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Controlling LEDstrips with Arduino

LED Strips and Arduino

With the Adafruit Neopixel library, it is very easy to work with controlling different types of LED's using Arduino. Adafruit has a very extensive "Adafruit NeoPixel Überguide" available online, where you can follow a step-by-step guide for controlling LED strips, panels and individual led's. 

NeoPixel options:

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Strips

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Rings

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Matrices

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Pins

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Neon-Like Stips

 

Images from Adafruit

Basic NeoPixel LED strip setup

 

HARDWARE

Materials needed:

  • Arduino Uno (or other available Arduino, but Nano is most beginner friendly)
  • 1x 300 to 500 Ohm Resistor
  • 5V power supply (this type is recommended for simple setup)
  • 1x 500–1000 µF Capacitor

For controlling LED strips and Arduino you can build the following hardware:

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SOFTWARE

Launch the Arduino IDE.

If you have not installed the NeoPixel Library for Arduino, first make sure to do that first.

Arduino IDE 2.0 (newest)

In the newest version of Arduino IDE 2.0, you can install Librairy's automatic from the IDE itself. 


Arduino IDE 1.0 (older)

 

 

 

If you want to understand more about Arduino and  Library's? Read more here...

From the File menu, select

Examples→Adafruit NeoPixel→strandtest

 

 

 

Powering NeoPixels in different ways

Other methods for powering ledstrips beside the simple standard power supply are:

  • DC wall wart adapters (5v)
  • lithium-polymer battery (Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 2500mAh)
  • Three alkaline cells (such as AA batteries)
  • Four nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable cells

When choosing any option for powering the ledstrips, always take into account that you have enough amperage provided for the strips. Checkout the Adafruit page for more details regarding power options.


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