The amazing thing about OS is that you can find anything, anywhere.

The easiest thing to do is search "WS2801 Example Code"....and there are lots of examples.

I found this one, this may be able to help you

http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/LED_Strip_Example.pde

Did you follow something like this?? I know this is for RGB strips, but it's the same concept. (However, these strips have the resistors built in.) Just trying to eliminate variables...

http://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-strips/usage

"Delay" is the devil's function.

^^^^
Starting to see this in my own code.

But the delay function is why.  To fix this, use the functionality like that in the "BlinkWithoutDelay" example provided in the Arduino IDE. It's also available on their website.

The turning off will occur when your flicker is happening, you just have to hit the button a very precise time. The blinkwithoutdelay code basically reads a button according to time.

Check out that example, and it should be able to help. I'm actually trying to use it in my code as well (I was running into the same problem as you are.)

Posting the code will help. But a question, are you using the "Delay" function??

According to the datasheet the PWM input needs 2.5-6V. 10V would break it.

It will break it. Trust me. Twice burning boards was due to using more than 5V. As everyone says, we don't completely understand what you're doing. If anything, plug in a 10V source and use the Vin to get the 10V back (in an Uno, for instance). All you should need to do is use the 10V for power. Everything else is done with 5V (buttons, etc).

Basically, use only the 10V for power. Touch nothing else with it. You will not be happy with results of burning boards.

Hope this helps.

I'm actually doing a similar project. I have it in Fade now, but want to switch it to millis. One of my "effects" does multiple fades, and switching to millis makes it where the effect can be switched while in the middle of it...You can check out my code in that particular thread here with some other comments: http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,152978.msg1147533.html#msg1147533

There's an example in the Arduino IDE called BlinkNoDelay. (http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/BlinkWithoutDelay)

It is the code given above but explained a bit more. 

Hey all,

I have some code that runs a LED strip. My problem is one of the "effects" I have is that it turns on different LED's (Making a rainbow)(red on, blue on, red off, green on, etc...). However, the thing I don't like is that it is not being registered that a button is being pushed to switch modes until it reaches the end of the effect....

Is there a piece of code (or a command) that will read in a button push in the middle of an if statement? I know that it's in the middle of an if while in a loop, so it may not be possible and mode switch may only be able to happen at the end of the command. I don't know if there is an on button interrupt?

Mode 8 in the code is the one I'm looking at...mode 7 does the same as well.

Thanks in advance for help!

Code:

/*
Not all code is mine!!
 
 Some code by Joshua David --- TechHelpBlog.com
 
 Some code by Arduino.CC
 
 Some code by Adafruit for SetColor;
 
 Some code found for public domain use (author not in comments)
 
 
 all compliled by Lance == cub526 and free to use!!
 */

// this constant won't change:
const int buttonPin = 2;    // the pin that the pushbutton is attached to
const int ledPin = 13;       // the pin that the LED is attached to

// Variables will change:
int buttonPushCounter = 0;   // counter for the number of button presses
int buttonState = 0;         // current state of the button
int lastButtonState = 0;     // previous state of the button

//variables for our pins
int redPin = 9;
int greenPin = 10;
int bluePin = 11;

//Set Initial Values
int RedVal = 0;
int GreenVal = 0;
int BlueVal = 0;
int fade = 15;  // Delay Time

//two colors below are my school colors
//midnight blue
int RedVal1 = 25;
int GreenVal1 = 25;
int BlueVal1 = 112;

//gold
// Colour Value 2
int RedVal2 = 255;
int GreenVal2 = 215;
int BlueVal2 = 0;

int mode = 1; //used for mode slection in certain if's

void setup() {
  pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(bluePin, OUTPUT);

