I have 6 rolls of WS2812 's and have run Arduino scripts to light up the LEDs

[G+_Newton Robinson]

I have 6 rolls of WS2812's and have run Arduino scripts to light up the LEDs. In the end, I want to build a matrix that is 50 by 36. Controlled by 6 Arduino nano's. I think I want to use Jinx! with Glediator running on the Arduino's. Jinx allows you to create a matrix of more than one set of LEDs.

 

I'm having problems with testing. I load the code on the Arduino and configure Jinx! for a 5x4 matrix. I have not cut the led strip. I just want to use the first 20 LEDs (Only 20 LEDs because I powering the LEDs from the Arduino). I put JINX! into Start Output. I will get some LEDs to lite. But they don't animate, they just turn on random colors. There are also more pixels that I defined. And not anything close to what is being displayed in JINX!.

 

I have two questions.

1. Has anyone got JINX! to work using an Arduino to drive the WS2812's?

2. Does anyone have a better way?

[G+_Newton Robinson]

I found the solution. Very simple code. Works with JINX!

 

// Glediator script for WS2812B LEDs

// Found at: forum.pjrc.com - Glediator/Jinx with Teensy 3.2 and WS2812b

// User mortonkopf 02-09-2016 @ 4:57 PM

// Tested with JINX!

// Set NUM_LEDS to the number of LEDS in the string your are controlling.

// Set dataline to the Arduino PIN you are going to use.

// You must install the FastLED Library.

// I have tested wint Arduino UNO R2 and R3. Arduino Mega 2560 R3 and SainSmart (Not sure which version)

 

#include "FastLED.h"

#define NUM_LEDS 20 // Set the number of LEDs

const int dataline = 6; // Arduino PIN

 

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

 

void setup() {

Serial.begin(115200);

LEDS.addLeds(leds, NUM_LEDS);

}

 

int serialGlediator() {

while(!Serial.available()) {}

 

return Serial.read();

}

 

void loop() {

while(serialGlediator() != 1) {}

 

for(int i=0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {

leds.r = serialGlediator();

leds.g = serialGlediator();

leds.b = serialGlediator();

}

FastSPI_LED.show();

}

[G+_David Ewing]

Just some helpful advice for larger matrix LEDs. Instead of using WS2812s, there are also RGB Matrix displays 16x16 and 32x16 that you can stack together where all the leds are already perfectly aligned. There should be code for the Teensy to drive those, but they take more CPU time to drive because they are multiplexed LEDs that have to be continuously refreshed. There is also code for the RPI.

 

Not sure if it helps for your particular project, but after you figure out how to use those panels, they have much fewer issues than WS2812s for making a LED matrix.

[G+_Newton Robinson]

I know there are panels. But if you go that way, it will look like a commercial product. Think of it like Steam Punk.