Need assistance with D1 Mini and DF Player

[arduinonewbie1991]

Hello! I'm cutting my teeth on what I thought would be a straight forward first Arduino project. A D1 Mini and DFplayer running the LEDs and sound effects for a 3d printed Stargate.

I've been using preexisting code and a schematic from a guide provided by the creator. I'm using the Arduino IDE, I've followed guides and installed the CH341 driver, I've added all the appropriate libraries required by the sketch, I installed the ESP8266 library and selected what I think is the correct board (there are 6 variants of D1 listed).

I've used example sketches to verify that certain components are working. (Blink and a button test).

I think the problem lies with the DFplayer. I've tried two of them and have got no life out of them. I've triple checked continuity on all connectors, it's getting power (5v) and according to the code, I have the RX and TX connections correct.

I just don't know if I'm missing something obvious to more experienced users.
I bought the exact parts they said they used. Maybe the DFplayer is a clone (got it on amazon), but there were no reviews saying they were bad.

I'll attach the schematic and code.

Really appreciate any insight.

Here's the code.

#include <Button.h>
#include <FastLED.h>
#include "Arduino.h"
#include "DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h"
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial softSerial(/*rx =*/D5, /*tx =*/D6);
#define FPSerial softSerial

#define NUM_LEDS 50
#define DATA_PIN D7
#define NUM_LEDS2 47
#define DATA_PIN2 D8
#define BUTTON_PIN D2

//CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
CRGBArray<NUM_LEDS> leds;
CRGBSet chevron05(leds(5, 7));
CRGBSet chevron06(leds(10, 12));
CRGBSet chevron07(leds(15, 17));
CRGBSet chevron08(leds(20, 22));
CRGBSet lockingChevron(leds(25, 27));
CRGBSet chevron01(leds(30, 32));
CRGBSet chevron02(leds(35, 37));
CRGBSet chevron03(leds(40, 42));
CRGBSet chevron04(leds(45, 47));
CRGBArray<NUM_LEDS2> leds2;

Button button(BUTTON_PIN);

DFRobotDFPlayerMini myDFPlayer;

int startMillis = 0;
int lockChevronMillis = 0;
bool lockChevronOn = false;
int lockChevronFade = 0;
int lockedChevronFade = 0;
bool dialing = false;
bool wormholeActive = false;
int wormholeStartMillis = 0;
int wormholeBrightness = 0;
bool chevronLocked = false;
bool finalLock = false;
int buttonPressCount = 0;


// {Active, Brightness, FadeDirection, Color}
int wormholeArray[NUM_LEDS2][4] = {{0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}, {0, 255, 1, 0}};


void setup()
{
  FPSerial.begin(9600);

  Serial.begin(115200);

  if (!myDFPlayer.begin(FPSerial, true, false)) {  //Use serial to communicate with mp3.
    Serial.println(F("Unable to begin:"));
    while (true) {
      delay(0); // Code to compatible with ESP8266 watch dog.
    }
  }
  Serial.println(F("DFPlayer Mini online."));

  button.begin();

  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, BGR>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN2, BGR>(leds2, NUM_LEDS2);
  //set_max_power_in_volts_and_milliamps(5, 500); // FastLED Power management set at 5V, 500mA.
  FastLED.setBrightness(240); // out of 255

  //myDFPlayer.enableLoop();
}

void loop()
{
  if (button.pressed()) {
    buttonPressCount++;
    if (buttonPressCount > 2) {
      buttonPressCount = 0;
    }

    FastLED.clear();
    FastLED.show();
    // Stop playing MP3
    myDFPlayer.stop();
    startMillis = millis();
    wormholeActive = false;
    for (int i = 0; i <= NUM_LEDS2; i++) {
      wormholeArray[i][0] = 0;
      wormholeArray[i][1] = 255;
      wormholeArray[i][2] = 1;
      wormholeArray[i][3] = 0;
    }

    if (buttonPressCount == 1) {
      myDFPlayer.stop();
      dialing = true;
      wormholeActive = false;
      myDFPlayer.volume(19);
      myDFPlayer.play(1);
    }
    else if (buttonPressCount == 2) {
      myDFPlayer.stop();
      dialing = false;
      wormholeActive = true;
      //myDFPlayer.volume(10);
      //myDFPlayer.loop(2);
      wormholeDemo();
    }
    else {
      wormholeActive = false;
      myDFPlayer.stop();
      FastLED.clear();
    }
  }

  if (dialing) {
    dialingSequence();
  }

  if (wormholeActive) {
    wormholeSequence();
  }

  FastLED.show();
}

void wormholeDemo() {
  //wormholeStartMillis = millis();
  if (wormholeActive) {
    chevron01 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron02 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron03 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron04 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron05 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron06 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron07 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevron08 = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    lockingChevron = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
  }

