SAMD21 to WS28212b

[AllenPitts]

Hello Arduino forum,

Using XIAO SAMD21 and Arduino IDE to run a with 50
WS2812 RGB strip.

Using this schematic the circuit was breadboarded

Have tried several sketches some using the FastLED
library and other using the Adafruit Neopixel library.

All of them light the first LED chip green. But
none of them will operate the strip.

Does anyone have experience with a sketch that will
operate a WS28212 strip?

Thanks.

Allen Pitts`

//from
//https://www.circuitgeeks.com/ws2812b-addressable-rgb-led-strip-with-arduino/

#include <FastLED.h>

#define DATA_PIN    3
#define NUM_LEDS    8
#define BRIGHTNESS  64
#define LED_TYPE    WS2812B
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB

// Define the array of leds
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

#define UPDATES_PER_SECOND 100

void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, DATA_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
  FastLED.setBrightness(BRIGHTNESS);
}

void loop() {
  // Turn the LED on
  leds[0] = CRGB::Red;
  leds[1] = CRGB::Green;
  leds[2] = CRGB::Blue;
  FastLED.show();
  delay(10);
}

```//from
//https://forum.arduino.cc/t/controlling-ws2812-with-arduino-mega-2560/473439/5

#include <FastLED.h>

#define LED_PIN     6
#define NUM_LEDS    15       // <------------<<<<< change this to the number of LEDs
#define BRIGHTNESS  64
#define LED_TYPE    WS2812
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

#define UPDATES_PER_SECOND 100

// This example shows several ways to set up and use 'palettes' of colors
// with FastLED.
//
// These compact palettes provide an easy way to re-colorize your
// animation on the fly, quickly, easily, and with low overhead.
//
// USING palettes is MUCH simpler in practice than in theory, so first just
// run this sketch, and watch the pretty lights as you then read through
// the code.  Although this sketch has eight (or more) different color schemes,
// the entire sketch compiles down to about 6.5K on AVR.
//
// FastLED provides a few pre-configured color palettes, and makes it
// extremely easy to make up your own color schemes with palettes.
//
// Some notes on the more abstract 'theory and practice' of
// FastLED compact palettes are at the bottom of this file.



CRGBPalette16 currentPalette;
TBlendType    currentBlending;

extern CRGBPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette;
extern const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM;


void setup() {
    delay( 3000 ); // power-up safety delay
    FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, LED_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS).setCorrection( TypicalLEDStrip );
    FastLED.setBrightness(  BRIGHTNESS );
    
    currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;
    currentBlending = LINEARBLEND;
}


void loop()
{
    ChangePalettePeriodically();
    
    static uint8_t startIndex = 0;
    startIndex = startIndex + 1; /* motion speed */
    
    FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( startIndex);
    
    FastLED.show();
    FastLED.delay(1000 / UPDATES_PER_SECOND);
}

void FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( uint8_t colorIndex)
{
    uint8_t brightness = 255;
    
    for( int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {
        leds[i] = ColorFromPalette( currentPalette, colorIndex, brightness, currentBlending);
        colorIndex += 3;
    }
}


// There are several different palettes of colors demonstrated here.
//
// FastLED provides several 'preset' palettes: RainbowColors_p, RainbowStripeColors_p,
// OceanColors_p, CloudColors_p, LavaColors_p, ForestColors_p, and PartyColors_p.
//
// Additionally, you can manually define your own color palettes, or you can write
// code that creates color palettes on the fly.  All are shown here.

void ChangePalettePeriodically()
{
    uint8_t secondHand = (millis() / 1000) % 60;
    static uint8_t lastSecond = 99;
    
    if( lastSecond != secondHand) {
        lastSecond = secondHand;
        if( secondHand ==  0)  { currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;         currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 10)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 15)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 20)  { SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette();             currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 25)  { SetupTotallyRandomPalette();              currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 30)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = NOBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 35)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 40)  { currentPalette = CloudColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 45)  { currentPalette = PartyColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 50)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 55)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
    }
}

