8x32 Matrix Control With MAX7219

snowvictim2 · April 26, 2017, 3:24pm

Hello!

Can anyone give me a link to a good, up-to-date tutorial on using a 8x32 (4 8x8 modules) LED matrix with a single MAX7219 module? I've done a few animations on my 8x8 LED matrix using LedControl, but it doesn't work for the 8x32 matrix. Everything regarding the 8x32 matrix is in a state of absolute disarray and disorganisation, and I couldn't find any tutorial that actually helped me.

Thanks!

CrossRoads · April 26, 2017, 3:45pm

Try the Parola.h library.
https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/blob/master/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino/Arduino.h

snowvictim2 · April 26, 2017, 3:51pm

Parola doesn't work either. It requires the MAX7219 library (which, as I understand, is no longer made, replaced by the LedControl library?). I've downloaded Parola and tried running example sketches. It kept on looking for the 7219 library, which is unavailable.
Any other ideas?

CrossRoads · April 26, 2017, 4:10pm

Correct link for Parola

This MAX7219 library?

snowvictim2 · April 26, 2017, 4:17pm

Parola doesn't work for me. It gives a bunch of errors in the console about 'typedef' being ignored in this declaration. I was hoping someone would help me with the "dot" method I was using. I have this DMD animation that I made for my mini pinball backbox. It basically does a little Extra Ball animation.

#include <LedControl.h>

int DIN = 12;
int CS = 11;
int CLK = 10;

LedControl lc=LedControl(DIN,CLK,CS,4);

void setup(){
lc.shutdown(0,false); //The MAX72XX is in power-saving mode on startup
lc.setIntensity(0,2); // Set the brightness to maximum value
lc.clearDisplay(0); // and clear the display
}

void loop(){
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00111111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00111111);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00011111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00011111);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00011111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00011111);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00001111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00001111);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00000111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00000111);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00000011);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00000001);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11100000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B11100000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B10000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11110000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B11110000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B11000000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00110000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11111000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B11111000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00110000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00110000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11111100);
lc.setRow(0,4,B11111100);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00110000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(50);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00000000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00001100);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00000000);
delay(100);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01111110);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00111100);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00111100);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01100110);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B00011000);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00011000);
delay(500);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01100110);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00111100);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01100110);
delay(500);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111100);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01111100);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00111100);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01100110);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01111110);
delay(200);
lc.clearDisplay(0);
delay(100);
lc.setRow(0,0,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,2,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,3,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,4,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,5,B01100000);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B01111110);
delay(300);
lc.setRow(0,0,B00111100);
lc.setRow(0,1,B01111110);
lc.setRow(0,2,B11111111);
lc.setRow(0,3,B11111111);
lc.setRow(0,4,B10111101);
lc.setRow(0,5,B10011001);
lc.setRow(0,6,B01100110);
lc.setRow(0,7,B00111100);
delay(1000);
}

void printByte(byte character [])
{
int i = 0;
for(i=0;i<8;i++)
{
lc.setRow(0,i,character*);*

}*
}
[/quote]
I've played around it in so many ways and I can't get access to the other three LED matrix displays. The only thing that even made a difference was changing the specified number of displays from 4 to 2, which resulted in the first and third displays working (albeit upside down).
Any ideas?

marco_c · April 27, 2017, 4:43am

It gives a bunch of errors in the console about 'typedef' being ignored in this declaration

Just for the record these are warning messages and do not stop the executable from being created.

using a 8x32 (4 8x8 modules) LED matrix with a single MAX7219 module?

This makes no sense. Each matrix needs its own 7219 IC. So if you have 4 modules you will have 4 7219 ICs.

snowvictim · April 27, 2017, 10:54am

Yes, correction (sorry, I don't know what I was on yesterday haha). Each matrix does have it's own MAX7219, but I can't seem to access the LEDs on the next matrix in the code. When I set the number of MAXs to 4, it allows me to control the first matrix no problem. I think the problem is the wiring.

Just so I understand this correctly, the 5V and ground only have to be attached to the first MAX7219, yes? I thought this was the case as just running the 5V and ground to the first one does light up all the other LEDs. The DIN works "in series", yes? So that means that only each CLK and CS port need to be fed back to the Arduino?

