Adafruit Neomatrix ESP WROOM 32 reboots

[tjones99]

I have a 32x8 WS2812B display that I have been using with a couple of ESP8266 HUZZAH modules with Arduino IDE and neopixel/neomatrix for scrolling text.

I then got an ESP32 development board, ESP WROOM 32, so I thought I would try the scrolling text code on that... FAIL. Wasn't sure why at first.

So back to basics, I ran Blink example on the ESP WROOM board... just to see if things worked... They do... back to the scrolling text code.

I opened the Serial Monitor at one point and I saw that the ESP32 was rebooting. I stuck some serial.Write statements into my code and discovered that the serial.Write just before the matrix.show statement executed but the one immediately after never output so it looks like matrix.show was causing the reboot.

This rebooting happens with or without the 32x8 display attached so I am testing literally just with the module alone now and it is rebooting so it is not a hardware or power consumption issue. Its a code issue.

Rather than use my code I used the Example code that installs with the NeoMatrix library, matrixtest. Same result. Reboots.

I also thought maybe this was an arduino IDE issue so I created a new project in VisualStudio Code and got the same result... rebooting...

Gven this is an eBay general ESP WROOM 32 dev module it could be a hardware issue, so I have ordered a different ESP32 CAM module to try but that will be a couple of weeks to arrive so I thought I would post here to see if anyone has any other thoughts.

Here is the matrixtest code where I added 4 likes in the void setup() section to flash the onboard LED... if working, this would flash once then go into normal program execution... instead this behaves like Blink as it reboots and keeps re-executing void setup() code every reboot...

It reboots on the third from last line, matrix.show();

Thanks for any insights...

// Adafruit_NeoMatrix example for single NeoPixel Shield.
// Scrolls 'Howdy' across the matrix in a portrait (vertical) orientation.

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoMatrix.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#ifndef PSTR
 #define PSTR // Make Arduino Due happy
#endif

#define PIN 6

// MATRIX DECLARATION:
// Parameter 1 = width of NeoPixel matrix
// Parameter 2 = height of matrix
// Parameter 3 = pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 4 = matrix layout flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_MATRIX_TOP, NEO_MATRIX_BOTTOM, NEO_MATRIX_LEFT, NEO_MATRIX_RIGHT:
//     Position of the FIRST LED in the matrix; pick two, e.g.
//     NEO_MATRIX_TOP + NEO_MATRIX_LEFT for the top-left corner.
//   NEO_MATRIX_ROWS, NEO_MATRIX_COLUMNS: LEDs are arranged in horizontal
//     rows or in vertical columns, respectively; pick one or the other.
//   NEO_MATRIX_PROGRESSIVE, NEO_MATRIX_ZIGZAG: all rows/columns proceed
//     in the same order, or alternate lines reverse direction; pick one.
//   See example below for these values in action.
// Parameter 5 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_GRBW    Pixels are wired for GRBW bitstream (RGB+W NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)


// Example for NeoPixel Shield.  In this application we'd like to use it
// as a 5x8 tall matrix, with the USB port positioned at the top of the
// Arduino.  When held that way, the first pixel is at the top right, and
// lines are arranged in columns, progressive order.  The shield uses
// 800 KHz (v2) pixels that expect GRB color data.
Adafruit_NeoMatrix matrix = Adafruit_NeoMatrix(5, 8, PIN,
  NEO_MATRIX_TOP     + NEO_MATRIX_RIGHT +
  NEO_MATRIX_COLUMNS + NEO_MATRIX_PROGRESSIVE,
  NEO_GRB            + NEO_KHZ800);

const uint16_t colors[] = {
  matrix.Color(255, 0, 0), matrix.Color(0, 255, 0), matrix.Color(0, 0, 255) };

void setup() {
  pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(2,HIGH);
  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(2,LOW);
  delay(1000);
  matrix.begin();
  matrix.setTextWrap(false);
  matrix.setBrightness(40);
  matrix.setTextColor(colors[0]);
}

int x    = matrix.width();
int pass = 0;

void loop() {
  matrix.fillScreen(0);
  matrix.setCursor(x, 0);
  matrix.print(F("Howdy"));
  if(--x < -36) {
    x = matrix.width();
    if(++pass >= 3) pass = 0;
    matrix.setTextColor(colors[pass]);
  }
  matrix.show();
  delay(100);
}

[jremington]

Inadequate and/or poorly decoupled power supply.

