Hello everyone, I have been working with neopixels for a a few months now

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 8:25pm

Hello everyone,

I have been working with neopixels for a a few months now and have never run into any issues; whoever, I recently purchased a few Flora v2 neopixels and I can’t seem to be able to get them to light up correctly.

I have no problems with single RGB values, (ie: I get Red when I type 255, 0, 0 or Blue with 0, 0, 255), but when I mix values (ie: 255, 240, 100) all I receive is red as the output color. Any idea on how to fix this?

Information:

Neopixels: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WS2812-Flora-RGB-Neo-Smart-pixel-version2-Pack-of-4-wearable-LED-board-with-Integrated-Drivers/32827163263.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.1e454c4dtQFRmp

Neopixel chipset: WS2812B *Since the seller did not specify, I used the sketch example from the library “RGB calibrate” to find out. I received 1 red, 2 green, 3 blue when using the WS2812B arrangement. See photo 1.

Library version: 3.1.6 (Also tested with 3.1.8).

Arduino: Uno Rev3

OS: Windows 10

My goal is to get all pixels to light up in white (255,255,255), so using the same code from the “RGB calibrate” sketch, I changed the original values to 255, 255, 255 on all leds, but when I do that and upload to my Arduino, all the leds light up red. See photo 2.

Code used: https://gist.github.com/fireworks-fan/faa954095ddf022302b3825e2162832c

Already tried:
Switching the new pixels with old Flora ones to see if code is incorrect. (Photos 3 and 4: Left side is new pixel, right side is Adafruit’s pixel.) I get white color with the Adafruit ones and Red with new ones.
Connecting a RGB neopixel strip of 50 leds to see if maybe power was an issue with the new setup (5 leds). Same results as above.
Changing wiring (using a different cable). Same results.
Arduino UNO board reset. Same results.

Any ideas on how to fix this issue are welcomed. Thanks!!

Yves_BAZIN · May 17, 2018, 9:20pm

Hello according to adafruit the old NeoPixels are 400khz. When you say you plug a strip of NeoPixels it work correctly?

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 9:32pm

@Yves_BAZIN Correct, it works just fine. I get all RGB colors, plus white at 255, 255, 255 and any combination I want.

Yves_BAZIN · May 17, 2018, 9:33pm

@JP_Hidalgo have you tried something like (100,100,100)

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 9:36pm

@Yves_BAZIN Yup. I get Red only. Any repeated value on each color (ie 200, 200, 200) gives me only red as output.

Yves_BAZIN · May 17, 2018, 9:38pm

@JP_Hidalgo I would say try the version 3.1.8 to see if it changes something otherwise I would say that you have bad pixels

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 9:51pm

@Yves_BAZIN I can certainly try that. I downloaded the latest version on .zip file and added it manually to the Arduino program, but can’t seem to be able to choose that version. Only shows me 3.1.6. How to switch to newest?

Yves_BAZIN · May 17, 2018, 9:55pm

You need to unzip it in the arduino libraries directories. Check the name of the extracted folder. It should be FastLED. And the. Restart arduino

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 10:09pm

@Yves_BAZIN Just tried 3.1.8, same results. I can’t believe the pixels are damaged. I had 40 already soldered and ready to go… Thanks for your help though! If anyone else has any other ideas, please let me know.

Yves_BAZIN · May 17, 2018, 10:34pm

@JP_Hidalgo I don’t know what to say really try ws2811 instead of ws2812 you never know

JP_Hidalgo · May 17, 2018, 10:52pm

@Yves_BAZIN Yeah, I did that too before posting. Same results still. No worries, I really appreciate the insight.

marmil · May 17, 2018, 11:39pm

That’s strange. I can’t think of anything else to test at the moment, you did some good investigating already.

JP_Hidalgo · May 18, 2018, 3:33am

@marmil Thanks. I also tested with Adafruit Neopixel Library and I get the same results, so it may indeed be damaged pixels.

Andrew_Tuline · May 18, 2018, 1:54pm

Did you try another platform, such as a Nano? How about connecting to the 2nd pixel?

JP_Hidalgo · May 18, 2018, 3:28pm

@Andrew_Tuline Don’t currently own any Nanos, but I did try skipping first pixel and connecting to the 2nd one; and also a single pixel (see photo 3 or 4) and I received the same results. Any idea as to why a Nano would behave any different if its the same Arduino code going in?

Andrew_Tuline · May 18, 2018, 4:03pm

@JP_Hidalgo Why a Nano at this point? Desperation.

JP_Hidalgo · May 18, 2018, 4:10pm

@Andrew_Tuline Haaha! I have emailed the seller directly, so hopefully he can point me in the right direction or in the best case, if the pixels are faulty, send me a new order. Has anyone else had a similar issue with neopixels?

Yves_BAZIN · May 18, 2018, 4:40pm

@JP_Hidalgo good luck !!

Chris_Creel · May 18, 2018, 6:03pm

@JP_Hidalgo , I want to get a bunch of these pixels, so let me know if you figure out it with the seller. That’s a great price.

JP_Hidalgo · May 19, 2018, 2:48am

@Chris_Creel Will do. Ill report back if the seller responds to my inquiry.