Easy Addressable LEDs with Arduino! WS2812B Tutorial

UPDATE - I was using Arduino 1.83 recently and found that my code doesn't work as well - make sure you are using 1.67!!
UPDATE - check this out for the simple fix: • Updating Arduino Broke...
In this video, I'll show you how I was able to control the famous WS2812B addressable LED using a standard ATMEGA328P running at 16MHz. Yea, I know it's been done before, but what's the fun in that... Here's my 2 cents in how I I did it, plus this is super easy code. Just drop the function in and you're pretty much ready to go. Look for more videos coming up - I plan on working with an FPGA to control 1000's of these LEDs - should be pretty cool. Let me know in the comments below how this method works out for you.
Here's the datasheet for the LED I'm working with:
www.world-semi.com/uploads/sof...
World Semi:
www.world-semi.com/en/
Google WS2812B in Ebay to find a similar panel that I used in the video.
The CODE is HERE:
kevindarrah.com/download/ardui...
NOTE: This has only been tested with 45 LEDs, but should work with as many LEDs as you want. This code has only been tested with the ATMEGA328P-PU running at 16MHz. Using Digital Pin 8 for the Data line to the WS2812B is only supported at this time. I'm 99% sure the LEDs I was testing with are WS2812B's but since the panels are not marked, I could be wrong. Again, let me know how it works out for you.
Check out my Tindie store (trigBoard is available) www.tindie.com/stores/kdcircu...
Thanks to all the Patrons for dropping a few bucks in the tip jar to help make these videos happen!
/ kdarrah
Twitter: / kdcircuits
For inquiries or design services:
www.kdcircuits.com

[@davewreski6900]

Kevin, WoW! This is the very first time I have seen anyone, yes, anyone that has done a great project without a library for help. You have brought true fun of programming a good project back to all of us and proved it can be done, without any help. Thank you.

[@garthhowe297]

Wow...finally finished the video...great work. I ordered some of these leds tonight. I now need to look through your code, and watch the video again. I would not have expected you would achieve the needed timing.

[@cw4608]

It is really wonderful that you have grasped so thoroughly these concepts and take the time to explain them to others. Thanks!

[@axelsolhall5830]

This video is so amazing! To be able to control LEDs from scratch was just what I needed so I can continue building my circuit and code without relying on libraries and the like. Subbed and favorited!

[@MilanKarakas]

Excellent video! It is very useful, not only for programmable LEDs, but this way I am learning some tricks for fast outputing signals as well. Thanks again.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

I love code like this. Excellent. Nudging NOPs in here and there to get the timing right is something I'm familiar with on old 8088 machines. Not exactly science, kinda like black electrical tape for code - but the thing is, it is 'exactingly' repeatable. So what if it isn't on the micron, the entire universe is analog anyway. The fact that it's 'just right' makes the code eloquent and even alive in its own aspect, because if you move the code to another processor it will behave differently. This is the art of the true programmer. Well done sir. It's been a while since I've seen it in action.

[@turntupgamer878]

Thanks! This is great, I was scared when i saw how long the video was but you had good stuff to say. Good content!

[@MPElectronique]

I really like your videos, they are from scratch! :) thank you!!!

[@DrieStone]

This is super helpful. I've been looking at other's examples, and this video is super clear in regard to how this all works. I think I might work on a version of this that uses a color palette instead for larger LED panels so they can still run from an Arduino.

[@donmilton9664]

Great tutorial and EVEN better! I did get this to work on an ATTiny85! I modified the sample to work on my small panel with 40 LEDs and FANTASTIC! You MUST set the ATTiny to work at 16MHz PLL (if you do not want to use an external crystal). I found out how to set the fuse for 16MHz PLL. Thanks!!Also I tried to change the number of LEDs to a lower amount like 10 on the same string and I got a strange effect. Occasionally the led that was lit was out side the number of LEDs I set it to. So numberOfLEDs set to 10 but I was using the same panel. I think it was because the next time through the loop the timing did not reset the string and the data continued down the string. Interesting!