You need to power the high current display separately, or use proper power supply decoupling.

The power supply should be rated for at least twice the expected maximum current draw of the entire setup.

Please post a pic of a hand drawn wiring diagram, with connections clearly labeled, and links to the components

[tjones99]

Nope.

Further down the topic I mentioned I am currently testing using JUST the ESP 32 module... no display. No external connections. Near zero power drain.

Thx.

[jremington]

Near zero power drain.

Umm, no.

[tjones99]

Compared to a 32x8 display, yes.
We are talking JUST the ESP32 dev module. It runs the Blink example fine powered from the Type C USB port.

But just to put this one to bed, I just tested it with a Type C power adapter from a Raspberry Pi 4B that is 5V 3A and from a bench power supply at 5.1V capable of 4A connected to the Vin and Gnd pins.

Same rebooting for all power sources.

It is not a power issue.

[tjones99]

Just noticed it, love your profile pic... way cute...

[runaway_pancake]

What if you scale back and just address the neopixels discretely,
outside the matrix. scheme?

[tjones99]

Great suggestion. I ran a NeoPixel example I found and no reboot and it controlled the WS2812B as expected.

/*
 * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
 *
 * This example code is in the public domain
 *
 * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-neopixel-led-strip
 */

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define PIN_NEO_PIXEL  13   // Arduino pin that connects to NeoPixel
#define NUM_PIXELS     30  // The number of LEDs (pixels) on NeoPixel

Adafruit_NeoPixel NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, PIN_NEO_PIXEL, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  NeoPixel.begin(); // INITIALIZE NeoPixel strip object (REQUIRED)
    pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(2,HIGH);
  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(2,LOW);
  delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
  NeoPixel.clear(); // set all pixel colors to 'off'. It only takes effect if pixels.show() is called

  // turn pixels to green one by one with delay between each pixel
  for (int pixel = 0; pixel < NUM_PIXELS; pixel++) { // for each pixel
    NeoPixel.setPixelColor(pixel, NeoPixel.Color(0, 255, 0)); // it only takes effect if pixels.show() is called
    NeoPixel.show();   // send the updated pixel colors to the NeoPixel hardware.

    delay(1); // pause between each pixel
  }

  // turn off all pixels for two seconds
  NeoPixel.clear();
  NeoPixel.show(); // send the updated pixel colors to the NeoPixel hardware.
  delay(2000);     // off time

  // turn on all pixels to red at the same time for two seconds
  for (int pixel = 0; pixel < NUM_PIXELS; pixel++) { // for each pixel
    NeoPixel.setPixelColor(pixel, NeoPixel.Color(255, 0, 0)); // it only takes effect if pixels.show() is called
  }
  NeoPixel.show(); // send the updated pixel colors to the NeoPixel hardware.
  delay(2000);     // on time

  // turn off all pixels for one seconds
  NeoPixel.clear();
  NeoPixel.show(); // send the updated pixel colors to the NeoPixel hardware.
  delay(2000);     // off time
    digitalWrite(2,HIGH);
  delay(100);
  digitalWrite(2,LOW);
  delay(100);
}

[tjones99]

Solved...

I was using Legacy IDE 1.18.13

I installed IDE 2.0.3 and then re-added the ESP32 boards using boards manager and https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

Selected the ESP32 WROOM DA board as my ESP 32 board is an ESP WROOM 32 board

Compiled and worked under this IDE.

Hmmm.... odd but I'll take it as a win.