Mel Lester Jr
Published © GPL3+

Arduino Compatible Nano NeoPixel Controller

Control RGB or RGBW single-wire addressable WS2811, WS2812 or SK6812 LED strands up to the limits of your power or Micro-Controller memory.

IntermediateFull instructions provided4 hours40,084
Arduino Compatible Nano NeoPixel Controller

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Nano R3
Arduino Nano R3
Usually includes separate male headers and a USB-A to mini-USB cable.
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Perma-Proto Breadboard Half Size
Perma-Proto Breadboard Half Size
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Capacitor 1000 µF
Capacitor 1000 µF
Anything around 1000 uF and over 12V DC should do the job.
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2.1mm DC Barrel Jack
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Resistor 470 ohm
Don't have a 470 ohm resistor? Anything close will probably be fine.
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36-pin 0.1" Female header strip
These are optional and allow the Micro-Processor to be easily replaced if necessary
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Adafruit NEOPIXELS
Many configurations available -- add as many as your hardware can handle
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3-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set
Optional, connects Perma-Proto board to Neopixels
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5VDC Power Supply with 2.1mm center positive barrel jack
Make sure you have sufficient Amperage to drive all of your NeoPixels
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Software apps and online services

codebender

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Hakko FX-888D Soldering Station
Includes temperature controlled iron, holder and sponge.
Solder spool - 60/40 lead rosin-core solder 0.031" diameter
The thinner the better and the lead melts easier. Use an exhaust fan.
Panavise Jr.
You can't be too rich, too thin or have too many Vices" :)
Flush diagonal cutters
Needle Nose Pliars
Multi-size wire stripper & cutter
Half-size breadboard
Harbor Freight Magnifier Head Band With Lights
You can't be too careful or have too much light on the subject.
7 Function Digital Multimeter
Any decent Multimeter will do, Harbor Freight sometimes gives these away.

Story

Read more

Schematics

Neopixel Controller

Micro-Controller and Power Distribution for 1 to Many Neopixels

Code

Untitled file

Arduino
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

/* changed from #defined constants to variables 2015-12-15 Mel Lester Jr.
	The following two lines are all you may need to change for your project */
int dataPin = 6;	// Arduino PWM data pin D6
int pixels = 64;	// number of Neopixels

// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(pixels, dataPin, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// IMPORTANT: To reduce NeoPixel burnout risk, add 1000 uF capacitor across
// pixel power leads, add 300 - 500 Ohm resistor on first pixel's data input
// and minimize distance between Arduino and first pixel.  Avoid connecting
// on a live circuit...if you must, connect GND first.

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}

void loop() {
  // Some example procedures showing how to display to the pixels:
  colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 0), 50); // Red
  colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 255, 0), 50); // Green
  colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 0, 255), 50); // Blue
  // Send a theater pixel chase in...
  theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 127, 127), 50); // White
  theaterChase(strip.Color(127,   0,   0), 50); // Red
  theaterChase(strip.Color(  0,   0, 127), 50); // Blue

  rainbow(20);
  rainbowCycle(20);
  theaterChaseRainbow(50);
}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
  }
}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights.
void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j<10; j++) {  //do 10 cycles of chasing
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      strip.show();
     
      delay(wait);
     
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights with rainbow effect
void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) {     // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255));    //turn every third pixel on
        }
        strip.show();
       
        delay(wait);
       
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
        }
    }
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  }
}

Neopixel Controller Test Script

Change the dataPin and pixels variables in lines 5 and 6 to fit your project. Much thanks to AdaFruit for the NeoPixel library and example sketches from which this sketch was mostly derived.

Credits

Mel Lester Jr

Mel Lester Jr

5 projects • 10 followers
Long-time UNIX System Administrator and embedded software developer.
Thanks to Lady Ada.

Comments

Related channels and tags
  • Adafruit
  • Arduino
  • Art
  • Lights