Hello - I recently purchased two RGB boards (listed below) for creating the MLB scoreboard project (https://github.com/MLB-LED-Scoreboard/m ... scoreboard). The 3mm pitch board works brilliantly, while the 4mm pitch just shows a mess of lights. I've tried re-flashing the Pi4 a few times and end with the same result. While running the samples from https://github.com/hzeller/rpi-rgb-led-matrix, it appears both boards do not show the content properly, however as previously stated, running the MLB scoreboard program works without issues.
64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch
64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 3mm pitch
The connection on the 4mm pitch board seems slightly askew, so I'm not sure if that is cause for concern or not. Assuming there should not be a difference in spec for outputting to the same board with a different pitch?
Pictures attached for good/bad examples.
Defective RGB board (64x32)
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- lad016
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Defective RGB board (64x32)
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- good1.jpeg (335.4 KiB) Viewed 125 times
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- bad1.jpeg (406.19 KiB) Viewed 125 times
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- bad2.jpeg (406.42 KiB) Viewed 125 times
- adafruit_support_carter
- Posts: 29159
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Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
How are the boards being connected to the Pi? Are you using a HAT or bonnet?
- lad016
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- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
Via Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet for Raspberry Pi PID: 3211
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
We should try again using the examples from the hzeller library to test basic functionality.
There's some info here:
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-rgb ... g-matrices
Did you use the installer script from there to install the hzeller library?
What was the full command line you were using to run an example?
There's some info here:
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-rgb ... g-matrices
Did you use the installer script from there to install the hzeller library?
What was the full command line you were using to run an example?
- lad016
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
OK so I re-installed everything and ran the demo on both my 3mm pitch board and the 4mm pitch board. The 3mm pitch board runs perfectly as I mentioned before. The 4mm board looks terrible. Please see the attached images from the same demos on both boards. Seems like the 4mm board is somehow defective?
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- 4mm_bad.jpeg (348.04 KiB) Viewed 86 times
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- 3mm_good2.jpeg (292.8 KiB) Viewed 86 times
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- 3mm_good.jpeg (273.22 KiB) Viewed 86 times
- lad016
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
an additional image of the bad board
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- 4mm_bad2.jpeg (256.03 KiB) Viewed 86 times
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
Thanks for retesting. Good that at least the 3mm pitch is working. So know the setup nominally works.
One more thing to try - swap ribbon cables. If different ones were being used.
And you're adding some gpio-slowdown to the command line?
One more thing to try - swap ribbon cables. If different ones were being used.
And you're adding some gpio-slowdown to the command line?
- lad016
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
Yes I had gpio slowdown on the command and tried multiple values. I swapped ribbon cables and tried again, but still the same result. Ultimately I swapped the power cable also and funny enough that seemed to fix the issue. Not sure why that would have mattered since after comparison, they are exactly the same with similar ratings.
Either way - success! Thanks for your assistance.
Either way - success! Thanks for your assistance.
- adafruit_support_carter
- Posts: 29159
- Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:45 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
Wow! Cool. Glad it got working. Agree, that does seem odd. Luckily with the two sets of matrices, could continue swapping things to see if you can further isolate the issue. Like does the 3mm panel glitch if you use it with the sus power cable?
If the issue shows up again on the 4mm, also check the general condition of the soldering etc. of the power connector itself where it attaches to the matrix panel. Just look for anything obvious, like poorly aligned pins.
And thank YOU for continuing with all the troubleshooting!
If the issue shows up again on the 4mm, also check the general condition of the soldering etc. of the power connector itself where it attaches to the matrix panel. Just look for anything obvious, like poorly aligned pins.
And thank YOU for continuing with all the troubleshooting!
- lad016
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:52 pm
Re: Defective RGB board (64x32)
That's the funny thing is the 3mm pitch board never had an issue, I even kicked it back on after swapping the power cable. The general condition of both boards seems OK with the exception of the IN port on the 4mm seems to be askew and one of the pins a little bent, but that never seemed to change throughout ribbon changes, etc. Only when the power cable was switched did it work.
I'll keep an eye on it, thanks again!
I'll keep an eye on it, thanks again!
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.