// This function fills the palette with totally random colors.
void SetupTotallyRandomPalette()
{
    for( int i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
        currentPalette[i] = CHSV( random8(), 255, random8());
    }
}

// This function sets up a palette of black and white stripes,
// using code.  Since the palette is effectively an array of
// sixteen CRGB colors, the various fill_* functions can be used
// to set them up.
void SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette()
{
    // 'black out' all 16 palette entries...
    fill_solid( currentPalette, 16, CRGB::Black);
    // and set every fourth one to white.
    currentPalette[0] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[4] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[8] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[12] = CRGB::White;
    
}

// This function sets up a palette of purple and green stripes.
void SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette()
{
    CRGB purple = CHSV( HUE_PURPLE, 255, 255);
    CRGB green  = CHSV( HUE_GREEN, 255, 255);
    CRGB black  = CRGB::Black;
    
    currentPalette = CRGBPalette16(
                                   green,  green,  black,  black,
                                   purple, purple, black,  black,
                                   green,  green,  black,  black,
                                   purple, purple, black,  black );
}


// This example shows how to set up a static color palette
// which is stored in PROGMEM (flash), which is almost always more
// plentiful than RAM.  A static PROGMEM palette like this
// takes up 64 bytes of flash.
const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM =
{
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray, // 'white' is too bright compared to red and blue
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    CRGB::Black
};

//from
//How to Control WS2812B Addressable RGB LEDs using Arduino

#include <FastLED.h>

#define DATA_PIN 3
#define NUM_LEDS 8
#define BRIGHTNESS 64
#define LED_TYPE WS2812B
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB

// Define the array of leds
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

#define UPDATES_PER_SECOND 100

void setup() {
FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, DATA_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
FastLED.setBrightness(BRIGHTNESS);
}

void loop() {
// Turn the LED on
leds[0] = CRGB::Red;
leds[1] = CRGB::Green;
leds[2] = CRGB::Blue;
FastLED.show();
delay(10);
}

//from
//https://forum.arduino.cc/t/controlling-ws2812-with-arduino-mega-2560/473439/5

#include <FastLED.h>

#define LED_PIN     6
#define NUM_LEDS    15       // <------------<<<<< change this to the number of LEDs
#define BRIGHTNESS  64
#define LED_TYPE    WS2812
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

#define UPDATES_PER_SECOND 100

// This example shows several ways to set up and use 'palettes' of colors
// with FastLED.
//
// These compact palettes provide an easy way to re-colorize your
// animation on the fly, quickly, easily, and with low overhead.
//
// USING palettes is MUCH simpler in practice than in theory, so first just
// run this sketch, and watch the pretty lights as you then read through
// the code.  Although this sketch has eight (or more) different color schemes,
// the entire sketch compiles down to about 6.5K on AVR.
//
// FastLED provides a few pre-configured color palettes, and makes it
// extremely easy to make up your own color schemes with palettes.
//
// Some notes on the more abstract 'theory and practice' of
// FastLED compact palettes are at the bottom of this file.



CRGBPalette16 currentPalette;
TBlendType    currentBlending;

extern CRGBPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette;
extern const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM;


void setup() {
    delay( 3000 ); // power-up safety delay
    FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, LED_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS).setCorrection( TypicalLEDStrip );
    FastLED.setBrightness(  BRIGHTNESS );
    
    currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;
    currentBlending = LINEARBLEND;
}


void loop()
{
    ChangePalettePeriodically();
    
    static uint8_t startIndex = 0;
    startIndex = startIndex + 1; /* motion speed */
    
    FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( startIndex);
    
    FastLED.show();
    FastLED.delay(1000 / UPDATES_PER_SECOND);
}

void FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( uint8_t colorIndex)
{
    uint8_t brightness = 255;
    
    for( int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {
        leds[i] = ColorFromPalette( currentPalette, colorIndex, brightness, currentBlending);
        colorIndex += 3;
    }
}


// There are several different palettes of colors demonstrated here.
//
// FastLED provides several 'preset' palettes: RainbowColors_p, RainbowStripeColors_p,
// OceanColors_p, CloudColors_p, LavaColors_p, ForestColors_p, and PartyColors_p.
