Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

EL Wire/Tape/Panels, LEDs, pixels and strips, LCDs and TFTs, etc products from Adafruit

Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
User avatar
SaturdayMorning
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:17 am

Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by SaturdayMorning »

I'm thinking of buying 7 of these: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4732

1) What would I need to connect them together?

2) Would they work in "extended" mode and not in a mirror mode?

3) Could one raspberry pi control all 7?

4) Actually buying 6 of those is enough if I add one of these to them: https://www.adafruit.com/product/2279 and the question is: Is it easy to change the orientation of the last panel to be 64 pixels high and 32 pixels wide? Is this something I would have to do in code or is there an easier way?

5) What is the list of all parts I would need to order to connect all displays together and to the raspberry pi (which I already have)?

Thank you in advance!

User avatar
mikeysklar
 
Posts: 13936
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by mikeysklar »

You can use the RGB Matrix Bonnet.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3211

A 16A power supply will get you four panels. There be dragons going bigger than that, but a Pi can drive more it has the necessary memory and processor ability.

https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-matr ... ple-panels

User avatar
SaturdayMorning
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:17 am

Re: Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by SaturdayMorning »

So would the matrix bonnet and the panels be enough?

I don't need any more parts to be able to connect them to the PI?

Also what about this:
4) Actually buying 6 of those is enough if I add one of these to them: https://www.adafruit.com/product/2279 and the question is: Is it easy to change the orientation of the last panel to be 64 pixels high and 32 pixels wide? Is this something I would have to do in code or is there an easier way?

User avatar
mikeysklar
 
Posts: 13936
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by mikeysklar »

No, you will need a significant power supply > 16A for 4 panels.

Six panels is complicated since we have no documentation showing usage over 4 panels. You also fall into the realm of needing a larger than 20A power supply. While it may be possible it is definitely not worth it if you can make things work with 4 panels.

Adjusting resolution for the last panel in theory looks easy, but I can't point to working examples so again avoid this and stick with symmetric matching panel resolution to ensure your success.

User avatar
SaturdayMorning
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:17 am

Re: Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by SaturdayMorning »

mikeysklar wrote: Fri Jan 20, 2023 5:09 pm No, you will need a significant power supply > 16A for 4 panels.

Six panels is complicated since we have no documentation showing usage over 4 panels. You also fall into the realm of needing a larger than 20A power supply. While it may be possible it is definitely not worth it if you can make things work with 4 panels.

Adjusting resolution for the last panel in theory looks easy, but I can't point to working examples so again avoid this and stick with symmetric matching panel resolution to ensure your success.
My project is to make a led display that's the same width as a regular piano and 64 pixels high. Since the leds will not match the keys exactly it would have to be like 3-5 leds per key.

A regular piano is like 122.5 cm wide and contains 88 keys.

Do you have any suggestions for me how to do this?

User avatar
mikeysklar
 
Posts: 13936
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: Chaining matrixes and necessary parts

Post by mikeysklar »

I would consider the 5mm and 6mm RGB Matrix panels 64x32 for your project. They are physically larger so you match the sizing requirements of a normal piano and only require 4 or less panels.

; Dimensions: 318mm x 158mm x 15mm / 12.5” x 6.2” x 0.6”
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2277

; Dimensions: 385mm x 190mm x 13mm / 15.2” x 7.5” x 0.5”
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2276

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

Return to “Glowy things (LCD, LED, TFT, EL) purchased at Adafruit”