}

void wormholeSequence() {
  long wormholeDuration = millis() - wormholeStartMillis;
  // Bright white, then puddle

  if (wormholeDuration < 1700) {
    wormholeBrightness++;
    if (wormholeBrightness > 210)
    {
      wormholeBrightness = 210;
    }
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS2; i++) {
      leds2[i] = CRGB(wormholeBrightness, wormholeBrightness, wormholeBrightness);
    }
  }
  else {
    EVERY_N_MILLISECONDS(10) {
      wormholeBrightness = 0;
      int randomLED = random8(0, NUM_LEDS2);
      int randomColor = random8(0, 3);
      if (randomColor == 0) {
        randomColor = 100; // white?
      }
      else if (randomColor == 1) {
        randomColor = 130; // aqua
      }
      else {
        randomColor = 160; // blue
      }
      if (wormholeArray[randomLED][0] == 0) {
        wormholeArray[randomLED][0] = 1;
        wormholeArray[randomLED][3] = randomColor;
      }
    }

    for (int i = 0; i <= NUM_LEDS2; i++) {
      // If the LED is active, start or continue the fade in/out sequence.
      if (wormholeArray[i][0] == 1) {
        // Increment the brightness either up or down
        wormholeArray[i][1] = wormholeArray[i][1] + (1 * wormholeArray[i][2]);

        // Once full brightness reached, reverse direction.
        if (wormholeArray[i][1] >= 255) {
          wormholeArray[i][1] = 255;
          wormholeArray[i][2] = -wormholeArray[i][2];
        }

        // Once brightness fades back to zero, reset LED to inactive.
        if (wormholeArray[i][1] <= 0) {
          wormholeArray[i][0] = 0;
          wormholeArray[i][1] = 0;
          wormholeArray[i][2] = 1;
        }

        // Set each LED to blue, full saturation, brightness from loop.
        if (wormholeArray[i][3] == 100) {
          leds2[i] = CHSV(wormholeArray[i][3], 0, wormholeArray[i][1]);
        }
        else {
          leds2[i] = CHSV(wormholeArray[i][3], 255, wormholeArray[i][1]);
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


void dialingSequence() {
  // How long dialing sequence has been running since button press
  long dialDuration = millis() - startMillis;

  if (dialDuration > 4998 && dialDuration < 5003) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 11998 && dialDuration < 12003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 18998 && dialDuration < 19003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 25998 && dialDuration < 26003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 32998 && dialDuration < 33003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 39998 && dialDuration < 40003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(false);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 46998 && dialDuration < 47003) {
    setLockingChevronLEDs(true);
  }

  if (lockChevronOn) {
    lockingChevronLEDs();
  }

  if (dialDuration > 6198 && dialDuration < 7203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron01);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 10000 && dialDuration < 10005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 13198 && dialDuration < 14203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron02);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 20000 && dialDuration < 20005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 20198 && dialDuration < 21203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron03);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 27000 && dialDuration < 27005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 27198 && dialDuration < 28203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron06);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 33000 && dialDuration < 33005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 34198 && dialDuration < 35203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron07);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 40000 && dialDuration < 40005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 41198 && dialDuration < 42203) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron08);
  }
  if (dialDuration > 44000 && dialDuration < 44005) {
    lockedChevronFade = 0;
    chevronLocked = false;
  }
  if (dialDuration > 48200 && dialDuration < 49205) {
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron04);
    lockedChevronLEDs(chevron05);
  }

  if (dialDuration > 50400 && dialDuration < 50405) {
    wormholeActive = true;
    wormholeStartMillis = millis();
  }

  if (dialDuration > 66000) {
    wormholeActive = false;
    lockChevronOn = false;
    fadeToBlackBy(leds, NUM_LEDS, 10);
    fadeToBlackBy(leds2, NUM_LEDS2, 10);
  }

  if (dialDuration > 67000) {
    dialing = false;
  }
}

// Reset variables for the next locking chevron run
void setLockingChevronLEDs(bool finalCall) {
  lockChevronOn = true;
  lockChevronMillis = millis();
  lockChevronFade = 0;
  finalLock = finalCall;
}

