Ever wondered what would happen if every project feature was decided by the crowd? On Reddit’s /r/diyelectronics, one user’s persistence paid off in a big way—after seven days of asking for an “RGB fish,” the top comment finally got added as a working LED creation. Here’s how ScienceDraco made it happen, even without a dedicated RGB LED.
What Does “Top Comment Gets Added” Mean?
On some corners of Reddit, especially in hobbyist communities like /r/diyelectronics, projects evolve based on what the audience wants most. The idea is simple: whichever suggestion gets the most upvotes becomes the next feature. That’s where “top comment gets added” comes in—it’s democracy at work for makers and tinkerers.
For this build, user MisterXnumberidk had been championing “RGB fish” since day 7. Seven days might not sound like much until you realize that’s seven separate uploads asking for the same thing. Sometimes persistence really does pay off!
How the RGB Fish Was Built Using LEDs
Now, building an RGB fish doesn’t mean going out and buying a fancy programmable light. ScienceDraco kept things practical by using what was already on hand—separate red, green, and blue LEDs. Each color LED matched its corresponding wire color for clarity.
Here’s how the setup came together:
- Three standard LEDs were used—one each for red, green, and blue.
- Each LED was connected using wires matching its color (red wire for red LED, etc.).
- All three LEDs shared the same ground wire to keep wiring neat and simple.
- The arrangement created that classic “RGB” look requested by MisterXnumberidk.
While it might not be a single-chip RGB LED (where colors blend seamlessly), this approach still delivers on both form and function—and is easy for anyone to try at home.
Why Community Builds Like This Matter
There’s something special about letting a group decide what comes next in a DIY project. For one thing, it keeps everyone involved—when your suggestion has a chance to become reality, suddenly you’re more invested in every update.
But there are practical benefits too:
- New ideas: The crowd will almost always come up with features or improvements you hadn’t considered.
- Skill-building: Tackling requests (even tricky ones) helps builders level up their skills.
- Fun factor: It turns what could be a solo challenge into something social and interactive.
Anecdotally speaking, these kinds of projects often lead to some pretty creative solutions. Once at my local makerspace, we let visitors vote on our next robot upgrade—and ended up adding disco lights after three weeks of relentless requests!
Troubleshooting Tips for Your Own LED Projects
Inspired to add your own “top comment” feature? Here are some quick pointers for working with basic LEDs like in this RGB fish build:
- Check polarity: Most LEDs only work if wired correctly (long leg is positive).
- Add resistors: This prevents burning out your lights—220-330 ohms usually works well.
- Use matching wires: Color-coding makes troubleshooting later much easier.
- Don’t forget ground: Connecting all grounds together keeps your circuit stable.
- If you want blending: Consider using PWM pins and code if you ever upgrade to programmable microcontrollers!
These basics apply whether you’re making an RGB fish or just trying out your first light-up badge.
The Power of Persistence—and Community
What stands out most about this story isn’t just clever wiring—it’s about listening to your audience (even that one persistent commenter). Sometimes all it takes is showing up every day with the same request before that top comment gets added!
So here’s the question back to you: If your favorite idea could become part of a group project just by asking every day…what would you suggest?
Next update drops Monday—so if there’s something you’d love to see added next time around on /r/diyelectronics, now might be your chance.
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