Hi all! Im Mike.
I recently started up a cloud lightning lamp project.
Sorta new at this stuff but i like electronics and use to code alot on a PC game called Operation flashpoint. SO i figured i could pull it off.
I'm just about completed for the most part.
An Arduino uno r3 is being used with several flicker leds as lightning bolts 1 and 2 and a neopixel stick 8 as the 3rd.
I found a neopixel lightning code on GitHub by Molly Nicholas (thanx!)
Wrote a simple, random code for my led clusters, then had to combine with the neopixel code so it all looks grand. Heres a vid of it....
Havent built an enclosure yet...I want to add a little more.
I would like to be able to press a button and have a neopixel mood light code activate. One thatll fade through all colors slowly. Then when i push it again(or push a second button), it goes back to lightning.
Heres the lightning code. Forgive its sloppiness...you should have seen my OFP snippets. 
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
// NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream
// NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream
// NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz bitstream (e.g. FLORA pixels)
// NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (e.g. High Density LED strip)
int NUM_LEDS = 8;
int LED_PIN = 9;
const int HIGH_STRIKE_LIKELIHOOD = 5;
const int LOW_STRIKE_LIKELIHOOD = 10;
int currentDataPoint = 0;
int chance = LOW_STRIKE_LIKELIHOOD;
int led = 11;
long randNumber;
long randNumber2;
long randNumber3;
int led2 = 10;
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_LEDS, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
// Simple moving average plot
int NUM_Y_VALUES = 17;
float yValues[] = {
0,
7,
10,
9,
7.1,
7.5,
7.4,
12,
15,
10,
0,
3,
3.5,
4,
1,
7,
1
};
float simple_moving_average_previous = 0;
float random_moving_average_previous = 0;
float (*functionPtrs[10])(); //the array of function pointers
int NUM_FUNCTIONS = 2;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
randomSeed(digitalRead(0));
pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);
// Neopixel setup
strip.begin();
strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
// initializes the array of function pointers.
functionPtrs[0] = simple_moving_average;
functionPtrs[1] = random_moving_average;
}
void loop() {
if ((chance) > 1) {
int led = random(NUM_LEDS);
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
// Use this line to keep the lightning focused in one LED.
// lightningStrike(led):
// Use this line if you want the lightning to spread out among multiple LEDs.
lightningStrike(random(NUM_LEDS));
}
// Once there's been one strike, I make it more likely that there will be a second.
chance = HIGH_STRIKE_LIKELIHOOD;
} else {
chance = LOW_STRIKE_LIKELIHOOD;
}
turnAllPixelsOff();
delay(1000);
}
void turnAllPixelsOff() {
for (int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, 0);
}
strip.show();
{
randNumber = random(1000);
Serial.println(randNumber);
randNumber2 = random(10000);
Serial.println(randNumber2);
randNumber3 = random(150);
Serial.println(randNumber3);
delay(50);
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
delay(randNumber);
digitalWrite(led, LOW);
delay(randNumber2);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(randNumber3);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
delay(randNumber2);
digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);
delay(randNumber);
digitalWrite(led2, LOW);
delay(randNumber2);
};
}
void lightningStrike(int pixel) {
float brightness = callFunction(random(NUM_FUNCTIONS));
float scaledWhite = abs(brightness*500);
strip.setPixelColor(pixel, strip.Color(scaledWhite, scaledWhite, scaledWhite));
strip.show();
delay(random(5, 100));
currentDataPoint++;
currentDataPoint = currentDataPoint%NUM_Y_VALUES;
}
float callFunction(int index) {
return (*functionPtrs[index])(); //calls the function at the index of `index` in the array
}
// https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_average#Simple_moving_average
float simple_moving_average() {
uint32_t startingValue = currentDataPoint;
uint32_t endingValue = (currentDataPoint+1)%NUM_Y_VALUES;
float simple_moving_average_current = simple_moving_average_previous +
(yValues[startingValue])/NUM_Y_VALUES -
(yValues[endingValue])/NUM_Y_VALUES;
simple_moving_average_previous = simple_moving_average_current;
return simple_moving_average_current;
}
// Same as simple moving average, but with randomly-generated data points.
float random_moving_average() {
float firstValue = random(1, 10);
float secondValue = random(1, 10);
float random_moving_average_current = random_moving_average_previous +
firstValue/NUM_Y_VALUES -
secondValue/NUM_Y_VALUES;
random_moving_average_previous = random_moving_average_current;
return random_moving_average_current;
}
My brain is fried...Could someone come up with a standard button mode change? I have the button hooked up as per the example files, into PIN 2. Will it need to be 2 buttons?
One to turn on lightning and a one for mood.
Only other way im thinking of is to use my other uno and and get another neopixel stick and have it for mood light. But thats a waste of resources.
I would be most grateful if i could get some help...if not, no worries.