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View Full Version : Neopixel LED String help!!!



Kenobi1467
02-02-2018, 08:11 PM
Hello

I am building the neopixel Lightsaber and I am new at this. I know the basics of building one, but I need help. The first time I assembled, it turned out to be. The LED string only lit a few LEDs in different colors and most of the blade was not lighting up. Someone HELP!

PCModulus
02-02-2018, 09:35 PM
Sounds like a wiring issue, post a pic of the strip ends?

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 02:38 AM
Post a pic. Make sure you've got the right resistor at the right place 330-470 ohm I believe? Next to the strips.)

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 02:38 AM
Oh and make sure the data line isn't looping up next to or around the power lines

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 07:35 AM
Could you give me your email because this website is not letting me post pictures

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 09:06 AM
16305

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 09:18 AM
16306

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 09:39 AM
Now that color scheme looks familiar. I used prizm for neopixel, but if I remember correctly, I got those colors when my battery was almost completely dead. Is it rebooting on you over and over?

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 09:40 AM
Yes it keeps rebooting and the blade turns on and off. Then, it turns on those colors for a little bit.

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 09:54 AM
Okay so really make sure you're battery is charged first. But also in that second pic it's hard to see your joints. However i just can't remember what caused those colors for me the first time. I'm also a noob at this. Im pretty sure it was the battery but I'm not 100% on that. I'll try to make sure

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 09:57 AM
And of course what kind of battery are you using?

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 10:05 AM
Li-Ion 18650 3.7V 2600mAh PCB Protected Rechargeable Battery Module

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 10:10 AM
I charged the battery too and it still does not work.

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 10:33 AM
Alright well either your battery isn't cutting it (you've gone past the rattling speaker stage) or you just need the capacitor that's mentioned in the manual.

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 10:50 AM
To elaborate making sure your battery can push the whole 10 amps (minimum) is important. Tcss sells a 10 amp protected 3200 mah that's worked for me so far. Although my strips are somewhat shorter than average as my saber is for my young son. From what I've read anything lower than 3200 could be pushing it. The capacitor would be used to help if your battery is right just not quite cutting it.

Page 33 of your nb4 manual basically says everything I have so far.

Meatsweats
02-03-2018, 11:57 AM
Definelty need a 10a battery first.
From experience though, whenever I get those rainbow colors the leds are borked.

Also , what strips are you using?

Kenobi1467
02-03-2018, 12:28 PM
I used these. WIXURE WS2812B LED Strip Light Individually Addressable Programmable WS2811 Built-in 5050 RGB DC5V Dream Color LED Rope Light(3.2ft/1m 144leds/m White PCB Waterproof IP65)

Squimboos
02-03-2018, 12:59 PM
Definelty need a 10a battery first.
From experience though, whenever I get those rainbow colors the leds are borked.

Also , what strips are you using?

Hmm, I wonder what caused me to get the rainbow colors. It seemed like some sort of test pattern. Only happened once when I was seeing how long my almost dead battery would stay on.

Kenobi1467
05-17-2018, 06:59 AM
May you please tell me what you did? Because I think it is because I have been using the SK6812.

jbkuma
05-17-2018, 07:43 AM
The LED strips are dumb, they don't have a test pattern that would only come from the board giving them signals. A bad connection can cause an intermittent signal that will create odd results.

SK6812 is compatible as long as it is RGB. RGBW is a different signal and will not work with electronics intended for RGB.

Kenobi1467
05-17-2018, 10:50 AM
Yeah I went PlecterLabs and I looked at each and every other tutorial. I tried everything and result is the same. I even bought the right resistor too. :mad:

Tom Tilmon
05-17-2018, 03:59 PM
If you got your strips from China, there are some huge inconsistency issues from them. 1/2 of the strips I've ordered off of other vendor sites are total GARBAGE. Adafruits have worked 100% of the time. If you got your strips from some online vendor, and you're sick of spending money, go Adafruit. They work.

Tom

Kenobi1467
05-17-2018, 07:17 PM
I have heard of them thank you. I guess I can give them a try.

Richei Blasto
12-31-2018, 08:12 PM
Have you got electrical insulation between your RGB strips where the leads are soldered AND where the manufacture may have joined 2 pieces together to make up each 1m strip?