Sending FastLED/NeoPixel instructions over and over

Using Arduino Programming Questions
1

I have code that updates individually addressable LEDs in a strip every few milliseconds, and then uses the strip.show() function each loop. However, in the vast majority of loops, the LED color and brightness instructions will be the same as what is already being shown.

Does sending the color and brightness information, and calling the strip.show() function every loop cause any additional stress on the hardware?

I know there are some simple ways via coding that I could reduce the amount of data being sent, but I am more interested in just learning about whether this type of thing actually matters in terms of reducing wear and tear on the LED strip, or the wires, or the Arduino.

2

it will not harm the LEDs, the wires, nor the Arduino.
But it's useless :wink:

3

it will just slow down your code :slight_smile:

4

IMO the added inrush current will be negligible. LEDs are very fast.

Take a look at the specs in the datasheet of the NeoPixel. They even show a timing diagram for programming guidance. If you are truly refreshing every few milliseconds then you should have no issue. I suspect the Reset (Low Voltage Time) in between commands, is not long enough. The data sheet shows it must be greater than 50 microseconds.

5

Thank you all! This is very helpful. The code I am using only checks every 100 milliseconds, so it doesn't slow the code enough to be perceptible (to me at least). And thanks for the heads up on the data sheet; I didn't know about this but have learned a bit from going through it!

6

How many LEDs do you have and what’s their type?

7

There are up to 200 LEDs in a strip. Some strips are WS2812b and some are SK6812.

8

So 200 x 30 + 50 microseconds to update the leds plus the time to do the maths to calculate the leds value - say 6 to 10ms

That should give you plenty of time if you run the update only every 100ms

9

Makes sense - thank you very much!

10

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