Using buttonXState and if/else statements

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Greetings,

This is my first Arduino rodeo, and since it is project based, I am trying to perform a function for an upcoming event. I am trying to get 50 outputs, (feeding transistors... switching LEDs) doing one function while one button is activated, turned off while it is not. Likewise, a second function will begin when a second button is activated, and everything turned off when it is not. Everything is working, however, the second function doesn't always end, and continues to run. I can jog the second pushbutton, sometimes once, sometimes a few times, and eventually it will end the second function. Since this will be activated by another automated process, I need the second function to end reliably. I added a few more redundant else digitalWrite statemets at the end to try to snag a closure, but it doesn't help. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

/* 
 * WORKING WITH MULTIPLE LEDS AND MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTONS
 */
 
//a variable to hold a random number
long randomNumber;
long randomTime;

void setup() {
// put your setup code here, to run once:

// All of the pins for the BUTTONS need to be set as INPUTS
  pinMode(2, INPUT);
  pinMode(3, INPUT);

// ALL of the pins for the LEDs need to be set as OUTPUTS
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(14, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(15, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(16, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(17, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(18, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(19, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(20, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(21, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(22, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(23, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(24, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(25, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(26, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(27, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(28, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(29, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(30, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(31, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(32, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(33, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(34, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(35, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(36, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(37, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(38, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(39, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(40, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(41, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(42, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(43, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(44, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(45, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(46, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(47, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(48, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(49, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(50, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(51, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(52, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(53, OUTPUT);

//generate a random seed
 randomSeed( analogRead(A0) );

}//close setup

void loop() {

// These variables hold the button states
  int button1State = LOW;                  
  int button2State = LOW;
 
// Now the loop will begin reading each button state, 
// and then running through an if/else statement
// to determine what to do with that button state reading.
// Note that button states are "LOW" when you press them and
// "HIGH" when they are not pressed! 

 
// Read the state of button 1...
  
  button1State = digitalRead(2); 
                                        
// ...if the state is HIGH, then do the following:

  if (button1State == HIGH){ 
  
//assign a random number to our variable
  randomNumber = random(4,54);
  randomTime = random(5-100);

  //read the pushbutton value into a variable
  int sensorVal = digitalRead(2);
 
  if (sensorVal == HIGH)

  //turn on a "Random LED"
  {digitalWrite(randomNumber, HIGH);
    
  //delay to see the LED light up
  delay(randomTime);

    //turn LED OFF
  digitalWrite(randomNumber, LOW);

  } else {

digitalWrite(randomNumber, LOW);  //turn LED OFF
  }
}//close loop                          
  
// Read the state of button 2...

  button2State = digitalRead(3); 

// Button 2 is controlled with the same type of statement    
                                   
    if (button2State == HIGH){

// initiate light response

  digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(5, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(6, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(14, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(15, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(16, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(17, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(18, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(19, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(20, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(21, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(22, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(23, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(24, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(25, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(26, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(27, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(28, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(29, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(30, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(31, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(32, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(33, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(34, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(35, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(36, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(37, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(38, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(39, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(40, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(41, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(42, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(43, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(44, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(45, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(46, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(47, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(48, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(49, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(50, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(51, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(52, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(53, HIGH);

    
//delay to see the LED light up
  delay(200);
  
//assign a random number to our variable
  randomNumber = random(4,54);
  randomTime = random(5-100);

  //read the pushbutton value into a variable
  int sensorVal = digitalRead(3);
 
  if (sensorVal == HIGH)

  //turn on a "Random LED"
  {digitalWrite(randomNumber, LOW);
    
  //delay to see the LED light up
  delay(randomTime);

    //turn LED OFF
  digitalWrite(randomNumber, HIGH);