//
// Additionally, you can manually define your own color palettes, or you can write
// code that creates color palettes on the fly.  All are shown here.

void ChangePalettePeriodically()
{
    uint8_t secondHand = (millis() / 1000) % 60;
    static uint8_t lastSecond = 99;
    
    if( lastSecond != secondHand) {
        lastSecond = secondHand;
        if( secondHand ==  0)  { currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;         currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 10)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 15)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 20)  { SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette();             currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 25)  { SetupTotallyRandomPalette();              currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 30)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = NOBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 35)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 40)  { currentPalette = CloudColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 45)  { currentPalette = PartyColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 50)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 55)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
    }
}

// This function fills the palette with totally random colors.
void SetupTotallyRandomPalette()
{
    for( int i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
        currentPalette[i] = CHSV( random8(), 255, random8());
    }
}

// This function sets up a palette of black and white stripes,
// using code.  Since the palette is effectively an array of
// sixteen CRGB colors, the various fill_* functions can be used
// to set them up.
void SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette()
{
    // 'black out' all 16 palette entries...
    fill_solid( currentPalette, 16, CRGB::Black);
    // and set every fourth one to white.
    currentPalette[0] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[4] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[8] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[12] = CRGB::White;
    
}

// This function sets up a palette of purple and green stripes.
void SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette()
{
    CRGB purple = CHSV( HUE_PURPLE, 255, 255);
    CRGB green  = CHSV( HUE_GREEN, 255, 255);
    CRGB black  = CRGB::Black;
    
    currentPalette = CRGBPalette16(
                                   green,  green,  black,  black,
                                   purple, purple, black,  black,
                                   green,  green,  black,  black,
                                   purple, purple, black,  black );
}


// This example shows how to set up a static color palette
// which is stored in PROGMEM (flash), which is almost always more
// plentiful than RAM.  A static PROGMEM palette like this
// takes up 64 bytes of flash.
const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM =
{
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray, // 'white' is too bright compared to red and blue
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    CRGB::Black
};

[sonofcy]

Please add code tags to all your code.

[sonofcy]

Here is the neopixel code I use for a strip around a window

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

// Define Arduino connection pin
#define LED_PIN 4
// Define the number of LEDs - change if necessary
#define LED_COUNT 114
// Main loop is therfore 150 - 34 - 2 for safety is 114

// Create instance of NeoPixel class
// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in leds
// Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = 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_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
//   NEO_RGBW    Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)
Adafruit_NeoPixel leds = Adafruit_NeoPixel(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup()
{
  // Setup Serial Monitor
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Initialize the LEDs
  leds.begin(); 
  // Clear them all
  clearLEDs();
  // Show the result of clearing the LEDs
  leds.show();
  
}

void loop() {

    // Print to Serial Monitor
  Serial.println("Starting RGB LED Demo");
  
    // Cycle through Color Wipe Examples
    // Set colors to Red
    Serial.println("Color Wipe - RED");  
    colorWipe(leds.Color(255, 0, 0), 200);
    delay(1000);
    // Set colors to Green
    Serial.println("Color Wipe - GREEN"); 
    colorWipe(leds.Color(0, 255, 0), 200);
    delay(1000);
    // Set Colors to Blue
    Serial.println("Color Wipe - BLUE"); 
    colorWipe(leds.Color(0, 0, 255), 200);
    delay(1000);
    // Set colors to Yellow 
    Serial.println("Color Wipe - YELLOW"); 
    colorWipe(leds.Color(255, 255, 0), 200);
    delay(1000);

    
    // Theater Chase Examples
    // White
    Serial.println("Theater Chase - WHITE"); 
    theaterChase(leds.Color(127, 127, 127), 50);
