Ultimate Guide to Programming LED Strips with Arduino | Wiring, Powering & Code with FastLED

Welcome to my comprehensive beginner's tutorial on how to program LED strips using an Arduino Uno and the FastLED library. This Arduino tutorial is perfect for beginners and hobbyists interested in adding colorful animations to their projects like props, wearables, attractions and exhibits. This guide will walk you through all the steps to bring your LED strips to life!
🛠🎨 Engineering Artists: Become a member for LIVE WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY BUILDS (Zoom) ▶︎ racheldebarros.com/community
🔗 Full Tutorial: racheldebarros.com/how-to-use...
Pixel Reference: github.com/FastLED/FastLED/wi...
BUILD YOUR OWN LED Strip Animations with Arduino:
🛒 Arduino Uno: amzn.to/3JrQvpo
🛒 5V LED Strip (WS2812B): amzn.to/3xEWmVP
🛒 330-470 Ohm Resistor (kits are useful): amzn.to/3WbfjK9
🛒 Large Electrolytic Capacitor (kits are useful): amzn.to/448UEbC
🛒 Push-in Wire Connectors: amzn.to/3Jsqdnc
🛒 Jumper Wires: amzn.to/42K4kbv
🛒 Breadboard (optional): amzn.to/42FZZGk
In this LED Strips with Arduino tutorial, you'll learn:
▶︎ LED strip types and their specifications.
▶︎ Step-by-step instructions on how to correctly connect your LED strip to the Arduino Uno.
▶︎ How to choose the right power supply for your LED strip.
▶︎ How to install the FastLED library via the Library Manager.
▶︎ Explanation of the basic principles of programming with the FastLED library.
▶︎ Writing your first simple code to control the LED strip.
▶︎ Creating Animations like scanner, chaser, solid colors, gradient colors and rainbows.
🎬 VIDEO CHAPTERS: Program LED Strips with Arduino and FastLED
0:00 Welcome
0:32 LED Strip Basics
0:46 LED Strip Wires
1:47 5V vs 12V LED Strips
2:07 How to Power LED Strips
2:29 How to Wire an LED Strip to Arduino & Power Supply
3:51 Installing the FastLED library
4:30 Arduino Code: FastLED library setup code
6:33 Arduino Code: Check LED Strip Color Order
7:53 Arduino Code: Blink Single Pixel
8:50 Arduino Code: Move Pixel Along Strip
12:53 Arduino Code: Color Chaser
13:53 Arduino Code: Solid Colors
15:03 Arduino Code: Gradient Colors
16:30 Arduino Code: Rainbow
17:46 Arduino Code: Animate Start Hue of Rainbow
19:51 Arduino Code: Animate Delta of Rainbow
20:41 Wrap Up: Create Your Own Animations
20:48: Get Full Tutorial with Code
20:55: Join the Community
💬 Have any questions or want to share your own experiences, tips and advice about programming LED strips with Arduino? Drop a comment below - I love hearing from you!
🔔 If you find this video helpful, please hit that like button 👍 and consider subscribing to my channel for more props/animatronics/robot tutorials, tips, and tricks. Your support helps me create more content like this!
Some links included here are to affiliate sites. If you purchase something through them, I may earn a small commission - which costs you nothing! I am very grateful for your support when you use my links to make a purchase.
#arduino #ledstrips #fastled #arduinotutorial

[@3DPrintedProps]

Fantastic Video. Going to watch everything on your channel. You really do a great job teaching these topics. Great stuff.

[@rufustoad1]

WOW just found you. I have been trying to learn Arduino for a year now and still learning. You seem to be a great teacher so I am gonna lock in and see how we do. I will look for your community as well. Thankyou.

[@deanallenjones]

okay, i've seen you tubers give a V V V basic guide, or just go "find a sketch, and run it" this is the first time I can honestly say I understand what is going on. Thank you so very much

[@guyprovost]

Love your videos a lot. Well made, fun and educational. Keep it up!

[@jacquesdubord6844]

Hi. I just want to say that I really like the way you demonstrate (with a touch of humour) the content of your video. You aren't boring like many on KZbin. Thanks

[@michaegi4717]

2:30 Those "quick connectors" are absolutely fine to be used long term. They are even more safer than other connecors if you use stranded wires. Those single strands can move over time... if you use a connector with a screw this might cause lose contact, but with those spring loaded connectors the force to the wire will be the same. If you are good in soldering, this might be even better, but if you produce cold solder connections, the spring loaded connectors would be better.

[@bountyhunterbreaks898]

Rachel getting a little fast and furious programming LED strips!!!

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

🤣 Indeed!

[@terrymcdade1888]

I have an animatronic I'm starting to build that I'm using your tutorials on. Thanks for another great idea.

[@bobmirror7164]

Great way to get the "for" loop iteration coding down pat.

