I'm planning an installation that will consist of several disconnected strands of neopixels. Each neopixel strand will have a dedicated controller that needs to be sitting on a wifi network.
I see lots of options for controllers that are wifi enabled, and some pretty big price differences. Any recommendations?
Needs to:
- Support CircuitPython, including the wifi support
- Be reasonably inexpensive (less than $20 is ideal)
- Be able to drive strands neopixel strands of up to 10 feet in length
- Be powered by power cable
Thanks.
Controller for wifi project
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- neradoc
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:38 pm
Re: Controller for wifi project
Hi, any requirements on the power cable ?
All boards can be powered by USB, most Adafruit boards can be powered by the 5V or Bat pin (if any) when not on USB.
Few boards have a dedicated power plug (the Metro are the only ones I can think of).
To drive a neopixel strand I would use a QT PY ESP32-S2. There's also a version with external antenna.
The C3 version is cheaper, but support is still alpha in Circuitpython.
All boards can be powered by USB, most Adafruit boards can be powered by the 5V or Bat pin (if any) when not on USB.
Few boards have a dedicated power plug (the Metro are the only ones I can think of).
To drive a neopixel strand I would use a QT PY ESP32-S2. There's also a version with external antenna.
The C3 version is cheaper, but support is still alpha in Circuitpython.
- raysblog
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:39 pm
Re: Controller for wifi project
Thanks for the response.
No requirements on power cable. So long as I could use a USB plug adapter to plug directly into an outlet, that definitely works!
Couple quick followups:
1. If I get the stock QT Py ESP32-S2, I assume I don't need the antenna? Does the antenna just give extra wifi range?
2. Do you know how many neopixels this QT Py can drive?
No requirements on power cable. So long as I could use a USB plug adapter to plug directly into an outlet, that definitely works!
Couple quick followups:
1. If I get the stock QT Py ESP32-S2, I assume I don't need the antenna? Does the antenna just give extra wifi range?
2. Do you know how many neopixels this QT Py can drive?
- neradoc
- Posts: 542
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:38 pm
Re: Controller for wifi project
Software-wise, there's 2MB of PSRAM, you can drive a large number of neopixels with that.
Powering them depends on the total number, but that's nothing special to the QT PY.
I find the builtin antenna to be sufficient for my use, but I can't talk for your setup. That's always an unknown with wifi.
Powering them depends on the total number, but that's nothing special to the QT PY.
I find the builtin antenna to be sufficient for my use, but I can't talk for your setup. That's always an unknown with wifi.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.