and micro switch inside, then rotate until you hear a “click.” Rotate the entire button assembly until the faston terminal of the micro switch aligns with the hole on the 3D-printed button support.

Solder the three-way connector to the button, making sure to solder each pin (GND and 12V) correctly and respect the polarities.

Using female pin headers, mount the Arduino Nano onto the 50x70 PCB and attach the various JST connectors for the display, buttons, buzzer, LED strip, power supply, etc. Also, mount the screw terminal. Finally, apply the female pin headers to the step-down module and solder it onto the board. For correct component placement, refer to the attached “Component Placement Diagram.” Complete everything by making the necessary connections as shown in the attached “Wiring Diagram.”

Remove the step-down module from the board, connect 12V to the input and the multimeter to the output, then turn the screw until you get an output voltage of 5V.

⚠️Be careful: the adjustment screw is delicate!

Insert the board into the enclosure and secure it with M2.5x5 screws. Prepare the 5x2.1 power connector, solder the two wires positive and negative and protect everything with heat shrink tubing.

Place it inside the enclosure and fasten the connector with its nut.

Prepare the on-off switch by applying solder to the contacts, then solder the positive power wire to the lower connector and lock the switch into its slot.

Take the electrician’s cable duct, mark the halfway point, and cut a 2 cm long section. Position it near the enclosure, remove the double-sided tape corresponding to the width of the enclosure, and stick the duct onto it. Thread two wires through the duct, which will be the positive wires for the buttons, making sure they are longer than the duct. The ends inside the enclosure should be soldered together on the upper connector of the on-off switch.

We attach the two buttons and the buzzer to the PCB following the "Component Placement Diagram" provided. Then, we take the front panel and secure the board to the bottom part using four M2x5 screws. Next, we position the LCD display and fix it in place using hot glue. To complete the assembly, we solder all the wires.

Prepare a wiring harness using a 4-pin JST connector: connect the two GND wires to the central pins, and the two signal wires to the outer pins. Connect the JST to the board, then route one GND and one signal wire to one button, and the other GND and signal wire to the second button. Solder a female connector to the ends and protect everything with heat shrink tubing.

Let's create the wiring for the LED strip using a 3-wire cable and a 3-pin JST connector. Connect it to the appropriate port on the board and route it through the cable duct.

Clean the aluminum profile with isopropyl alcohol and stick the LED strip onto it, making sure to follow the correct signal direction.

Apply double-sided adhesive to the bottom of the profile and attach it to the cable duct. Finally, connect the LED strip to the corresponding wires and install the diffuser.

Connect the monitor, buzzer, Start and Reset buttons to the main board.

Secure the front panel with two M2x5 screws.

Connect Arduino to the PC, open the IDE and upload the sketch.

You can configure: max score, LED brightness, and buzzer volume.

Press Start, the countdown begins. Each player lights up their color by pressing their button.

Win by filling the strip or hitting the target score. Great for endless challenges!

Apply 3M rubber feet under the buttons: non-slip and sound dampening!

Game ready! I hope you enjoyed and found the project useful.

If you found this project inspiring or helpful, don't forget to leave a ❤️!