Simplest Arduino board for simple Garden wall update.

Using Arduino LEDs and Multiplexing
#1

Happy new year all!

Having been programming Microchip's PICs for the past 25 years in assembly language my latest (or rather update) of my LED-embedded garden wall project I have decided to use the PL9823 LEDs, more suited as I do not need surface mount. The total LED count will only be about 30 LED with soft sweeping colours and simple back-n-forth chases.

As far as controlling them, as opposed to bit-bashing a PIC program, the Arduino looks more suitable / easier, along with an abundance of source code & programs available for such projects.

My questions now are;

  1. Is the 'Arduino STM32 AVR V1.0 MO' a standalone board, or does it require connection to a main board?

  2. Would the Tyler Jones's 'LED Matrix Control Software' [or] the Glediator LED Matrix software be best suited?

Thanks in advance, Mark. - wet England.

#2

superspeedkings: Happy new year all!

Having been programming Microchip's PICs for the past 25 years in assembly language my latest (or rather update) of my LED-embedded garden wall project I have decided to use the PL9823 LEDs, more suited as I do not need surface mount. The total LED count will only be about 30 LED with soft sweeping colours and simple back-n-forth chases.

As far as controlling them, as opposed to bit-bashing a PIC program, the Arduino looks more suitable / easier, along with an abundance of source code & programs available for such projects.

My questions now are;

  1. Is the 'Arduino STM32 AVR V1.0 MO' a standalone board, or does it require connection to a main board?

  2. Would the Tyler Jones's 'LED Matrix Control Software' [or] the Glediator LED Matrix software be best suited?

Thanks in advance, Mark. - wet England.

These LED are basically NeoPixels. The AdaFruit NeoPixel Library would work fine with these LED.

I have no experience with the MO board.

The MKR Zero or the MKR1000 should be able to handle 30 LED.

I have never tried to drive an LED strip or a matrix of LEDs with an 3.3V Arduino. I have always used a 5V Arduino. UNO, Leonardo, Mega2560

If you use one of the 3.3v Arduino boards you may need a level shifter.

I assume that you are using 5v to drive the LED themselves. I have never tried to drive an LED with 3.3v.

I may have to try that just do I know first hand how well it works.

#3

I have never tried to drive an LED with 3.3v.

They will work with a 3V3 supply.

  1. Is the 'Arduino STM32 AVR V1.0 MO' a standalone board,

Yes.

  1. Would the Tyler Jones's 'LED Matrix Control Software' [or] the Glediator LED Matrix software be best suited?

Don't know either of these but people have had a lot of trouble with Glediator as it has lots of features that are not actually implemented and you don't know what they are until they simply don't work.

#4
  1. Is the 'Arduino STM32 AVR V1.0 MO' a standalone board, or does it require connection to a main board?

There is no such thing. It's a jumble of terms added to the description of an led strip by a far Eastern seller to get more search hits. For example, the term STM means ST Microelectronics and AVR is a term associated with Atmel, a rival manufacturer.

#5

But ST do make an Arduino version of their processor evaluation boards. I keep getting emails from ST that feature them although I have never found any one selling them.

#6

Grumpy_Mike: But ST do make an Arduino version of their processor evaluation boards. I keep getting emails from ST that feature them although I have never found any one selling them.

I would love to have an Arduino Star Otto. I have never seen one nor have I found any for sale.

The Arduino Star Otto was suppose to be produced by Arduinio designed by ST and Arduino. Which Arduino is the question: arduinio.cc or arduino.org

I think it was arduino.org. NO telling what has happened to it since the combination last year.

#7

A bit more research and I see board I was looking at was for 3-colour analogue LED's (hence the 3 power transistors) and see the Uno is the simplest approach.

The 3v3 input was not relevant to my initial question but now just need to confirm whether the Glediator software can be set to a single line of say 30 led's, as opposed to a matrix?

#8

confirm whether the Glediator software can be set to a single line of say 30 led's, as opposed to a matrix?

What is the difference? A strip is just a matrix that has been straightened out.

#9

Correct, but the software I looked at initially - by Tyler Jones - could only be used in a matrix setting starting FROM a 2*2 up to 11*11, thus my question regarding Glediator. I expect to need 1*30.

#10

could only be used in a matrix setting starting FROM a 2*2 up to 11*11,

No it could be used on a strip if you want. The pixels don't know if they are in a matrix.

#11

But I'd like to test patterns firstly on the Configure Genertator screen to see what the will look like before programming them in.

#12

Fine you will have to imagin the matrix is spread out. I do the same my self when writing my own code for a matrix and I haven’t got round to cutting the strip into a matrix lengths and wiring it up. It makes no odds.

Sounds like your problem is with the software interface and not the electronics. You can always write your own in the Processing language if no one has written anything that you like so far.

#13

Grumpy_Mike: It makes no odds.

Maybe so for yourself.

For 'Liking anything so far', having just started researching the most suited software (and hardware) to my needs I have yet to find what any available software can actually do, and thus fulfill my needs. Once I've completely crossed that bridge, if there is no such software (for what appears to be a simple task) then yes, I will write my own.

I will ask in the software forum, maybe someone there can answer.

#14

I will ask in the software forum, maybe someone there can answer.

Do not cross post.

#15

Grumpy_Mike: Do not cross post.

although never actually stating I had a problem , (but a query) you previously answered:

"Sounds like your problem is with the software interface and not the electronics."

hi-lighting I'd asked my question within the wrong forum, thus the reason to ask my query elsewhere.

#16

But you are not asking a software question, these are questions about how you do things in software. You are just asking if someone has written software that does what you want.