  // initialize the button pin as a input:
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
  // initialize the LED as an output:
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  // initialize serial communication:
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  // read the pushbutton input pin:
buttonModeChange();
  if (buttonPushCounter == 10) { //we've hit the end of the loop, go back to one!
    buttonPushCounter = 1;
    Serial.println("Change");
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 1) {//red
    setColor(255, 0, 0);
    Serial.println("1");
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 2) {
    setColor(0, 255, 0); // green
    Serial.println("2");
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 3) {
    setColor(0, 0, 255); // blue
    Serial.println("3");
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 4) {
    setColor(255, 255, 0); // YELLOW
    Serial.println("4");
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 5) { //fade between two colors
    if(mode == 1){
      if(RedVal < RedVal1){              // If RedVal is less than desired RedVal1
        RedVal ++;                       // increment RedVal
      }
      else if(RedVal > RedVal1){       // If RedVal is more than desired RedVal1
        RedVal --;                       // decrement RedVal
      }
      else if(RedVal == RedVal1){      // If RedVal is equal to desired RedVal1
        //Do Nothing
      }
      // Repeated as above for BlueVal
      if(BlueVal < BlueVal1){
        BlueVal ++;
      }
      else if(BlueVal > BlueVal1){
        BlueVal --;
      }
      else if(BlueVal == BlueVal1){
        //Do Nothing
      }
      // Repeated as above for GreenVal
      if(GreenVal < GreenVal1){
        GreenVal ++;
      }
      else if (GreenVal > GreenVal1){
        GreenVal --;
      }
      else if (GreenVal == GreenVal1){
        // Do Nothing
      }
      // Now we have a new set of values, we write them to the PWM Pins.
      analogWrite(redPin, RedVal);
      analogWrite(greenPin, GreenVal);
      analogWrite(bluePin, BlueVal);
      delay(fade);                       // Implement a bit of delay to slow the change of colour down a bit

      if(RedVal == RedVal1 && GreenVal == GreenVal1 && BlueVal == BlueVal1){ // If RedVal & GreenVal & BlueVal are all at the desired values
        delay(1500);                     // Delay to hold this colour for a little while
        mode = 2;                        // Change the mode to the next colour. Exiting this while loop and into the next one
      }
    }
    if (mode == 2){
      if(RedVal < RedVal2){              // If RedVal is less than desired RedVal1
        RedVal ++;                       // increment RedVal
      }
      else if(RedVal > RedVal2){       // If RedVal is more than desired RedVal1
        RedVal --;                       // decrement RedVal
      }
      else if(RedVal == RedVal2){      // If RedVal is equal to desired RedVal1
        //Do Nothing
      }
      // Repeated as above for BlueVal
      if(BlueVal < BlueVal2){
        BlueVal ++;
      }
      else if(BlueVal > BlueVal2){
        BlueVal --;
      }
      else if(BlueVal == BlueVal2){
        //Do Nothing
      }
      // Repeated as above for GreenVal
      if(GreenVal < GreenVal2){
        GreenVal ++;
      }
      else if (GreenVal > GreenVal2){
        GreenVal --;
      }
      else if (GreenVal == GreenVal2){
        // Do Nothing
      }
      // Now we have a new set of values, we write them to the PWM Pins.
      analogWrite(redPin, RedVal);
      analogWrite(greenPin, GreenVal);
      analogWrite(bluePin, BlueVal);
      delay(fade);                      // Implement a bit of delay to slow the change of colour down a bit

      if(RedVal == RedVal2 && GreenVal == GreenVal2 && BlueVal == BlueVal2){ // If RedVal & GreenVal & BlueVal are all at the desired values
        delay(1500);                     // Delay to hold this colour for a little while
        mode = 1;                        // Change the mode to the next colour. Exiting this while loop and into the next one
      }
    }
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 6){ // all white
    setColor(255,255,255);
    Serial.println("6");
    mode = 1; //for the previous effect, need to change this back to 1 for future use (we don't know what it was before)
  }
  if (buttonPushCounter == 7) //fourth of july Effect
  {
    if (mode == 1){
      setColor(255, 0, 0); // red
      delay(250);
      mode = 2;
    }
    if (mode ==2)
    {
      setColor(255, 255, 255); // white
      delay(250);
      mode = 3;
    }
    if (mode ==3)
    {
      setColor(0, 0, 255); // blue
      delay(250);
      mode = 1;
    }
  }

  if (buttonPushCounter == 8)
  {
    int r, g, b;

    // fade from blue to violet
    for (r = 0; r < 255; r++) {
      analogWrite(redPin, r);
      delay(fade);
    }
    // fade from violet to red
    for (b = 255; b > 0; b--) {   
      analogWrite(bluePin, b);
      delay(fade);
    }
    // fade from red to yellow
    for (g = 0; g < 255; g++) {
      analogWrite(greenPin, g);
      delay(fade);
    }
    // fade from yellow to green
    for (r = 255; r > 0; r--) {
      analogWrite(redPin, r);
      delay(fade);
    }
    // fade from green to teal
    for (b = 0; b < 255; b++) {
      analogWrite(bluePin, b);
      delay(fade);
    }
    // fade from teal to blue
    for (g = 255; g > 0; g--) {
      analogWrite(greenPin, g);
      delay(fade+3);
 