[@BryanByTheSea]

Great explanation on your coding. Learned a lot watching your explanation and referencing the scope. Good stuff. Thanks

[@cliveklugman2623]

got 60 2812B leds working so easily. your explanations are always so succinct. love your videos, thanks

[@Kevindarrah]

+Clive Krugman awesome! good to hear!

[@zerodegrekelvin2]

Thanks for the video and walkthru of your code, especially when you explain the ''nop'' 8-) to adjust your tight timing, and it is very good you show the signals on the scope!! I was trying to probe the UpHere 6-pins from the fan/led controller, I think they use WS2813 as the led control is a 4 pins 5V,Gnd,Out,In where as fan is 12V,Gnd no speed control.

[@matiascorrea4925]

I love how you make programs!!, I will be a programmer like you one day :), please make more videos about your programming skills. cheers from argentina!

[@umxrr8677]

So,

[@daveplummer7344]

Thanks for the video, I really appreciated being able to see the signalling on the scope. One comment, on your code, all of the "&& MASK" stuff is redundant and always true.

[@lanthagamesmess1877]

Finally, someone who doesn't use either NeoPixel nor FastLED, thank you for sharing this, great video !

[@frank20a]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the method this video explains is pretty much how FastLED runs under the hood. It's great that it goes to the extend of explaining everything but I think it's kind of dumb to reinvent the wheel when there are 2 great libs that you can use and work perfectly and have years of development behind them.

[@lanthagamesmess1877]

@@frank20a Except when your teachers specifically ask you not to use any of these libraries...

[@shnatko]

Good work, like seeing the score traces along w/ the code.

[@jorgeperezdelt]

Thanks for taking the time to develope and share !!

[@jotchava]

holy freakin cow, thanks for that awesome explanation. more rambling the better with these types of things ;p

[@muhammadsameer883]

Excellent explanation Kevin and very clever code. Thumbs up

[@elson2k]

Excellent video. As any of them, actually :) Keep up the good work & ideas ;)

[@3toedSloth75]

Nice informative video on the details of how the electronics work for these LEDs! Suggest refactoring the code to separate concerns a bit. One function should update the array and another function should push data on the wire. That way the code is more self describing and you don't have to set a variable to -1 to change behavior.

[@Magic-Smoke]

Very good - thanks for taking the time to explain!

[@KeithSalisbury]

Thanks Kevin, this is great video, really informative!

[@jamessmirniotopoulos2615]

I see the driver code - looks great, and clever to use the for loop instead of "wasting" cycles with NOPs. Where can we find an example .ino code that uses your function to create light patterns?

[@papaluvspi]

Excellent Video. Very well explained. Thanks.

[@guitarmaker2157]

thank you for posting a code that works great work

[@notionSunday]

Thanks Kevin, another great video.

[@hypertuch]

Great videos man. U keep earning thumbs up.2 questions please: will it work on Digispark thumb arduino ? 2- Did you try making a low resolution screen/monitor using these addressable strips and Arduino ?

[@yicdgy1]

My brain just eploded!!! Thanks though for another great video!

[@DerekWelchElectric]

Thanks yet again Mr. Darrah!

[@djjoshua007]

Sweet!! :)~ I want to make one for my scuba tank ..

[@EdwinFairchild]

in the for loopp couldnt you have set )b10000000 to a variable and just shift it right by 1 bit each time in the loop

[@dylanborchert8156]

wow thank you so much, I finally understand how to control those RGB lights now

[@aydenisaiah3141]

i guess it is kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good place to watch new movies online?

[@rogerlayton4413]

@Ayden Isaiah I would suggest FlixZone. Just google for it =)

[@ka0bit0]

Awesome video ! I'm a total newb to programming and almost everything you talked about haha. I wanted to ask you, would I be able to integrate what you've gone over into making a custom taillight for my Yamaha C3/Vox project (motor bike) ?

[@clearwavepro100]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@sankar2596]

First Comment! Your videos are awesome! I learn a lot from them. I hope you keep making them. Peace!