    delay(1000);
    // Red
    Serial.println("Theater Chase - RED"); 
    theaterChase(leds.Color(127, 0, 0), 50);
    delay(1000);
    // Green
    Serial.println("Theater Chase - GREEN"); 
    theaterChase(leds.Color(0, 127, 0), 50);
    delay(1000);
    // Blue
    Serial.println("Theater Chase - BLUE"); 
    theaterChase(leds.Color(0, 0, 127), 50);
    delay(1000);
    
    // Rainbow Examples
  Serial.println("Rainbow"); 
  rainbow(20);
  Serial.println("Rainbow Cycle"); 
  rainbowCycle(20);
  Serial.println("Rainbow Theater Chase"); 
  theaterChaseRainbow(50);

  //Finished
  Serial.println("Loop Ended, Demo Finished!"); 
  Serial.println(".................................");

}

// Function to set all LEDs off
void clearLEDs()
{
  // Cycle through all LEDs
  for (int i=0; i<LED_COUNT; i++)
  {
    // Set color to zero which is off
    leds.setPixelColor(i, 0);
  }
}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<leds.numPixels(); i++) {
    leds.setPixelColor(i, c);
    leds.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<leds.numPixels(); i++) {
      leds.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    leds.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< leds.numPixels(); i++) {
      leds.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / leds.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    leds.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights.
void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j<10; j++) {  //do 10 cycles of chasing
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (uint16_t i=0; i < leds.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        leds.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      leds.show();

      delay(wait);

      for (uint16_t i=0; i < leds.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        leds.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights with rainbow effect
void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) {     // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (uint16_t i=0; i < leds.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        leds.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255));    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      leds.show();

      delay(wait);

      for (uint16_t i=0; i < leds.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        leds.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return leds.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return leds.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return leds.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}

[xfpd]

Hello Mr. @AllenPitts,

It looks like you are going through your bin of microcontrollers, and sequentially putting them under test with different peripherals, this round, the WS2812B. I am all for knowing what you have available, but you should update your other project with ATtiny85 and WS2812B if you have completed it...

WS28212b with ATtiny85 250718

Using the excellent instructions at produced schematic [ATTiny to Drive Addressable RGB LEDs 250718] and circuit on prototype PCB Datak 21-114 [ATTiny to Drive Addressable RGB LEDs_2507718] Photos [ATTiny_WS2812b_photo_PCB__01_250718] [ATTiny_WS2812b_photo_PCB__02_250718] Applied 5v DC from Belkin USB hub and tested red and white leads at male JST plug from PCB which mates with female JST plug to JST male plug to BTF strip. Result: 5.2 v DC By accident two RGB LED strips were o…

... and not abandon this topic for another forum... who have answered your questions. Please, be kind to the helpers.

XIAO SAMD21 to WS2812b 250721

[Wawa]

Your 5volt-logic strip might not work with the 3.3volt-logic of that processor.
A logic-level converter might be needed.
Leo..

[AllenPitts]

Hello @sonofcy @xfpd @Wawa and the Arduino forum,

Finally got the XIAO SAMD21 to WS2812b system work using the schematic posted July 21 in post # 1.

Working on a hunch the first RGB LED in the strip was
cut off and the strip reconnected. The strip began to operate as expected.

The hunch was that the first LED would come on and remain green. So that meant strip was getting power but something about the data in was defective.

It is surmised that the LEDs in the WS28212b strips
are connected in serial instead of parallel so if the first
unit is defective all subsequent LEDS will not get data.

Thanks for the excellent replies.

Allen Pitts

[xfpd]

@AllenPitts

LEDs in the WS28212b strips
are connected in serial instead of parallel so if the first
unit is defective all subsequent LEDS will not get data

Correct. If your first WS2812 is dead, none will light.

Normally, on WS2812 strips, solder tabs connect GND, VCC and DOUT to DIN. Solder jumpers from the "good" pads past the "bad" pads, to the next "good" pads.

If no solder tabs exist between WS2812 #1 and WS2812 #2, physically remove WS2812 #1, then solder jumper wires from DATA_IN to DATA_OUT, input GND to WS2812 GND, and input VCC to WS2812 VCC.