I guess what I don't understand is, how, if I define 4 MAXs for the LedControl, do I access them later? If I do lc1.setRow(1,0,B10000000); that should set the first row on the second matrix to shine the first light from the left, no? Running this code:

#include <LedControl.h>

int DIN = 12;
int CS =  11;
int CLK = 10;

LedControl lc1=LedControl(DIN,CLK,CS,4);
//LedControl lc2=LedControl(DIN,8,7,0); ????

void setup(){
 lc1.shutdown(0,false);       //The MAX72XX is in power-saving mode on startup
 lc1.setIntensity(0,2);      // Set the brightness to maximum value
 lc1.clearDisplay(0);         // and clear the display
     // and clear the display
}

void loop(){ 
  delay(500);
  lc1.setRow(0,1,B10101010);
  lc1.setRow(1,1,B10000000);
}

void printByte(byte character [])
{
  int i = 0;
  for(i=0;i<8;i++)
  {
    lc1.setRow(0,i,character);
  }
}

kills all the lights, but the moment I remove this:

  lc1.setRow(1,1,B10000000);

line from it, the first matrix works again. I'm very confused by this.

marco_c · April 27, 2017, 11:20am

You need to post a link to a photo of your matrix. are they 4 individual matrices or a PCB with 4 units already connected?

snowvictim · April 27, 2017, 11:26am

This one. It's basically 4 1088AS matrices each with a 7219. I think it's the wiring that's wrong. I'm really confused by the instructions. For example, one person said "VCC, GND, CLK and CS are common to all". I have no idea what he means by this in terms of wiring.

marco_c · April 27, 2017, 11:48am

You only need to connect the wires to the DIN side. The links between the matrices are built into the PCB.

snowvictim · April 27, 2017, 12:37pm

Ok, so say I have the device (4 MAXs and 4 matrices) connected to my Arduino. VCC connected to 5V, GND connected to the ground pin, DIN at pin 12, CS at pin 11, and CLK at pin 10. Would you be kind enough to provide a code that would display one thing on the first matrix, but something else on the other?

snowvictim · April 27, 2017, 1:12pm

I finally got it to work. Thanks!

marco_c · April 27, 2017, 7:53pm

There are a ton of examples that all work in the MD_Parola and MD_MAX72xx library.

Glad it works. Good luck.

tkbyd · February 12, 2019, 11:52am

2/19: I've just been playing with MAX7219-managed 8x8 LED matrices (4 and 8 module units), using LEDControl.h.

Sourcecode downloadable. Limited "tutorial" to go with it...

http://sheepdogguides.com/arduino/aht3matrixLED7219.htm

As presented, it produces scrolling text. Don't be alarmed if the letters are "the wrong way up"... that happens because different mfgs wire the LEDs differently. It is easily... if tediously... fixed by transforming the character definition matrices.

The software would also do if you only need static text.

marco_c · February 12, 2019, 6:10pm

It is easily... if tediously... fixed by transforming

Avoid the tedium and use a library that allows you to tell it which way the matrix is wired, like MD_MAX72xx

floresta · February 12, 2019, 7:51pm

tkbyd:
2/19: I've just been playing with MAX7219-managed 8x8 LED matrices (4 and 8 module units), using LEDControl.h.

Sourcecode downloadable. Limited "tutorial" to go with it...

Matrix LED displays

As presented, it produces scrolling text. Don't be alarmed if the letters are "the wrong way up"... that happens because different mfgs wire the LEDs differently. It is easily... if tediously... fixed by transforming the character definition matrices.

The software would also do if you only need static text.

It would be more useful if you fixed the link to the code. Right now the link near the bottom of that page just links back to the same page. Copying and pasting the info doesn't work either.

Don

Topic		Replies	Views
8x8 LED Matrix LEDs and Multiplexing	17	6181	May 6, 2021
LED matrix Frequently-Asked Questions	22	16834	May 6, 2021
Arduino connected to LED matrix (MAX 7219) Frequently-Asked Questions	18	9413	May 6, 2021
any tutorials on this? Programming	33	15246	May 5, 2021
Led matrix 8x8 BICOLORE Italiano	36	10020	May 6, 2021

8x32 Matrix Control With MAX7219

Related topics