[@jonfs2000]

Best low level explanation I found on youtube! Thanks Using the '&&' is not needed I think. Both the lines will gives the same result I guess? PORTB = ((RGB[i] & B10000000) && B10000000) | Existingport; PORTB = ((RGB[i] & B10000000)) | Existingport; Also your code depends upon the clock speed of the microcontroller. I don't know if you mentioned the clock speed?

[@iceberg789]

very nice, thanks for the tutorial !

[@Poqets]

Thanks for making such an awesome video! What did you use to diffuse your LEDS at 2:00?

[@ShampooWow]

Awesome video! I like it

[@AldGregg]

Hi, love this tutorial. I am wanting to make some LED juggling balls that can achieve some cool effects like your video. I have balls that glow but I want more than just colour change. What LEDs would be best for this? They would have to be able to withstand hard impacts when dropped. I will need to develop some sort of suspension system for the LEDs along with the central controller board. Can you point me in the right direction??

[@GaryParkin]

Thank you for the video Dylan. Is this possible without an oscilloscope? I haven't purchased one yet. I don't even know which one to get on a limited budget. (Subscribed) I'm also interested why you didn't use one of the libraries like Adafruit.?

[@rpwood934]

Your timing is dependent on the clock speed of the processor which is fine if everyone runs this on a Nano or Uno but I know by experience that this screws up if you try to run it on a Due or Leonardo. You might want to have a look at Adafruit's Neopixel library which does cater for different performance CPUs.

[@MrFarkasOfficial]

hey pal cool vid! what did you use to diffuse the light, if i may ask?

[@DupczacyBawol]

Thank you. You are the man!

[@nickdom4406]

thanks for this video dude, I'm wanted to get into LED and programming. For this chips with the build in driver, like the WS2812B, are you able to just program a single led and then just apply a power source and it will run through the programmed sequence with nothing else but the power?

[@BomKySu]

Thanks bro.. So devoted..!!!

[@timothyfranjesevic1830]

Hey I am new to Arduino programming and had a question. Can you use a similar program to turn all lights red except for randomly identified ones (1, 17, 54) as green? If so, I understood the high and low but how does it recognize the LED ID # and communicate which light to turn on?

[@thebassreview]

I'm trying to work through using this with a set of RGBW LEDs, do you have any insight regarding this. I'm getting to kind of work, but the White keeps flashing while the LEDs that I assign a color to work fine.

[@ClokworkGremlin]

Check out the SK9822 LEDs. Slightly more expensive than WS2812 and they require a clock pin, but the transmission protocol they use is a lot simpler, they include a 32-level brightness setting for each LED, and I've experimentally been able to run my set at 3x the rate that the WS2812s are capable of before hitting the limit of what I could test.

[@Homebuilt.Brett0032]

fantastic video! i tried it on a cheap 1M 60 L.E.D strip from ebay and it works well. it twinkles slightly when its white but barely noticeable. looking at the code i cant work out why it keeps turning on and off white but if i take the delay out of the loop code it just goes crazy. any suggestions on how to get it to hold a colour?

[@jamessmirniotopoulos2615]

Is there any way to send the LED output do a different PIN? I'm using a Tinkerkad LCD module and D8 is not available. However, D6, D5, and D11 are available.

[@69elchupacabra69]

At line 57, when setting the pin low, why use ExistingPort instead of defining and using a new variable WS2812pinLOW = PORTB & B111110?

[@peterniemi2373]

Love this stuff. Could this be integrated into a colour organ?

[@Engine_biulds]

Do you think it's possible using a ring of addressable leds, with a little time to code, could make them function based off an input voltage? I'd like to have several back lit rings for my gauges in my car and run them based off inputs from speed and rpm signals then at a certain input have them all flash red for a shift light... I'm sure this will be a crazy sketch to write

[@guitarmaker2157]

for the code to run the bouncy ball as the one in the vid my one is running realy fast so how would i get the led to do what yours is doing

[@VladRusu2008]

great work !

[@angelledlighting4521]

Nice! thanks for sharing!

[@MegaTacostand]

how would you witch the colr of the array from green to another color

[@matth3wc]

when using this led strip does the pin have to have pwm or can it be an ordinary digital pin?

