WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

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berko
 
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WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

I am designing something that will use 27 rgb leds.
I would like to be able to control each led individually (turning on/off and also selecting color).
All of the pre built strands of LEDs either don't have the right number of LEDs or won't fit into the design layout.
I am thinking of using 27 ws2812B 5050's and want to make sure they can
A) be individually turned on and off
B) have the color individually controlled.
Also how many pins will I need to control them all? Seems like I can just chain them together off of one pin. If I use two pins and split them in half will I get better refresh times.
Thanks for any help.
-Jon

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

berko wrote:A) be individually turned on and off
Yes.
berko wrote:B) have the color individually controlled.
Also yes.
berko wrote:Also how many pins will I need to control them all?
Three: VCC, GND, and DATA.

Each chip acts as a repeater for the rest of the strip, consuming the first 24 bits of data it sees and then copying everything else to its DO pin. Technically all you have to do is communicate with the first chip in the series.

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

thanks Mike.
Seems so easy.
so if i get this i need to just send the first LED the bits.
first led uses 24 bits.
second led gets bits 25-48.
third gets 49-72.
so for 27 leds i need to send it 648 bits?

i will take a look at the library you have tonight.
then start writing some pseudo code and sketching up designs.

thanks again for your help.
are you Mike Barela that writes some of the tutorials or a different Mike.
Either way thanks for the help ;)

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big_red_frog
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by big_red_frog »

Note the neopixel lib makes all the protocol transparent to you...All the bits bashing and timing constraint happens under the covers...

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

hmm....was just reading the uber tutorial.
and i see this comment:

"WS2812 RGB LED with Integrated Driver Chip — bare NeoPixels for advanced users wanting to design their own custom boards and shapes. 10 pack. This is a surface-mount device, not recommended for novice soldering"

what would you consider "novice" soldering?
i have built a solder time desk clock, motor shield, lcd 16x2 shield, rtc as well as several other small projects on prema-proto boards but have never done any surface mount soldering.
before i order 30 of these things am i going to be able to do it?
if not, back to the drawing board.
-jon

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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by 1chicagodave »

berko wrote: what would you consider "novice" soldering?
Do you have any experience hand soldering SMD components?

What sort of layout/pattern are you planning? You should know that you can cut the NeoPixel strips to size....and in sections. So, if you got 1 meter of 30/meter NeoPixel strip, you could cut three off and have 27.

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

Hey Dave,
I am making a Tix clock:
http://www.geekalerts.com/u/tix_clock.jpg

so the strips just wont work. or at the very least i would have to really hack them up.

i have never soldered any SMD parts before, hence the trepidation.
what better way to learn than soldering 4 wires to 27 leds!
but what are my chances of failing?
just want to know if i am going to be wasting $15 bucks here. if so i would rather just jump to plan b.

thanks for any thoughts.

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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by 1chicagodave »

Are you building your own case/enclosure, or using the one from the kit?
Tix Clock
Tix Clock
image.jpg (28.03 KiB) Viewed 871 times

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

What kit!?!?
Was going to make "everything" from scratch.
Is there a tix kit?

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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by 1chicagodave »

http://www.geekalerts.com/tix-led-clock/

Has two links for purchasing kit....but doesn't look like they're available anymore. Sorry. :?

Did find an Instructible though -
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-TiX-Clock/

As far as soldering SMD. The only way to learn is by doing it. So, it's really up to you.

My thought was....if you want to use NeoPixels, and you're making your own frame anyway...could cut a NeoPixel strip into 9 sections of three pixels. Then solder them together with wires. And, could possibly just glue them down to a backer board in the correct shape/spacing. That'd give you less than 1/3 as many solder joints, and have all the capacitors which come on the strips for a little added protection.

Just a thought.
image.jpg
image.jpg (128.56 KiB) Viewed 860 times

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

Thanks Dave,
I am going to think about it.
I may pick up a SMD kit they sell at RadioShack that is just for practicing.
If that goes well I'll get the neos.
That's for your help.
By the way, those links you found are the original product, not a kit.
I am trying to, as closely as possible replicate that product because it is not made anymore.
Best,
Jon

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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by 1chicagodave »

berko wrote:Thanks Dave,
By the way, those links you found are the original product, not a kit.
That might explain why it's no longer available.... :o
Most people interested in having something like that, would probably rather build it themselves than just buy it and hang it on the wall. I know I would anyway!

Good luck!

Remember to come back and post some photos when you finish.

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berko
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by berko »

i am not finished yet, but @1chicagodave wanted photos:
Remember to come back and post some photos when you finish.
here is a link to my blog that has photos, thoughts about the work in progress, etc...

http://blog.atownrobots.com/

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wimbley
 
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Re: WS2812B 5050 RGB LED usage question

Post by wimbley »

Hi Berko,

I saw the result of the project on your blog. Excellent clock! Out of curiosity, did you ever get around to posting the code? I'd love to try building a version of it.

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