Lights Flashing For No Reason

Projects General Guidance
1

I'm having an issue with programming some addressable RGB LED's. I've created a very simple program, simple lights up a single LED in the strip. The problem I'm having is that , while the LED I've instructed to turn on, is coming on, all the other LEDS in the strip are flashing.

I thought I may have a soldering issue, but I checked this on a seperate strip and same issue is happening. Any help would be appreciated.

#include <FastLED.h>

#define LED_PIN     5
#define NUM_LEDS    20

#define LED_TYPE    WS2812
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];



void setup() {
  
    FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, LED_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS).setCorrection( TypicalLEDStrip );
     

}


void loop()

{
 FastLED.clear();
        leds[5] = CRGB (255,0,0);
     FastLED.show();
  
}
2

Your loop is switching the leds on every time it loops - I wonder if that’s the problem? Try adding a delay in the loop to see if that changes the flicker frequency.

3

I added a delay, now random lights on the strip are turning off and on - very weird - maybe my board is fried? Is there a way to reset or check?

4

Where/how did you add this delay?

5

How are you powering the strip? In fact, show us how your whole setup is wired.

6

-- I tried a different Arduino Board Same Problem

-- I tried several different led strips same problem

I then changed the power supply - I wired power and ground directly to the Arduino Board and it works fine.

The question is why? I have a great big power supply (5V 60Amp Tanbaby) and I checked the voltage going to the led strip and it was getting the right voltage.

Any ideas? I do want to use the power supply for bigger lighting projects.

8

ericgrphone:
The question is why?

Very good question, and the answer is shrouded in mystery. The mystery of your actual wiring, the actual other power supplies you tried and how you connected those, the actual sketch you're running now, etc.