[@thePatGabriel]

Does this need an external power supply to drive or will the 5v frim the arduino work fine?

[@SirHackaL0t.]

A great video but I'm not sure what causes each high or low to be a different amount of time.

[@tamborileyro]

hi Kevin. Thanks . I don’t see how to fetch the code listing for download and experiment. Please advice. J

[@saftschinken2353]

I got a ws2812B LED Strip and I see recomendations to get a up to 1000µF Capacitor, but i can't see how much V they should be. And I found a 1000µF 25V capacitor. Is this ok or could it damage the strip?

[@hamishwoyka5599]

can you use these leds without a micro-controller? if so what would the colour of the led be?

[@alexisedsonmransantoso6460]

Wow, Super Great video

[@Wajiduddaim]

I am using NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers but at start the LEDs start burning why its happened, Any idea? the Strip use multiple Amp according to Strip Colors is Constant -Current-Regulator necessary ? If Yes, Then how?

[@MrKillerno1]

I am interested in the first animation of blocks of color that randomly bounce around. Cannot find it anywhere.

[@MrBlackVinyl]

Hi there, this is pretty cool. But I was looking for a way to program static letters and numbers. I want to learn how to program and Arduino to scroll writing left to right, right to left, as well as top and bottom. But more importantly, how to get letters and numbers to snap in and out and fade in/out of each other. For example, a countdown from 10 to 1 fade out and in over each other. Is there a way to do this? Thanks.

[@MajorBreakfast]

Bought a strip with 60 LEDs and it works just fine :) You should consider putting that on github! A major improvement would be to use a class with methods leds.set() and leds.flush()

[@Kevindarrah]

+MajorBreakfast cool! yea good idea

[@ccalmus]

What kind of capacitor do you use exactly?

[@eviancon]

Hi there. Is there a tutorial like this for WS2813?

[@evertontrindaderisso8855]

I'm using Ws2812B and I'm having trouble, how to adapt the code for this LED model?

[@joedempseysr.3376]

Great video, good explanation. ONLY comment is you should space out the comments and stuff in your code so it would be easier for ys old timers to read. Also, use #defines for everything where a number appears in your code so you don't have to guess what the numbers are for. A.K.A. the "no magic numbers" rule in Software Engineering. Everything gets a name.

[@markavery2888]

Any reason you can't run a bunch of there in parallel and have them all do the same thing at the same time?

[@jasum437]

What kind of capasitor do you use ?

[@aliha3218]

hi, it is an amazing work but it doesn't work for me with the arduino mega 2560 can you help me please

[@TimGeersProductions]

could you put 512 of these in series and make a 8x8x8 rgb led cube?

[@adamlhumphreys]

No need to repeat the same steps or add unnecessary "&&" comparisons which turns the value into a bool, (though I think you should be able to just use "&& true" to get the same result since any positive value should count as "true"). Just continue to use bitwise operators, particularly the "

[@mareimorsy3182]

Thanks a lot! ... best explanation ever!!! ^_^

[@pirateman1966]

The data sheet is in Chinglish and I wanted to know the fastest buad? is it 800Kbps? what does "When the refresh rate is 30fps, cascade number are not less than 1024 points." mean? Does it mean "30fps is guaranteed for 1024 cascaded leds"?

[@johnnagy1575]

I have a WS2812B led strip . with 180 RGB leds . I want to press button 1 . and have the 1st led on the strip blink , what i am trying to do , is have 6 buttons . each button controlling different actions on the RGB strip , and upon completion of each action , stop ,How can I accomplish this?? I have no clue where to even start . I have tried the Fastled library , I just know how to code it thank you , I know this is from 2016 , But hoping you can give me some help

[@mixtermuxter8602]

man i loooove theese strips, i got like 5 m of them :-)

[@axelsolhall5830]

Every second update of RGB_update turns all pixels white, I think this is related to WS2812pinHIGH = PORTB | 1; but I cannot find the source of the problem. Can anyone help me with advice? EDIT: Sorry for the stupid questing, the solution was your update. Cheers mate, great video!