// Sets the locking chevron LEDs on, slow fade up and down
void lockingChevronLEDs() {
  // 2 seconds for top chevron to fade in, stay on, then fade out (.5, 1, .5 seconds)
  int lockingChevronDuration = millis() - lockChevronMillis;

  if (lockingChevronDuration < 500) {
    lockChevronFade = lockChevronFade + 2;
  }
  if (lockingChevronDuration > 1500 && !finalLock) {
    lockChevronFade = lockChevronFade - 2;
  }

  if (lockChevronFade > 255) {
    lockChevronFade = 255;
  }
  if (lockChevronFade < 0) {
    lockChevronFade = 0;
  }

  lockingChevron = CHSV(19, 255, lockChevronFade);

  if (lockingChevronDuration > 2000 && !finalLock) {
    lockChevronOn = false;
    lockingChevron = CHSV(19, 255, 0);
  }
}

// Sets locked chevron LEDs on after slow fade up
void lockedChevronLEDs(CRGBSet chevronNum) {
  lockedChevronFade = lockedChevronFade + 2;

  if (lockedChevronFade > 255) {
    chevronNum = CHSV(19, 255, 255);
    chevronLocked = true;
  }

  if (!chevronLocked) {
    chevronNum = CHSV(19, 255, lockedChevronFade);
  }
}

[horace]

are you using EspSoftwareSerial?
with the ESP8266 D1 mini I tend to use Tools>Board "ESP8266 dev module" and use the GPIO numbers, e.g.

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

// pins Rx GPIO14 (D5) and Tx GPIO 12 (D6) 
 SoftwareSerial swSer(14, 12);  

the IDE picks up the correct SoftwareSerial for the ESP

[van_der_decken]

What effect does momentarily grounding IO_1 or IO_2 have?

Does the Busy LED light up?

Try this: remove your speaker connections and try 1 speaker hooked up to SPK_1 and SPK_2.

[PaulRB]

Your speakers are not connected correctly.

When using the SPK_1 and SPK_2 pins, connect only one speaker directly to those 2 pins and not to ground.

If you want to connect 2 speakers, you will need a separate amplifier board. Then you would connect the DAC_L and DAC_R pins to the amplifier board (plus power and ground) and connect the 2 speakers to the amplifier board. You would not connect the SPK_1/2 pins in this case.

[PaulRB]

@arduinonewbie1991

I've been using preexisting code and a schematic from a guide provided by the creator

The Schematic is badly drawn and full of errors. I think the "creator's" other hobby is drawing mazes and this affects the way they draw everything else.

In addition to the incorrect speaker connections, the LEDs will not light if connected like that. That's a good thing: without the missing current limiting resistors, the D1 mini pins and the LEDs would be damaged.

[PaulRB]

@arduinonewbie1991

#include <FastLED.h>

The code is using the FastLED library which is used with "addressable" LEDs like ws2812.

Your schematic shows regular non-addressable RGB LEDs. These will not work with FastLED library.

[arduinonewbie1991]

Wow you guys really come to bat with help!
I was actually able to fix it. It turns out the DFplayer just didn't like the SD card I was using. I tried another and it fired right up.

Seems fully functional now, except that the LEDs are the colors are inverted?. One set is supposed to be amber but they're blue and the second set is supposed to pulse white and blue but it's all colors. So I'm trying to figure that out now. Any ideas?

[arduinonewbie1991]

Ah I didn't catch that. In reality I am using 2 sets of 5v addressable strips.

[arduinonewbie1991]

I did catch that! I have a single speaker tied to D1 speaker pin 1 and 2. It's currently working.

[xfpd]

@arduinonewbie1991

LEDs are the colors are inverted?.

Try one of these... declaring color order.

FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, RGB>(ledArr, NUM_LEDS);
FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(ledArr, NUM_LEDS);

[arduinonewbie1991]

Hmm gave several combinations a shot but none quite dialed it in. From messing around it seems it's just the blue and red values that are messed up as green is green. Strange.

The blue reel should be amber and the white, red and green reel should be white aqua and blue.

[arduinonewbie1991]

Oh my lord. I don't understand why but now flipping it from GRB to RGB worked. I don't know why it didn't work before. I must've done something different.

Well thank you everyone for helping with this! I really appreciate it!

[xfpd]

It works. That is what matters.

Here is a simulation that can also be used to test colors.

trimPIX - Wokwi ESP32, STM32, Arduino Simulator