    }

  }

  if (buttonPushCounter == 9)
  {
    setColor(0,0,0); //all off
    Serial.println("ALL OFF: 8");
    mode =1; //all done for loop, mode = 1 again just in case;
  }   
}

void setColor(int red, int green, int blue) {
  analogWrite(redPin, red);
  analogWrite(greenPin, green);
  analogWrite(bluePin, blue);
}

void buttonModeChange ()
{
   buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);

  // compare the buttonState to its previous state
  if (buttonState != lastButtonState) {
    // if the state has changed, increment the counter
    if (buttonState == HIGH) {
      // if the current state is HIGH then the button
      // wend from off to on:
      buttonPushCounter++;
      Serial.println("on");
      Serial.print("number of button pushes:  ");
      Serial.println(buttonPushCounter);
    }
    else {
      // if the current state is LOW then the button
      // wend from on to off:
      Serial.println("off");
    }
  }
  lastButtonState = buttonState;
}

Apologies for not giving more info on the led strips. I am using the single colour white led strips, so they will only have 2 wires 12v+ and neg. Is it possible with these? Thanks

Anything is possible in the world of Electronics. Yes, it is possible with these.

As i said earlier though, each strip (so 5 strips) will need to be PWM-ed. Since there is only one color, you will only need 5 PWM ports, so an Uno, for example, will work perfectly!!

Instead of trying to explain, this example from Adafruit is what I am using doing this project. Granted, it uses a RGB strip, but it should be the same thing (and according to their site it is!):

http://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-strips/usage

Hope this helps!!

Hi Everyone
I am new to Arduino and I have an led project i'd like to attempt. I have 5 x 1m strips of led's operating on a 12vdc supply. I need to have them switch on sequentially, but with fading. When triggered, strip 1 needs to fade in to maximum brightness, stay on for 2 minutes and fade out. Strip 2 will then fade in and do the same for the rest until strip 5 fades out. Sequence would then start again. I have fairly good electronic knowledge but not on arduino. Please advise as to what I require to get me started. Thanks Guys.

I'm assuming you are using static strips. Meaning, The four wires are 12V DC, Red, Blue, and Green. (not in that order, possibly). For these types of strips, what you want to do is impossible, unless you connect each strip to it's own ports in the arduino (All can use 12 V). However, if you want them to fade, each wire would have to be connected into a PWM Port. I know for the arduino, there is only 6 of these (So only 2 total strips could fade). So for 3 colors * 5 strips, you'd need 15 PWM ports.

You may be able to do it with a latch and such. But pure Arduino, it's impossible.

**Note: I'm also assuming you're using RGB LED strips.**

Hey all,

I am trying to solder some LED strips together. I removed the silicon with a carpenter knife and can't seem to still get a good solder (probably left over silicon still)

I read online to use sandpaper on the connectors to try and get a better surface.

Has anyone done this before?? Any recommendations on the type of sandpaper?

Thanks!!

12V exceeds the maximum rating for an input pin. You should have connected the switch via 5V not 12V.

That makes sense. Does this mean my board is scrap?

Er, did you connect one end of the button to 12V, and the other end to pin 2?

...yes...

http://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-strips/usage  #fail.
and did this for the button : http://arduino.cc/en/tutorial/button


Of course, when using the button for the Strips, I connected into 12V

Hey Nick, I have the LED's connected straight into the breadboard. I followed this exact schematic, except I plugged into Vin. Also, my power supply is 3A, 12V

Somehow though, it started doing this when incorporating a button into the mix (I'm trying to switch LED modes).

I did the arduino set up using the LED on the board, then set up the LED strip. Then i ran the voltage to the LED's


If you want and if it would help, I can do a breadboard design. I hope you understand what I"m saying.

Thanks again for the help...kind of frustrating when the button was working, the LED strip was working, but together it doesn;t.

Hey all,

I'm running Win7 using an arduino Uno. I am running 12 V into it to use it for an LED strip.

However, it will no longer upload code and I get the avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00 error.

Nothing seems fried (no markings)

Any ideas? I bought two new chips (this is the second time this has happened...), and replacing it on the first one did nothing.

I really hope I don't have to buy another board....let me know any suggestions.