Lighting the stairs

 

Materials

The items used in this guide are listed in the table below. Items listed as Stock were things I had in my parts bin. I included a link to a source if you don't have that part, or a substitute in your parts bin.

Item Quan Source Web page/description
Adafruit Trinket M0 1 Adafruit # 3500 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3500
JST-PH 2-pin SMT right angle connector 1 Adafruit # 1769 https://www.adafruit.com/product/1769
JST-PH 2-pin cable - female connector 1 Adafruit # 261 https://www.adafruit.com/product/261
PIR (motion) sensor 2 Adafruit # 189 https://www.adafruit.com/product/189
Photo cell (CdS photoresistor) 1 Adafruit # 161 https://www.adafruit.com/product/161
2.2KΩ Resistor 1 Adafruit # 2782 https://www.adafruit.com/product/2782
5V 4A Power supply* 1 Adafruit # 1466 https://www.adafruit.com/product/1466
USB to barrel connector cable1 Adafruit # 2697 https://www.adafruit.com/product/2697
Panel mount 2.1mm DC barrel jack 1 Adafruit # 610 https://www.adafruit.com/product/610
100µf 16V capacitor 1 Adafruit # 2193 https://www.adafruit.com/product/2193
Headers 2x5 Adafruit # 3002 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002
4-pin JST SM cable set 2 Adafruit # 578 https://www.adafruit.com/product/578
5M 150 pixel RGB LED light strip 1 Amazon IP67 version
Cable clips ~20 Amazon 15.5mmx12.5mm cable clips
Small SPST switch, panel mount 1 Amazon SPST ON/OFF subminiature toggle switch
ABS plastic junction box§ 1 Amazon 3.27"x2.28"x1.3"
Plastic project box (alternate) 1 Amazon 83x58x35mm
Wire for wiring PIRs 1 Home Depot 50 foot cable
PIR enclosure 2 Thingiverse Get 2 printed
M3x19 screw 2 Stock Assortment
M3 nut 2 Stock Assortment
Shrink wrap tubing 2 Stock Assortment
Wire ~ Stock Something like this
Perf board 4x8 Stock Something like this
Micro JST 2-pin connector pairs 3 Stock For internal connections
M2x5 self tapping screw 1 Stock Assortment
US #6x5/8" flat head wood screw 6 Stock Example
Outdoor double sided mounting tape 1 roll Stock Scotch version
E6000 adhesive^ 1 tube Amazon Something like this

 

Notes

†The 2.2KΩ resistor may not be the best choice for your installation. The voltage divider should be specified to get reasonable readings in the range of light for your installation. Be aware that each photoresistor has a different response to light and may require another value for the resistor in the voltage divider to work well in your installation. I ended up using a 3.3KΩ resistor (actually 3 10KΩ resistors in parallel since I had those available).

*In my setup only 2.4amps at 5V was required. Your situation may be different based on the number and type of LEDs in your strip.

‡These clips didn't really fit properly and had to be modified so that I could use them. You may want to choose an alternate. More details in the Building It section.

§This is the box that arrived with a big sticky label affixed to the transparent top. It took awhile, but I was eventually able to clean the top. The supplier said this issue would be addressed. I don't know if it has or not. There is another option listed on the line below which looks reasonable, although I didn't try to use it.

^Update: Mike at Adafruit support informs me that the E6000 adhesive will bond very well to the silicone casing. (Another great example of Adafruit support!) For some reason, I never stumbled across this product. E6000 adhesive is readily available from crafting stores like Michaels and AC Moore, and from Amazon.