WS2812B Wrong colors

Hi!

I am making a project from instructable Arduino Powered Headdress

Most of the LEDs are not producing the expecting colors. On the picture attached, all LEDs should be green.

There are 88 LEDs : 2 strips of 11 (the eyes), and 1 strip of 66 (the dome)

Only the eyes and 5 groups of 2 in the front are consistently correct, all other ones are consistently the wrong colors.
Since the issue is with the same LEDs with different programs, I concluded that it was a hardware problem, so I swapped a "correct" one with a "wrong" one, and the issue is at the same place, meaning that the LED or the wiring is probably not at fault
Only with 100% white I can get all LEDs the same color.

  • I use a mix of those two products:
    Amazon
    and
    Amazon

  • The board is a Arduino pro mini atmega328 p 5V

  • Schematics:

  • The code (error is the same with all the other codes)

// NeoPixel Ring simple sketch (c) 2013 Shae Erisson
// released under the GPLv3 license to match the rest of the AdaFruit NeoPixel library

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#ifdef __AVR__
  #include <avr/power.h>
#endif

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1
#define PIN            6

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define NUMPIXELS      88

// When we setup the NeoPixel library, we tell it how many pixels, and which pin to use to send signals.
// Note that for older NeoPixel strips you might need to change the third parameter--see the strandtest
// example for more information on possible values.
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

int delayval = 10; // delay for half a second

void setup() {
  
  pixels.begin(); // This initializes the NeoPixel library.
}

void loop() {

  // For a set of NeoPixels the first NeoPixel is 0, second is 1, all the way up to the count of pixels minus one.

  for(int i=0;i<NUMPIXELS;i++){

    // pixels.Color takes RGB values, from 0,0,0 up to 255,255,255
    pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,150,0)); // Moderately bright green color.

    pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.

    delay(delayval); // Delay for a period of time (in milliseconds).

  }
}

The instructable mentions:
According to the Neopixel online guide it specifies 1000uF capacitors on the live and ground lines and a 300-ohm resistor on the signal lines, I have omitted these in my build by mistake, it has not affected the lights in any way but you may want to add them to be sure on your build.
Can it be the issue?

Any help appreciated!

Measure the voltage to the strips and controller.
What do you get?

The series 330Ω resistor and the 1000μF capacitor is to protect the neopixels strips from damage.

.

I get 5.7V at the controller, 5.5V at the beginning of the main dome strip, and 5.1V at the middle.

it has not affected the lights in any way

Not only is he a normal idiot that many Instructables authors are, he is arrogant as well. Of course it has affected his lights, it is just that he is too stupid to do the tests that show this and probably hasn't got the equipment nor skill to use it.

This shows what the waveform looks like with and without the resistor. See those spikes? Each one is punching a tiny hole in the oxide layer of the LED controller and eventually it will fail.

Their is a lot more to electronics than something appearing to work, that is why we put out good advice only for idiots to think it dosn't matter.

By the way your colour problem has its roots in the fact that some strips need RGB colour order and others need GRB colour order. It looks like the code and your hardware do not match, normally you just need to change your code so they do. But this idiot has wired all three strips to the same pin, so you will have to wire each strip to a different pin and then write the code to output to each strip holding a different pattern ( RGB or GBR ) to suit the hardware you have. He should have done that in the first place so the colours would be more flexible.

Nice photo by the way.

1 Like

Thanks for replying Grumpy Mike,

I think your comment is harsh: he has generously shared his build, and specified that he was not a arduino specialist. He is certainly not arrogant, and calling him an idiot is not very nice.

Thanks for explaining why the resistors are necessary, I'll add them.

I think the RGB / GBR is not the issue here: I use 2 different kind of LED, since the color in the program is 0,150,0 I should have Green and Blue lights. instead I get red, white blue and more on both types of LEDs.

Can it be that the data is corrupted because of the lack of resistor / capacitor?

Do not omit the capacitor!

It absorbs power spikes on power up (without it, you may see LEDs flicker when turned on, causing damage).

Colours could be affected without these if you have damaged the pixels without using them.

Show us a good image of your wiring.

.

Thanks Larryd!

I'll add the resistors and capacitors asap.

I don't think the color issue is due to damaged LEDs since I swapped the 1st and the 2nd ones on the main main dome strip and colors are wrong the same way: it's position-related.

I can't really give a better image of the wiring: it's crammed in a box. What do you need to know that is not on the drawing in the first post?

Often we find out, too late, that things are not wired as in a schematic.

Did you try the things mentioned by Mike?

.

Often we find out, too late, that things are not wired as in a schematic.

Fair enough! It will be difficult to check, but we are making a second helmet, we will see if we have the same issue.

Did you try the things mentioned by Mike?

He mentioned the capacitor and resistor, which I will do as soon as I receive it and using both RGB and BRG LEDs, which can't be the issue.

Can it be that the data is corrupted because of the lack of resistor / capacitor?

No.
It is because of what I said in reply #3 in the next but last paragraph.

he has generously shared his build, and specified that he was not a arduino specialist.

So getting you to build crap is OK because he said he was not a specialist. In my book it is arrogance to even think he can tell anyone how to build any electronics when he knows so little. If he had any decency he would have asked here about his circuit first.

Did you know you need a resistor for each of your LED strips, not one for all three?