[@donmilton9664]

Great tutorial and video! Love your videos. Very informative and precise. Quick question: This code is working for the Atmel 328. Could it work on an ATTiny? I used the Neopixel library on a tiny85 and it worked but it took up alot of space. BTW, I also have these same LEDs and the ones I have are using the WS2812B chip. But some others use the older WS2812 and the byte order is different. I mixed the during my experiment and was confused why some had different colors than expected. FYI Thanks Kevin!

[@Kevindarrah]

+Don Milton Don, should work with ATTiny, but you'll have to change the PORT stuff, so the right pin is used. Let me know if you try it out.

[@donmilton9664]

+Kevin Darrah I tried it out on the ATTiny85 and at first it was black and nothing happened. I did figure out that the right pin on the ATTiny is data pin 0. So I fixed that and when I uploaded it and tried it I got all white and ever LED on. I tried it on my Arduino UNO and it worked great. I am thinking it is because the ATTiny is 8MHz and the Arduino is 16MHz so it might be a timing issue. I could not figure out if I needed half the clock cycles because the timing is slower by a factor of 2. Thanks! I am looking forward to using this because it is definitely smaller than using the NeoPixel or FastLED libraries.

[@kewakl8891]

It will work on the Tiny85 - I programmed the T85 using (UNO) 'Arduino as ISP' using the board manager - raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json Clock : Internal 16MHz Burn bootloader to set the fuses for the T85 to internal 16 MHz Then upload to the T85 thru the 'Arduino as ISP' I have some code to allow the use of (almost!) any port/pin. However PORTB,C PINs 3,5 don't work, and PORTD PINs 3,5,6 don't work on UNO & clones (tried on several boards)

[@kewakl8891]

will work on Tiny84

[@diegofioravanti1731]

Which frequency PWM works?

[@edisonstoneking1164]

where can i find the code down load for addressable Leds with Arduino! WS2812b

[@natwarkrishna2978]

can u tell me about the diffuser

[@mt-qc2qh]

Hi Kevin, great videos. I'm looking for a new scope after my Tek finally bit the dust and see you use the Rigol. Is that the 100MHZ? Have you ever used the the Hantek? I like the 7" screen and the 70MHZ is pretty reasonable. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

[@Kevindarrah]

+m t Had the 100Mhz Rigol for a few years - nice scope for day to day work, but I'd really kill for a 4 channel. Haven't really been looking though. 7" screen would be nice - reviews seem okay for the Hantek. Thanks for the tip!

[@seba007_]

Do you know that you can use also the Adafruits Neopixel library? Its a way more comfortable then the Way you've done!

[@CYBERemnant]

If your pixel has 6 soldering points, you have the WS2812 led. If it has only 4, then you have the WS2812B. Pretty sure about that.

[@geluidsbox9195]

3* is the WS2812B

[@andrews4276]

How can they have 3? Vcc, GND, D-In, D-Out

[@jaymeekae84]

They have V, GND, D-In at one end and V, GND, D-Out at the other end

[@DupczacyBawol]

BTW, I have 6-pin LED but FastLED.h library must be set to : FastLED.addLeds(leds, NUM_LEDS); to make it work correctly.

[@joecagetube]

i want to use the 4 pin WS2812B instead of the 6 pin WS2812 , any videos on how to use that? reduces the number of solder points

[@nesslange1833]

So you can make it reacting to music?

[@NicksStuff]

Wouldn't it be possible to use a counter and interrupts to time the code properly?

[@dronenerdsserviciotecnicoa3097]

Hi Kevin, do you have the connection plan for the LEDs? Can you share the connection plan with me?

[@TECHNO_TURK]

exit status 1 'PORTB' was not declared in this scope

[@369hz5]

Can you do a video on SK6812

[@happdreams]

Thanks a lot!

[@MrKillerno1]

You asked how many LED's I could control, well, simple, your code and tutorial made me control one led out of 512. 🙁

[@II_xD_II]

how to give power i ave 3 pins name 12v,D0,GND 3 jumper connecter is given and 2 externam wire is given -_- EDIT: i wanna make sound reactive led strip