Tiny FX W serves as wireless LED effects controller

We’re talking playful effects for models and dioramas, note, rather than specifically driving addressable LEDs/Neopixels.

Basically, the LED effects controller lets you do things like adjust the brightness of the LEDs or perhaps simulate movement with dynamic lighting effects. Additionally, you can turn the lights on and off in response to environmental triggers/sensor readings or data from the internet

It’s also suggested you could pulse them atmospherically for a “spooky ambiance”, but I refuse to make this about Halloween! And yes, you can accompany the light effects with some sound effects.

It is all fully-assembled and no soldering is required, but you may need tweezers when plugging in the tiny JST-SUR connectors…

Specification

As mentioned, the Tiny FX W is powered by the RP2040 – which means a Dual Arm Cortex M0+ running at up to 133Mhz with 264kB of SRAM – and other features include:

• 4MB of QSPI flash supporting XiP
• Raspberry Pi RM2 module provides 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity
• 6x 2 pin JST-SUR connectors for attaching mono LEDs, with white LED indicators
• 1x 4 pin JST-SUR connector for attaching RGB LEDs, with RGB LED indicator
• USB-C connector for power and programming (1A max)
• Reset and BOOT buttons (the BOOT button can also be used as a user button)
• 2 pin JST-SUR power input connector (1A max)
• 3.2W I2S mono amplifier with 2 pin (Picoblade-compatible) connector for attaching speaker
• Qw/ST (Qwiic/STEMMA QT) connector for attaching breakouts
• 3 pin JST-SH connector for attaching digital or analog sensors

Measuring 31.2 x 23.2mm x 6.7mm (L x W x H, including connectors), it’s controlled by MicroPython, in terms of software.

The board by itself costs £19.50 from Pimoroni. The starter kit costs £39.90.

Tiny FX W starter kit

Note that LED lights are not part of the package for the former but are in the latter. To be precise the starter kit includes:

• Tiny FX W
• Adhesive Backed Mini Speaker 8Ω (1W)
• 6x LED dots (cool white)
• 5x RGB LEDs (plus expansion board and cable)
• 3xAAA battery holder (batteries not included)
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• PIR Stick
• 3 pin JST-SH cable (for connecting PIR Stick)

You can see a pinout and schematic below (click to expand).

See also: Raspberry Pi RP2040 powers inch-sized TinyTV screen