Cant get WS2811 RGB strip working with arduino

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hi,

I have ordered this RGB LED strip.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1M-WS2811-Dream-Color-RGB-LED-Strip-144LEDs-M-Light-Individual-Addressable-5V-NP-/261349374945?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:AU:1123

I liked this strip because of pixel size and distance between pixels. However I am unable to get this strip working with arduino.
I tried two libraries: Adafruit neopixel and fastspi. Neither of them worked. Strip remains powered off on any library examples. Also it's not clear from ebay description is it WS2811 or WS2812, so I tried both variants in both libraries.

Firstly I thought that there is a problem with arduino power. Then I connected strip to 5v IDE power supply, joined grounds, and connected 3rd wire to D6 PWM. Still no success. When I connect strip to 5v+ and GND it blinks for a second, so I am sure that polarity is correct.

I think I am doing something wrong. What can be the problem?

Thanks

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2

Two possible issues:

Make sure you're working with the "right" end of the WS2811 strip -- the data line is one - way.

Be sure the ground contact with the arduino is secure.

Hope this helps.

3

Now I noticed arrows on rgb strip that are showing the correct side. I changed the side - everything is working now, thanks a lot!

One more quick question: Do you know how to make it less brighter? I am going to make a costume with this strip, however I got my eyes burned after looking on this strip for a moment. I switched to 3.7v Li-Po battery, but the brightness remains the same. How can I cut down brightness?

4

POMATu:
I switched to 3.7v Li-Po battery, but the brightness remains the same.

As you would expect. The WS2811 chips are constant current drivers in order to maintain uniform brightness.

POMATu:
How can I cut down brightness?

Change the brightness parameters in the code of course! That's precisely why you are using programmable LEDS in the first place.

5

POMATu:
One more quick question: Do you know how to make it less brighter? I am going to make a costume with this strip, however I got my eyes burned after looking on this strip for a moment. I switched to 3.7v Li-Po battery, but the brightness remains the same. How can I cut down brightness?

The Adafruit NeoPixel library supports setBrightness(). For my scrolling LED sign project, I use it like this:

strip.setBrightness(2);

2 is a very dim light level. Read the notes in the docs on what this actually does. If you set it up front, then everything is fine. If you try to change it to pixels already set, weird things can happen.

6

Dear Arduino forum users
I am trying to use ws2811 white only led strip with arduino. However library supports RGB versions, does anyone being involved with the white only strips?
thx in advance

7

selcukartut:
Dear Arduino forum users
I am trying to use ws2811 white only led strip with arduino. However library supports RGB versions, does anyone being involved with the white only strips?
thx in advance

Are you sure you have what you think you have?

8

selcukartut:
I am trying to use ws2811 white only led strip with arduino. However library supports RGB versions, does anyone being involved with the white only strips?

Don't know about "involved", but you just use the library with all three colour parameters set the same.