Recently I have been playing around with my first Arduino with addressable LED Strip.
I have managed to use the FAST LED library and use the example programs on both a test strip WS1282B and then onto my install of 8 x 5m lengths of WS1282 in series. however, I have encountered some issues.
First was the Memory of the UNO couldn't handle all the strip as 60LEDS per m.
I upgraded to the MEGA and this helped for most sketches but not all as still some stability issues.
What is the next step from here? Raspberry Pi? or is there a better way.
Also, I have been searching high and low for code and tips on how to do a simple 1 colour over the entire 8x5m strips but to no avail. Any help here would be awesome!
Lastly, I'm hoping that I can use say the colour palette but include a physical button that can cycle through the different sketches if that's possible?
how to do a simple 1 colour over the entire 8x5m strips
Most libraries have a fill function to do this.
Or a simple for loop setting each LED to the same colour, three lines only.
I'm hoping that I can use say the colour palette but include a physical button that can cycle through the different sketches if that's possible?
Yes, it if you want the button to respond immediately you have to write the code as a state machine. I have posted examples of this in the past for both common libraries.
I’m new to programming so hope to work out what you mean by the for Loop, also will look back to see if I can find your past posts. Can you point me in the right direction to learn more on the for Loop stuff when using LED Strip?
Also Thanks Llaryd I will look into the multi tasking link.
Can you point me in the right direction to learn more on the for Loop stuff when using LED Strip?
You can also get at the same information through the help menu in the IDE, choose the reference option.
I am now on my laptop so I can post this now. This is for the Adafruit library. The examples that come with it are conventional blocking code, this is how I converted them into a state machine.
Look at the wipe() function for an example of setting all the LEDs to the same colour, in this case black.
// StrandTest from AdaFruit implemented as a state machine
// pattern change by push button
// By Mike Cook Jan 2016
// Fade function added Sept 2017
#define PINforControl 4 // pin connected to the small NeoPixels strip
#define NUMPIXELS1 64 // number of LEDs on strip
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS1, PINforControl, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
unsigned long patternInterval = 20 ; // time between steps in the pattern
unsigned long lastUpdate = 0 ; // for millis() when last update occurred
unsigned long intervals [] = { 20, 20, 50, 100, 30 } ; // speed for each pattern - add here when adding more cases
int fadeStep = 0; // state variable for fade function
int numberOfCases = 4; // how many case statements or patterns you have
const byte button = 3; // pin to connect button switch to between pin and ground
void setup() {
strip.begin(); // This initialises the NeoPixel library.
wipe(); // wipes the LED buffers
pinMode(button, INPUT_PULLUP); // change pattern button
}
void loop() {
static int pattern = 4, lastReading; // start with the fade function
int reading = digitalRead(button);
if(lastReading == HIGH && reading == LOW){
pattern++ ; // change pattern number
fadeStep = 0; // reset the fade state variable
if(pattern > numberOfCases) pattern = 0; // wrap round if too big
patternInterval = intervals[pattern]; // set speed for this pattern
wipe(); // clear out the buffer
delay(50); // debounce delay
}
lastReading = reading; // save for next time
if(millis() - lastUpdate > patternInterval) updatePattern(pattern);
}
void updatePattern(int pat){ // call the pattern currently being created
switch(pat) {
case 0:
rainbow();
break;
case 1:
rainbowCycle();
break;
case 2:
theaterChaseRainbow();
break;
case 3:
colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 0)); // red
break;
case 4:
fade(0,255, 0,64, 0,0, 400); // fade from black to orange and back
break;
}
}
void fade(int redStartValue, int redEndValue, int greenStartValue, int greenEndValue, int blueStartValue, int blueEndValue, int totalSteps) {
static float redIncrement, greenIncrement, blueIncrement;
static float red, green, blue;
static boolean fadeUp = false;
if (fadeStep == 0){ // first step is to initialise the initial colour and increments
red = redStartValue;
green = greenStartValue;
blue = blueStartValue;
fadeUp = false;
redIncrement = (float)(redEndValue - redStartValue) / (float)totalSteps;
greenIncrement = (float)(greenEndValue - greenStartValue) / (float)totalSteps;
blueIncrement = (float)(blueEndValue - blueStartValue) / (float)totalSteps;
fadeStep = 1; // next time the function is called start the fade
}
else { // all other steps make a new colour and display it
// make new colour
red += redIncrement;
green += greenIncrement;
blue += blueIncrement;
// set up the pixel buffer
for (int i = 0; i < strip.numPixels(); i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color((int)red,(int)green,(int)blue));
}
// now display it
strip.show();
fadeStep += 1; // go on to next step
if(fadeStep >= totalSteps) { // finished fade
if(fadeUp){ // finished fade up and back
fadeStep = 0;
return; // so next call re-calabrates the increments
}
// now fade back
fadeUp = true;
redIncrement = -redIncrement;
greenIncrement = -greenIncrement;
blueIncrement = -blueIncrement;
fadeStep = 1; // don't calculate the increments again but start at first change
}
}
}
void rainbow() { // modified from Adafruit example to make it a state machine
static uint16_t j=0;
for(int i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
}
strip.show();
j++;
if(j >= 256) j=0;
lastUpdate = millis(); // time for next change to the display
}
void rainbowCycle() { // modified from Adafruit example to make it a state machine
static uint16_t j=0;
for(int i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
}
strip.show();
j++;
if(j >= 256*5) j=0;
lastUpdate = millis(); // time for next change to the display
}
void theaterChaseRainbow() { // modified from Adafruit example to make it a state machine
static int j=0, q = 0;
static boolean on = true;
if(on){
for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255)); //turn every third pixel on
}
}
else {
for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0); //turn every third pixel off
}
}
on = !on; // toggel pixelse on or off for next time
strip.show(); // display
q++; // update the q variable
if(q >=3 ){ // if it overflows reset it and update the J variable
q=0;
j++;
if(j >= 256) j = 0;
}
lastUpdate = millis(); // time for next change to the display
}
void colorWipe(uint32_t c) { // modified from Adafruit example to make it a state machine
static int i =0;
strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
strip.show();
i++;
if(i >= strip.numPixels()){
i = 0;
wipe(); // blank out strip
}
lastUpdate = millis(); // time for next change to the display
}
void wipe(){ // clear all LEDs
for(int i=0;i<strip.numPixels();i++){
strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0,0,0));
}
}
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
if(WheelPos < 85) {
return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
}
if(WheelPos < 170) {
WheelPos -= 85;
return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
}
WheelPos -= 170;
return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}