Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Play with it! Please tell us which board you're using.
For CircuitPython issues, ask in the Adafruit CircuitPython forum.

Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
User avatar
Yugao
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:18 pm

Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by Yugao »

Greeting to all !

I'm a cosplayer and a complete newbie to electronics, I will try to be precise and give as much info as I can.

I'm currently working on one of my first prop involving programming and LEDs. For those who might be interested, it's the Engulfing Lightning spear from the Genshin Impact game.

I would like my spear to have lights and interactive animations, so I decided to use this tutorial as a base : https://learn.adafruit.com/glowing-inte ... f/overview

My circuit is slightly different :
- Circuit playground express : so I can use makecode which is very easy and intuitive to understand for me.
- A slide switch connected to pin GND and 3,3V as instructed in the tutorial.
- A neopixel strip with 49 neopixels (but the final strip will be probably around 120 pixels) connected to the GND, A1 and VOUT pins on the board. I'm also using a servo connection to connect my strip to the board, because the idea is to be able to remove easily the board (for easy transportation and perhaps for future upgrade with other boards).

So far, the code seems to work fine, but the issue is, when I turn off the circuit, the neopixels stays lit and won't turn off. I have to either manually disconnet the strip or the battery to turn them off.

I have the same issue when my circuit is connected to my computer through USB.

I decided to use the spare circuit playground bluefruit I had. Since I don't know how to use CircuitPython, I simply copied and pasted a code from this tutorial, I just changer the number of neopixels : https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpytho ... n-neopixel.

Aaaaand surprise, I have the same issue with the bluefruit, the neopixels of the strip remains definitely on.

I tried everything, changing batteries, changing strips, checking my connections (I might have bad soldering skills, but still !). I feel like I'm missing something stupid, but I don't know what. Because having the same issue on two different boards...

Thank you in advance and I'm very open to suggestions. I can provide further informations if needed.

Emma

User avatar
adafruit_support_bill
 
Posts: 88096
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Please post a diagram or photo of how you have everything connected.

User avatar
Yugao
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:18 pm

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by Yugao »

Hi, no problem this is the best picture I could get :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JsUj9k ... p=drivesdk
Thank you

User avatar
adafruit_support_bill
 
Posts: 88096
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Your switch is wired incorrectly. It is just short-circuiting the output of the 3.3v regulator to ground. Although that will cause the processor to stop, it will not cut power to the Neopixel strip. And most importantly: it is not good for the regulator!

To switch power for the entire circuit, the switch needs to be in-line with the battery as shown in the guide you linked. You need to cut the red wire from the battery and connect one side to the center pin of the switch and the other side to one of the outside pins.

User avatar
Yugao
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:18 pm

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by Yugao »

Oh right I see ! But if I understand correctly the guide, I need a specific cable for this right? I don't have it and it seems out of stock at the moment...
I admit I'm a bit afraid of touching the battery itself...

User avatar
adafruit_support_bill
 
Posts: 88096
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

If you don't want to modify the battery cable, you will need something like this: https://www.adafruit.com/product/1131

Or you could use these two:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/261
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3814
Splice the two black leads together and solder the two red leads to the switch.

User avatar
Yugao
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:18 pm

Re: Neopixels strip won't turn off with CPX or bluefruit.

Post by Yugao »

Alright, thank you !
Luckily I know a shop near my town that sells them.
I will update this post if it works!

Emma

Locked
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.

Return to “Circuit Playground Classic, Circuit Playground Express, Circuit Playground Bluefruit”