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tutorials:products:rgbledpixel:index.html [2011/07/18 21:51] ladyada [Download] |
tutorials:products:rgbledpixel:index.html [2012/01/25 18:57] ladyada [12mm Pixels] |
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- | We have two types of RGB pixels, 12mm and 20mm. They have the same controller chip and use the same power but the LED and shape differs. | + | We have **three** types of RGB pixels, 12mm round, 20mm round and 36mm square. They have the same controller chip and use the same power but the LED type, number and shape differs. |
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- | *20mm or 12mm diameter waterproof pixels | + | *20mm or 12mm diameter round or 36mm square waterproof pixels |
*Approx 3" apart on 4 pin strand | *Approx 3" apart on 4 pin strand | ||
- | * 20mm pixels are LPD6803 type only. 12mm may be either WS2801/LPD6803 (we switched to the superior WS2801 pixels mid July 2011) | + | *20mm pixels are LPD6803 type only. 12mm may be either WS2801/LPD6803 (we switched to the superior WS2801 pixels mid July 2011). 36mm square are WS2801 type. |
*LPD6803 pixels have 15 bit color (5 bits per LED, 3 LEDs per pixel) | *LPD6803 pixels have 15 bit color (5 bits per LED, 3 LEDs per pixel) | ||
*WS2801 pixels have 24 bit color (8 bits per LED, 3 LEDs per pixel) | *WS2801 pixels have 24 bit color (8 bits per LED, 3 LEDs per pixel) | ||
- | *5V power, 60mA maximum per pixel (all LEDs on, full white) | + | *Round pixels are **5V** power, 60mA maximum per pixel (all LEDs on, full white) |
+ | *Square pixels are **12V** power, 120mA maximum per pixel (all LEDs on, full white) | ||
*2-pin SPI-like protocol | *2-pin SPI-like protocol | ||
*[[http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/LPD6803.pdf|LPD6803 Datasheet]] and [[http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2801.pdf|WS2801 Datasheet]] | *[[http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/LPD6803.pdf|LPD6803 Datasheet]] and [[http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2801.pdf|WS2801 Datasheet]] | ||
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{{flickrvid>5262163094}} | {{flickrvid>5262163094}} | ||
+ | Here is a video showing the 36mm square pixels | ||
+ | {{flickrvid>6761457165}} | ||
==== 20mm Pixels ==== | ==== 20mm Pixels ==== | ||
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+ | ==== 36mm Square Pixels ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ :tutorials:products:rgbledpixel:id683pixel_lrg.jpg?500 |}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | The 36mm square pixels are the biggest and brightest. They have 4 LEDs total and come in a flat metal square 'plate' that is flooded with epoxy. They require 12VDC power and can draw up to 120mA per pixel (there are two sets of two RGB LEDs connected in parallel for two 60mA draw from 12VDC). | ||
==== Pixel spacing ==== | ==== Pixel spacing ==== | ||
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Wiring is pretty easy since there are only 4 wires. The only important thing is that unless you are sure you will be using only a few of the LEDs at a time, you should not try to power the strip from the 5V on the Arduino. The Arduino is only mean to drive about 500mA of current, and as we saw earlier, a strand can take 1000mA or more if on! For that reason, we suggest powering with an external regulated 5V supply. | Wiring is pretty easy since there are only 4 wires. The only important thing is that unless you are sure you will be using only a few of the LEDs at a time, you should not try to power the strip from the 5V on the Arduino. The Arduino is only mean to drive about 500mA of current, and as we saw earlier, a strand can take 1000mA or more if on! For that reason, we suggest powering with an external regulated 5V supply. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For **LPD6803** Pixels, use this diagram with Red going to +5, Green going to digital 3, Yellow going to digital 2 and Blue going to Ground. **WS2801 wire colors will be different, see below!** | ||
{{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/rgbpixels/arduinowiring.gif?nolink&576x467 |}} | {{ http://www.ladyada.net/images/rgbpixels/arduinowiring.gif?nolink&576x467 |}} | ||
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Just make sure to 'share' the ground pin, and triple check that you have the voltage polarity right so that ground is 0V and power is 5V. For the arduino library we wrote, you can use any two pins. | Just make sure to 'share' the ground pin, and triple check that you have the voltage polarity right so that ground is 0V and power is 5V. For the arduino library we wrote, you can use any two pins. | ||
- | |||
- | **PLEASE NOTE: THE WIRE COLORS SOMETIMES CHANGE FROM BATCH TO BATCH! Do not assume the wire colors are 'logical' or the same for each strand. Double check by looking at the first input pixel!** | ||
=== Extra special note for WS2801 pixels === | === Extra special note for WS2801 pixels === | ||
+ | |||
+ | **PLEASE NOTE: THE WIRE COLORS SOMETIMES CHANGE FROM BATCH TO BATCH! Do not assume the wire colors are 'logical' or the same for each strand. Double check by looking at the first input pixel!** | ||
If you have 12mm pixels you may have newer WS2801 or older LPD6803 pixels. You should check the pixel to verify what chip is inside. This is pretty easy, for the WS2801's you'll see it written on the PCB. You can also check your kit packaging | If you have 12mm pixels you may have newer WS2801 or older LPD6803 pixels. You should check the pixel to verify what chip is inside. This is pretty easy, for the WS2801's you'll see it written on the PCB. You can also check your kit packaging | ||
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{{:tutorials:products:rgbledpixel:ws2801pixel.jpg?500|}} | {{:tutorials:products:rgbledpixel:ws2801pixel.jpg?500|}} | ||
- | Here you can see the WS2801 written on the PCB. Another really annoying thing is that like we mentioned, the wire colors can be 'non-intuitive'. For example the first batch we got had **Data** wire blue, **Clock** wire red, **Ground** wire white, and **5V** wire black. You can determine the wiring for sure by holding up the pixel as shown in that photo and noting that the wire order is Data, Clock, Ground, +5V. Sorry about that! | + | Here you can see the WS2801 written on the PCB. Another really annoying thing is that like we mentioned, the wire colors for the WS2801 pixels can be 'non-intuitive'. For example the first batch of WS2801 we got had **Data** wire blue, **Clock** wire red, **Ground** wire white, and **5V** wire black. You can determine the wiring for sure by holding up the pixel as shown in that photo and noting that the wire order is Data, Clock, Ground, +5V (this is not the same as LPD6803, see the diagram above for LPD6803 wiring!) Sorry about that! |