/diy/ - Do It Yourself

currently I've been plugging in my 5V power source into the 5V power Pin for the Pi. I figured this would "power up" the other pins, or am I wrong to assume this? I tried running diodes over other pins to see if anything was flowing through and it doesnt look like it is. Is it possible my software was just set up incorrectly? I feel as though I just dont know how to physically lay a circuit out-- which is part of the reason I'm doing this project.

>>1060172
Have you tried lighting one channel at a time to see what corresponding lights actually light? I get wires crossed like that all the time

>>1060172
What's Max channels on that? I have a gemmy light show, does a pretty good job for the price, but only 6 channels, and not expandable

>>1060177
again here's the raspberry pi pins map

http://popoklopsi.github.io/RaspberryPi-LedStrip/img/rgb/small/gpio.png

>>1060176

I'll try doing this and test it in the morning, too tired to work on it now

>>1060178
Looks like 26, that's pretty impressive.

Gonna read through your links, I've been wanting to make something like this.

I always thought after the pi, it needs additional power, to power lights, animation, etc. But that's one of the key concepts I don't have a grasp on yet

>>1060172

If your Pi is anything like the Arduino then you can't put that many amps through it. The LEDs need to be powered separately by a high amperage source.

The only pins that should be used by your Pi are one digital pin and the ground pin in common with the LEDs and the Pi.

Source: I'm a light autist.

>>1060317
Tell me more of this high amp source.

I'd want it to power motors, as well as light sources. .

>>1060520

>power motors

Check out stepper drivers. If you need to up the voltage as well look at darlington drivers.

You can't run a high amp signal through most, if not all, microcontrollers. The max output on a digital pin on the arduino is like 500mA, which won't come close to lighting a 5m strip or being able to power a motor.

>>1060922
right, althought my strip isnt 5 meters long. Still I dont think that is enough current, anyway I could just build these myself?

>>1062398

Build what? The lights or the power supply? Yes to both, although the power supply you should have an oscilloscope.

>>1062467
are these all yours?

I meant build a voltage multiplier if I needed 5V, should ramp up the current that way too, right?

>>1062832

Yeah, lighting and electronics/programming are my hobbies. If I were you I would buy a 5V 10-20 amp power supply depending on the length of lights. 5m needs 20A at max brightness, you can use less amperage for less lights.

>>1062836
I actually already own that 5v power supply in that pic. I have no idea how to integrate it into the circuit though.

>>1062989

Which power supply? Post pics, I'll help.

>>1063026
not him but you seem to know what you are doing
I have a cheap knockoff arduino, a 5V 30A power supply and 6 meter of WS2812B lds 60/m so a total of 300
and i cant for the love of god get it to light up

this might seem like a dumb request but could you maybe post a arduino code for me to copy and paste to check if they even work ?
i really have no clue

>>1063929

post your wiring diagram

>>1063929

Your wiring looks fine except that you shouldn't have the 5V from the arduino hooked up. A resistor between the digital out and the led strip would be ok protection for your arduino. The LED strips should have a capacitor on the 5V to absorb over voltages. Otherwise looks alright.

If you're using the Adafruit library use the example code in there. The only things you need to change with the example code is how many LEDs are in the strip and which digital pin you're using.

>>1064033

Sorry, meant resistor on the ground wire.

Here's the setup. Red is power, white is ground on the strip, blue is digital, the shrink wrapped wire is ground to the arduino which has a resistor on it.

>>1064037
alright ill add those two components and try it again with the arduino getting power over usb
>>1064021
pic related

Thanks for the imput guys ill post if it worked once i get home

>>1063929

Also, it doesn't look like you're powering your arduino here. Make sure it's getting power from some source.