Hello,
I just received my NeoPixel Matrix Shield for the Arduino and I'm not able to get any lights to work. I'm a total noob with electronics so I'm assuming that it is something that I'm doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated. Here is what I've done so far:
1) Broke apart the header so that it would fit on the Arduino (5, 8, 8, and 10 pins).
2) Sat the NeoPixel Shield on top of the header and confirmed that the header came through the shield. However, it wasn't a totally flush fit due to the USB connection on the Arduino.
3) Connected the USB connector to my laptop and the Arduino.
4) Installed the 3 required libraries on my laptop.
5) I tried the example Strandtest program. I uploaded it to the Arduino and could see the lights indicating that the program was received. However, none of the lights on the NeoPixel matrix lit up.
6) I tried the example Goggle program. I uploaded it to the Arduino and could see the lights indicating that the program was received. However, none of the lights on the NeoPixel matrix lit up.
7) I tried the sample program from https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Ne ... ixtest.pde. No lights.
I didn't solder the connection between the Arduino and the NeoPixel Shield Matrix. Is that a problem? Does anything else look wrong? Thanks in advance.
NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
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- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
I don't see any mention of solder. You need to solder the headers to the shield.2) Sat the NeoPixel Shield on top of the header and confirmed that the header came through the shield.
This is important. Powering the shield without reliably soldered connections can damage the pixels on the shield.
- electronics_noob
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- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:26 am
Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
Thanks, I was able to get someone to help me solder and it worked like a charm. I was hoping to chain another matrix to it. So do I just solder a wire between the DIN connection on this matrix to the DOUT connection? I didn't quite understand what the documentation meant by "connect a ground pin together and power with 5V". Do I just solder an external source to the 2 "Ext 5V" holes? Does it matter which is ground? Thanks.
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
No. Solder a wire between the DOUT on this matrix to the DIN on the next one.So do I just solder a wire between the DIN connection on this matrix to the DOUT connection?
You need to connect the ground pin on the shield to the ground pin on the matrix. Any ground pin will do."connect a ground pin together and power with 5V"
Then connect an external 5v supply to the second matrix.The Arduino supply will not be able to power both of them.Do I just solder an external source to the 2 "Ext 5V" holes?
Yes it does. Double check the polarity of the external supply before connecting to the matrix. The negative wire should go to ground and the positive wire to +5v. Connecting it in reverse will damage the matrix.Does it matter which is ground?
- electronics_noob
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Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
Would you happen to have any diagrams or pictures of this configuration that you could provide? Thanks.
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
I don't have one ready-made. Is your second matrix going to be another shield? Or one of the 8x8 matrix boards?
- electronics_noob
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- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:26 am
Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
I was going to use another 8x5 shield. Thanks.
- electronics_noob
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- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:26 am
Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
I was hoping you could help with a couple more follow-up questions:
1) If I chain 2 NeoPixel Shields together, does the 2nd shield just receive the same commands as the first shield?
2) For the 2nd shield, do I connect the power and group to the 2 spaces labeled Ext. 5V? Or do I connect them to the separate GRN and 5V spots? Thanks.
1) If I chain 2 NeoPixel Shields together, does the 2nd shield just receive the same commands as the first shield?
2) For the 2nd shield, do I connect the power and group to the 2 spaces labeled Ext. 5V? Or do I connect them to the separate GRN and 5V spots? Thanks.
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
It becomes a 10x8 matrix instead of a 5x8 matrix. You need to declare it and address it that way in your code. https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neo ... ix-library1) If I chain 2 NeoPixel Shields together, does the 2nd shield just receive the same commands as the first shield?
Connect your external supply to the "Ext 5v" terminals (Pay attention to the polarity. GND to the '-' and 5v to the '+' terminal)2) For the 2nd shield, do I connect the power and group to the 2 spaces labeled Ext. 5V? Or do I connect them to the separate GRN and 5V spots?
Then connect a ground wire from '-' terminal on the first board to the '-' terminal (or any GND pin) on the second board.
- marbaque
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- Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 7:38 pm
Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
I am having the same issue, I am also kind of a noob with shields. I am using the stacking headers, and it should work, right? But I am getting no lights at all.electronics_noob wrote:Hello,
I just received my NeoPixel Matrix Shield for the Arduino and I'm not able to get any lights to work. I'm a total noob with electronics so I'm assuming that it is something that I'm doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated. Here is what I've done so far:
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88089
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: NeoPixel Matrix Shield - No Lights
@marbaque - Please post photos showing your soldering on the shield.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.