  } else {
    
//turn LED OFF
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);
  digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  digitalWrite(14, LOW);
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
  digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  digitalWrite(17, LOW);
  digitalWrite(18, LOW);
  digitalWrite(19, LOW);
  digitalWrite(20, LOW);
  digitalWrite(21, LOW);
  digitalWrite(22, LOW);
  digitalWrite(23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(24, LOW);
  digitalWrite(25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(26, LOW);
  digitalWrite(27, LOW);
  digitalWrite(28, LOW);
  digitalWrite(29, LOW);
  digitalWrite(30, LOW);
  digitalWrite(31, LOW);
  digitalWrite(32, LOW);
  digitalWrite(33, LOW);
  digitalWrite(34, LOW);
  digitalWrite(35, LOW);
  digitalWrite(36, LOW);
  digitalWrite(37, LOW);
  digitalWrite(38, LOW);
  digitalWrite(39, LOW);
  digitalWrite(40, LOW);
  digitalWrite(41, LOW);
  digitalWrite(42, LOW);
  digitalWrite(43, LOW);
  digitalWrite(44, LOW);
  digitalWrite(45, LOW);
  digitalWrite(46, LOW);
  digitalWrite(47, LOW);
  digitalWrite(48, LOW);
  digitalWrite(49, LOW);
  digitalWrite(50, LOW);
  digitalWrite(51, LOW);
  digitalWrite(52, LOW);
  digitalWrite(53, LOW);


//try to turn LED off again
  delay(100);
  
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);
  digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  digitalWrite(14, LOW);
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
  digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  digitalWrite(17, LOW);
  digitalWrite(18, LOW);
  digitalWrite(19, LOW);
  digitalWrite(20, LOW);
  digitalWrite(21, LOW);
  digitalWrite(22, LOW);
  digitalWrite(23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(24, LOW);
  digitalWrite(25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(26, LOW);
  digitalWrite(27, LOW);
  digitalWrite(28, LOW);
  digitalWrite(29, LOW);
  digitalWrite(30, LOW);
  digitalWrite(31, LOW);
  digitalWrite(32, LOW);
  digitalWrite(33, LOW);
  digitalWrite(34, LOW);
  digitalWrite(35, LOW);
  digitalWrite(36, LOW);
  digitalWrite(37, LOW);
  digitalWrite(38, LOW);
  digitalWrite(39, LOW);
  digitalWrite(40, LOW);
  digitalWrite(41, LOW);
  digitalWrite(42, LOW);
  digitalWrite(43, LOW);
  digitalWrite(44, LOW);
  digitalWrite(45, LOW);
  digitalWrite(46, LOW);
  digitalWrite(47, LOW);
  digitalWrite(48, LOW);
  digitalWrite(49, LOW);
  digitalWrite(50, LOW);
  digitalWrite(51, LOW);
  digitalWrite(52, LOW);
  digitalWrite(53, LOW);

//try to turn LED off again
  delay(100);
  
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);
  digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  digitalWrite(14, LOW);
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
  digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  digitalWrite(17, LOW);
  digitalWrite(18, LOW);
  digitalWrite(19, LOW);
  digitalWrite(20, LOW);
  digitalWrite(21, LOW);
  digitalWrite(22, LOW);
  digitalWrite(23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(24, LOW);
  digitalWrite(25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(26, LOW);
  digitalWrite(27, LOW);
  digitalWrite(28, LOW);
  digitalWrite(29, LOW);
  digitalWrite(30, LOW);
  digitalWrite(31, LOW);
  digitalWrite(32, LOW);
  digitalWrite(33, LOW);
  digitalWrite(34, LOW);
  digitalWrite(35, LOW);
  digitalWrite(36, LOW);
  digitalWrite(37, LOW);
  digitalWrite(38, LOW);
  digitalWrite(39, LOW);
  digitalWrite(40, LOW);
  digitalWrite(41, LOW);
  digitalWrite(42, LOW);
  digitalWrite(43, LOW);
  digitalWrite(44, LOW);
  digitalWrite(45, LOW);
  digitalWrite(46, LOW);
  digitalWrite(47, LOW);
  digitalWrite(48, LOW);
  digitalWrite(49, LOW);
  digitalWrite(50, LOW);
  digitalWrite(51, LOW);
  digitalWrite(52, LOW);
  digitalWrite(53, LOW);