3615gregoire:
I get 5.7V at the controller, 5.5V at the beginning of the main dome strip, and 5.1V at the middle.

5.7 volts is too high at the controller power pin.

Did you know you need a resistor for each of your LED strips, not one for all three?

Yes, thank you!

It is because of what I said in reply #3 in the next but last paragraph.

The RGB / GBR difference between the 2 kind of LEDs? Then how come I get different colors on BOTH types of LEDs?
The only color in the code is 0,150,0, and for both kind of LEDs, I get some green, some blue, some red and some white.

If it was the issue, one kind of LED would be green, the other one blue, or am I missing something? (which could very well be).

5.7 volts is too high at the controller power pin.

Thanks, I changed the setting on the buck converter to have 5V.

Ok then strip it back, just try a code that simply fills one strip with the same colour, green will do. Post that code so we can look at it. And say what number led gives what colour.

Are you using a real Arduino Pro Mini or is it a ripoff clone?

Ok then strip it back, just try a code that simply fills one strip with the same colour, green will do. Post that code so we can look at it. And say what number led gives what colour.

I have tried on my girlfriend's helmet, which is the a similar build, and we have temporarily connected only the main dome, so 1 strip, 1 color (0,150,0) in the program, and we also get multiple colors displayed.

On my helmet:
Strip 1 (eye): 11 LEDs, all green
Strip 2 (eye): 11 LEDs, all green
Strip 3 (main dome) 66 LEDs:
LED: Color:
0 White
1 Blue
2 Red
3 White
4 Blue
5 Red
6 Green
7 Green
8 Green
9 Green
10 Green
11 Green
12 Green
13 Green
14 Green
15 Green
16 White
17 Blue
18 red
19 White
20 Blue
21 red
22 white
23 blue
24 red
25 white
26 blue
27 red
28 white
29 blue
30 red
31 white
32 blue
33 red
34 white
35 blue
36 red
37 white
38 blue
39 blue
40 white
41 blue
42 red
43 white
44 blue
45 red
46 white
47 blue
48 blue
49 blue
50 blue
51 blue
52 blue
53 blue
54 blue
55 blue
56 blue
57 blue
58 blue
59 blue
60 blue
61 red
62 red
63 red
64 red
65 white

Code is still the simple one, with only one color (other codes tried give unexpected colors, with only 6 to 15 being right):

// NeoPixel Ring simple sketch (c) 2013 Shae Erisson
// released under the GPLv3 license to match the rest of the AdaFruit NeoPixel library

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#ifdef __AVR__
  #include <avr/power.h>
#endif

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1
#define PIN            6

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define NUMPIXELS      88

// When we setup the NeoPixel library, we tell it how many pixels, and which pin to use to send signals.
// Note that for older NeoPixel strips you might need to change the third parameter--see the strandtest
// example for more information on possible values.
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

int delayval = 10; // delay for half a second

void setup() {
  // This is for Trinket 5V 16MHz, you can remove these three lines if you are not using a Trinket
#if defined (__AVR_ATtiny85__)
  if (F_CPU == 16000000) clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);
#endif
  // End of trinket special code

  pixels.begin(); // This initializes the NeoPixel library.
}

void loop() {

  // For a set of NeoPixels the first NeoPixel is 0, second is 1, all the way up to the count of pixels minus one.

  for(int i=0;i<NUMPIXELS;i++){

    // pixels.Color takes RGB values, from 0,0,0 up to 255,255,255
    pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,150,0)); // Moderately bright green color.

    pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.

    delay(delayval); // Delay for a period of time (in milliseconds).

  }
}

Are you using a real Arduino Pro Mini or is it a ripoff clone?

I use generic ones, I have tried with two makes with the same results:
This one and this one.

Thank you for the help!

Thanks for that. Yes those two boards are fakes so their might be a quality issue here.

Can you do some tests for me as I have not got your system?
With only the long strip connected reduce the green value from 150 down to 8. Now disconnect the wire from your boost converter to the 5V line of the Micro and power it from the USB socket of your computer, does it show all green now?

Thank for your continued help Mike.

As suggested, I have:

  • Disconnected the eyes strips
  • Added a capacitor on the power to the LEDs strip
  • Added a resistor on the Data cable
  • Disconnected the power cables from the converter
  • Changed the program for color: 0,8,0
  • Power the system from USB

The color sequence is the same as before, at least for the 15 first LEDs (I haven't checked them further one by one).

We have done the same on my girlfriend's helmet, she as also a string of different colors. We use 2 different makes of the Mini Pro.

I'll be away from home for a week, but if you have more suggestions, I'll be happy to try more.

We use 2 different makes of the Mini Pro.

Are any of these real or are they both ripoffs?

Do you have any other sorts of Arduino you can try?

They are both not original. I can't seem to find an original for sale online since it has been been discontinued.

I'm going to try to simplify further: reduce the length of the cable, maybe also the length of the strip.

Well I set up a Pro Micro and ran your code in reply #14. This is what I got.


So I am not seeing the same issue as you.

If I have got this right then with two strips connected, a short one and a long one, both on the same pin. Are you getting all 11 of the short strip green but the first 11 ( at least ) of the long strip different colours? That seems to suggest you have a problem with the long LED strip rather than the code or timing.

I notice from the schematic of the Pro Mini that it could be fitted with a 8, 16 or 20 MHz crystal. What is fitted on yours, it should be marked on the top.