Software or hardware?

Projects General Guidance
1

First of all I'd like to say hello to everyone.
Hopefully I'm posting this properly but it is my first post.
With the help of someone smarter than me I was able to successfully create this project but can't seem to reproduce it. The idea is to get 20 clear LEDS to blink sequentially with a fade in or trail . The LEDS are mounted on a ring and the concept is to make the LEDS appear as if they are an actual revolving light.
Hardware= Elegoo uno R3 ( I have also tried this with an authentic Arduino R4 WIFI and an ADAFRUIT TLC5947
The problem is that the LED simply won't blink They come on and stay on.
I have checked the welding under a magnified light and all looks good . I have even tried a simpler approach with only a few LEDS. I have extra tlc5947 boards and and have tried to start fresh. The Results are always the same.
I originally bought 2 of the R4 boards . One worked good but the other didn't. I'm wondering if i might have done something in the software to prevent success
Wiring is as follows .All positive LED are welded together and go to the positive pin on TLC 5947. All the negative LEDS go to individual negative pins on TLC 5947. VIN ground, PIns 4,5,and6 from uno to TLC5947 respectively

PLEASE HELP


#include "Adafruit_TLC5947.h"

// How many boards do you have chained?

#define NUM_TLC5947 1

#define data 4

#define clock 5

#define latch 6

#define oe -1 // set to -1 to not use the enable pin (its optional)

#define BRIGHT 4095

#define DIM 700

#define OFF 0

#define NUM_LEDS 20

Adafruit_TLC5947 tlc = Adafruit_TLC5947(NUM_TLC5947, clock, data, latch);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

Serial.println("TLC5947 test");

tlc.begin();

if (oe >= 0) {

pinMode(oe, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(oe, LOW);

}

}

void loop() {

int i;

// Just bounce each LED

for( i=0; i<NUM_LEDS; i++){

// Clear them all, only turn one on

clearLEDS();

tlc.setPWM(i,BRIGHT);

tlc.write();

delay(100);

}

}

void clearLEDS(){

int i;

for(i=0; i<NUM_LEDS; i++ ){

tlc.setPWM(i,OFF);

}

}
...
2

Do you mean to say you now have two identical copies, one works and the other doesn't?

a7

3

Complete sketch ?

4

I have also tried this code. Both worked on my first attempt

#include "Adafruit_TLC5947.h"

// How many boards do you have chained?

#define NUM_TLC5947 1

#define data 4

#define clock 5

#define latch 6

#define oe -1 // set to -1 to not use the enable pin (its optional)

#define BRIGHT 4095

#define PRETTY_BRIGHT 3000

#define DIM 700

#define OFF 0

#define NUM_LEDS 20

Adafruit_TLC5947 tlc = Adafruit_TLC5947(NUM_TLC5947, clock, data, latch);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

Serial.println("TLC5947 test");

tlc.begin();

if (oe >= 0) {

pinMode(oe, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(oe, LOW);

}

}

void loop() {

int i;

uint16_t led_value;

for(i=0;i<NUM_LEDS;i++){

tlc.setPWM(i,BRIGHT);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS-3)%NUM_LEDS,0);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS-2)%NUM_LEDS,DIM);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS-1)%NUM_LEDS,PRETTY_BRIGHT);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS+1)%NUM_LEDS,PRETTY_BRIGHT);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS+2)%NUM_LEDS,DIM);

tlc.setPWM((i+NUM_LEDS+3)%NUM_LEDS,0);

tlc.write();

delay(100);

}

}

[edit sterretje]Code tags fixed

5

Basically yes . Made one project with success. loved it and wanted to build another with no success
I can upload the code. The light comes on on the TLC5947 and the LEDS light up but stay on so power is passing through the TLC5947 but that's about it

6

Nice try, but those three characters are not the right ones for making your code look like code.

You can get them placed in your posts automatically by using the <CODE/> button seen in the message composition window toolbar. Click it and you see an invitation to paste, viz:

type or paste code here

You seem to say (basically) that we can rule out a software problem. That leaves a few things, like a wiring a error or a broken microprocessor board.

It's not clear that you have done as much swapping parts from the working copy back and forth to the non-working copy to see if the error travels with something.

a7

7

No idea how practical this is, but the first thing I'd do is swap the newly programmed Uno for the 'working' older Uno. Does the problem move with the Uno, or stay with the hardware.
Now, depending on how it's all wired up, etc. this task might kill the working one, too, but it might be feasible, for example if your project was all wired off a shield, not direct to the Uno.

8

sorry brand new and lots to learn

9

I agree and if I could easily access the working model I would but unfortunately the working board combination is within a project that may be destroyed if I try and take it apart . The newly designed version has all the electronics on a removable component .

10

LOL. I am famous for needing to destroy things to change out a spent battery. I never learn.

a7

11

I have not taken anything from the working project but the boards I'm currently trying are all brand new and I've tied 2 different unos and 2 different tlc5947 boards

12

I feel your pain. This points to a wiring error, or an accident.

As @camsysca pointed out, you may have damaged things by accident.

So… try code you didn't write and try to determine if your Arduinos are functioning (test the I/O pins you are s[using for sure, like with LEDs or pushbuttons), and try getting example code for the PWM driver to function.

a7

13

YIPPEEEE... I got it working . Hooked up yet another brand new TLC5947. Prior to doing that i noticed for the first time that both ends (6 pin ) of this board aren't the same ...Input and output for the daisy chain concept I guess .. It would be nice if they included a little piece of paper stating this . Even Adafruit website doesn't state this. I may have gotten lucky with the first one and I may now have two bad boards but at least it works .
Both of the Uno boards are still good so at least it was the cheap ones lol

Next part of this project is to make this all solar powered !!

Thanks all for your input