//try to turn LED off again
  delay(100);
  
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);
  digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  digitalWrite(14, LOW);
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
  digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  digitalWrite(17, LOW);
  digitalWrite(18, LOW);
  digitalWrite(19, LOW);
  digitalWrite(20, LOW);
  digitalWrite(21, LOW);
  digitalWrite(22, LOW);
  digitalWrite(23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(24, LOW);
  digitalWrite(25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(26, LOW);
  digitalWrite(27, LOW);
  digitalWrite(28, LOW);
  digitalWrite(29, LOW);
  digitalWrite(30, LOW);
  digitalWrite(31, LOW);
  digitalWrite(32, LOW);
  digitalWrite(33, LOW);
  digitalWrite(34, LOW);
  digitalWrite(35, LOW);
  digitalWrite(36, LOW);
  digitalWrite(37, LOW);
  digitalWrite(38, LOW);
  digitalWrite(39, LOW);
  digitalWrite(40, LOW);
  digitalWrite(41, LOW);
  digitalWrite(42, LOW);
  digitalWrite(43, LOW);
  digitalWrite(44, LOW);
  digitalWrite(45, LOW);
  digitalWrite(46, LOW);
  digitalWrite(47, LOW);
  digitalWrite(48, LOW);
  digitalWrite(49, LOW);
  digitalWrite(50, LOW);
  digitalWrite(51, LOW);
  digitalWrite(52, LOW);
  digitalWrite(53, LOW);
  }
}//close loop                          

}
2

Show us a good schematic of your proposed circuit.
Show us a good image of your ‘actual’ wiring.
Give links to components.

Your switches might need to use INPUT_PULLUP.
S3 is the way your switches should be wired then look for a LOW as a switch push/closed condition.

Learn how to use arrays !

Learn to look for switch change detection, not switch levels.

Avoid using delay( ) as if it was a plague.

Edit
randomTime = random(5-100); :thinking:

3

Hello
Drop all your outputs into an array and work with the Range-ased-for loop instruction to toggle the outputs easy.
Have nice day and enjoy coding in C++.

4

button1State and sensorVal are both digitalRead()s of the same pin, and the sensorVal read depends in button1State being high. If button1State was high, the chances of sensorVal being low a literal split second later are about nil.

In the second half, with button2state and sensorVal being reads of pin 3, you have the leds' digitalWrite()s and the delay() between where button2State and sensorVal are read, so it's conceivable that the pin may have changed by the time the sensorVal read is done.

So what's sensorVal all about there?

1 Like
5

Thank you! I was building this like LEGOs, finding one piece of code that works, then nesting it in another building up to the whole bundle, and somewhere I must have picked up some overlap. I have cleaned it up and it works as expected now.

/* 
 * This project is for a Christmas program controlling a star field
 *          
 * This code controls two functions using push buttons closed by relays on a DMX
 * Function 1: all 50 outputs turn on one at a time randomly making a pixie sparkle
 * Function 2: all 50 outputs turn on together, and one at a time randomly turn off 
 * additional functions with each button press.     
 */
 
//a variable to hold a random number
long randomNumber;
long randomNumber2;
long randomTime;
long randomTime2;
long randomTime3;

void setup() {
// Put your setup code here, to run once:

// All of the pins for the BUTTONS need to be set as INPUTS
  pinMode(2, INPUT);
  pinMode(3, INPUT);

// ALL of the pins for the LEDs need to be set as OUTPUTS
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(14, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(15, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(16, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(17, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(18, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(19, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(20, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(21, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(22, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(23, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(24, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(25, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(26, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(27, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(28, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(29, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(30, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(31, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(32, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(33, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(34, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(35, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(36, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(37, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(38, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(39, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(40, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(41, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(42, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(43, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(44, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(45, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(46, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(47, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(48, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(49, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(50, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(51, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(52, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(53, OUTPUT);

//generate a random seed
 randomSeed( analogRead(A0) );

}//close setup

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

void loop() {

// These variables hold the button states
  int button1State = LOW;                  
  int button2State = LOW;
 
// Now the loop will begin reading each button state, 
// and then running through an if/else statement
// to determine what to do with that button state reading.
// Note that button states are "HIGH" when you press them and
// "LOW" when they are not pressed! 
 
