We have a retired fireplace. My plan is to make it look like there is a fire. I started out with a monitor and a Raspberry Pi playing a video of fire. But it pulls too much power, and the monitor does not power down when there is no signal.

My second idea is to use a LED strip with many pieces running up ward. Then have red and yellow lights looking like flames. I have a Pi Zero-W that is not used. I am not good at programming, but the Pi has Node-Red and Basic that I can make work. Some where I have a little Arduino that I don't know how to program.

Have you done something like this? Any good ideas? Or even bad ideas.

 

I'd consider buying LED lamps that are specifically designed already to look like flickering gas lamps. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/MCNICK-COMPANY-Flame-Light-Bulbs/dp/B08738G4BW
Any big box hardware store will have several options, and of course even more online.

 

We have a retired fireplace. My plan is to make it look like there is a fire. I started out with a monitor and a Raspberry Pi playing a video of fire. But it pulls too much power, and the monitor does not power down when there is no signal.

My second idea is to use a LED strip with many pieces running up ward. Then have red and yellow lights looking like flames. I have a Pi Zero-W that is not used. I am not good at programming, but the Pi has Node-Red and Basic that I can make work. Some where I have a little Arduino that I don't know how to program.

Have you done something like this? Any good ideas? Or even bad ideas.

 

I'd consider buying LED lamps that are specifically designed already to look like flickering gas lamps. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/MCNICK-COMPANY-Flame-Light-Bulbs/dp/B08738G4BW

In case someone is also looking at this bulb. It is not dimmable. Comes in at least 5 different colors, if you can find them. There is a 3 mode and the newer 4 mode versions. Quickly turning the bulb off and back on changes the modes. Pulls 4 watts.


Also found some battery powered bulbs that charge from USB 5V. Most are IR remote controlled. Some have 13 colors and three modes. Some are one color. This one includes three brightnesses, two modes. Note it includes switches on the bottom that I probably could connect to my home control computer.