// Read the state of button 1...
  button1State = digitalRead(2); 
                                        
// ...if the state is HIGH, then do the following:
  if (button1State == HIGH){ 

//Assign a random LED to twinkle  
  randomNumber = random(3,55);

//Time between Random twinkle
  randomTime = random(250-300);
 
//Turn ON a "Random LED"
  {digitalWrite(randomNumber, HIGH);
    
//Time LED is twinkled ON 
  delay(randomTime);

//Turn OFF a "Random LED"
  digitalWrite(randomNumber, LOW);
  }
  } else {

//turn LED OFF
  digitalWrite(randomNumber, LOW);
  }
//close loop                          
  

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Button 2 is controlled with the same type of statement    

// Read the state of button 2...
  button2State = digitalRead(3); 
                                        
// ...if the state is HIGH, then do the following:
  if (button2State == HIGH){                                   

// Turn ON all LEDs

  digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(5, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(6, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(12, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(14, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(15, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(16, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(17, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(18, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(19, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(20, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(21, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(22, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(23, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(24, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(25, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(26, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(27, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(28, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(29, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(30, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(31, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(32, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(33, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(34, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(35, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(36, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(37, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(38, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(39, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(40, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(41, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(42, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(43, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(44, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(45, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(46, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(47, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(48, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(49, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(50, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(51, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(52, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(53, HIGH);
  
//Assign a random number to twinkle
  randomNumber2 = random(3,55);

//Time between Random twinkle
  randomTime2 = random(1000-3000);

//Time LED is twinkled off  
  randomTime3 = random(200-350);

//Time between Random twinkle
  delay (randomTime2);

//Turn off a "Random LED"
  {digitalWrite(randomNumber2, LOW);

//Time LED is twinkled off   
  delay (randomTime3);
  }
  } else {
    
//Turn all LEDs OFF
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  digitalWrite(5, LOW);
  digitalWrite(6, LOW);
  digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  digitalWrite(10, LOW);
  digitalWrite(11, LOW);
  digitalWrite(12, LOW);
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);
  digitalWrite(14, LOW);
  digitalWrite(15, LOW);
  digitalWrite(16, LOW);
  digitalWrite(17, LOW);
  digitalWrite(18, LOW);
  digitalWrite(19, LOW);
  digitalWrite(20, LOW);
  digitalWrite(21, LOW);
  digitalWrite(22, LOW);
  digitalWrite(23, LOW);
  digitalWrite(24, LOW);
  digitalWrite(25, LOW);
  digitalWrite(26, LOW);
  digitalWrite(27, LOW);
  digitalWrite(28, LOW);
  digitalWrite(29, LOW);
  digitalWrite(30, LOW);
  digitalWrite(31, LOW);
  digitalWrite(32, LOW);
  digitalWrite(33, LOW);
  digitalWrite(34, LOW);
  digitalWrite(35, LOW);
  digitalWrite(36, LOW);
  digitalWrite(37, LOW);
  digitalWrite(38, LOW);
  digitalWrite(39, LOW);
  digitalWrite(40, LOW);
  digitalWrite(41, LOW);
  digitalWrite(42, LOW);
  digitalWrite(43, LOW);
  digitalWrite(44, LOW);
  digitalWrite(45, LOW);
  digitalWrite(46, LOW);
  digitalWrite(47, LOW);
  digitalWrite(48, LOW);
  digitalWrite(49, LOW);
  digitalWrite(50, LOW);
  digitalWrite(51, LOW);
  digitalWrite(52, LOW);
  digitalWrite(53, LOW);

}//close loop                          

}
6

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