[@A_F_Innovate]

Great video, the detail you go into for modifying the code is good for learning. Thx. I just wish the tube would show the new shows timely not a week later.

[@jamesmoon5632]

Oh I need to watch this on Sunday so I can watch with my full attention

[@TheHeritageLine]

Hi Rachel, This is such a great tutorial as there is little about that actually shows you how to control a single led, they all seem to concentrate on animation effects, I have just started messing about with addressable leds and I am also using the Fast led library. I am new to programming on the Arduino but have found a great on-line GUI called Fastled Animator which could also be useful to a novice as it generates the code, when you have created your animation. I intend using it for a lighting sequence to light model buildings. All the best Tony.

[@ebrahimajam9299]

Much love all the way from Cape Town

[@tomg721]

Great tutorial Rachel. You answered a lot of my questions about LED strips. I'm ready to order some and start tinkering. Thanks

[@razzle4528]

i've been trying to learn coding for a couple of years now, (part time), you nailed it in one short video. thank you. other people just assume that you know what( i ) means when in an array, your the best girl xx

[@user-us3dp7tb3m]

EXCELLENT Rachel this lesson is truly amazing very clear just a pure pleasure to listen, watch and follow your instructions. Thank you very much !

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

Glad it was helpful! I hope you can use the info for your next project!

[@MohammadsarwarNoorzai]

Nice to meet you ‏‪

[@Electramasco]

This was an awesome tutorial. I haven't messed with WS2812 even though they've been out for quite some time now. This will be my starting point. I appreciate the hard work you put into this being easy to grasp, useful, and entertaining.

[@naboulsikhalid7763]

Great tutorial with animation and comedy very enjoyable to watch. thanks, Rach

[@dr_shayan4617]

You explain very well👌

[@colinrobert-kv2up]

Layers of strips, makes a led tv, codes of references, on quicker, groups filed, prechoice alpha letters, index's. On catalogue. Loops the more loops of speed color,shifts, john.

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

fabulous, just what I needed!

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

Working on a lighting project? Let me know how it goes!

[@kurtdeschepper2631]

I understand your logic the best of them all ,thanks,i'll try this one!

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

Best of luck on your project 👍

[@samjohnson2801]

So cool! And Rachel is always so FINE!

[@I.____.....__...__]

12:34 Here's a simpler version of this one which covers both directions with no extra loops: void setup() { … int delta=1; int ledNum=0; … } void loop() { leds[i]=CRGB::Red; FastLED.show(); delay(50); leds[i]=CRGB::Black; ledNum+=delta; if (ledNum>NUM_LEDS || ledNum

[@strandum67]

Nice !! 😍

[@McGarveyton]

Oooo, I've used an Uno on my Atari computer Sdrive Max drive emulator…I should try this out too…I have my game room lights running on a Digquad (ESP32), running WLed but I'm always looking at new ways to do stuff for other projects 😀

[@chadwickjones2824]

I truly enjoy your vids and the way you have your tutorials set up. I have used 1282's before but this is giving me new ideas, particularly on combining with multitasking...maybe a future vid on millis and 1282's?

[@chadwickjones2824]

*WS2812s

[@louiepauda6275]

Looks cool following it going back and forth? Like? Skittles?

[@MohammadsarwarNoorzai]

Hi nice video nice to meet you

[@user-hc6uo5fp8n]

Have you see this by Robert Jenkins Technology Channel - Spooky eyes - halloween Eyes assembly with schematic and configuration.

[@paulcohen1555]

תצוגה מצויינת של הנושא.

[@nktube.vyas.n]

How can do long program is upload

[@ledsarefun-oi3oi]

YEAH! look forward to learning how to code these LEDS. 16X16 matrix next? It can be called " MADE FROM 100% BRAIN MATTER PROJECT" or MF1BMP

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

😄 I actually do have a 16x16 matrix so I'll add that to the mix!

[@leonskum6864]

The addressable leds (neopixel) with Arduino are pretty nice but a ESP8266 or ESP32 with the neopixels and the WLed project are the cat's ...

[@damianbutterworth2434]

There was never any pretty Tech Girls when I was younger and dating. Then again we would of never got down to kissing if we was programming Arduino`s all night. :) :) Thanks again Rachel for the vid. I`m working on a Arduino LCD 20/4 game vid. Taking me a few weeks. I ran out of motivation.

[@zahreddinezairi7363]

Nice video and nice girl ❤

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

Thanks! Hope you make a cool lighting project 👍

[@DBB-KE5DUO]

No 3 gradients!! It's worse than wire cooties! Tesla would not approve (he was into 3, 6, and 9)! I have hundreds of single color LEDs... I may never use them since I'm hooked on programmable LEDs (thanks to Rachel)... I might need to have a LED yard sale!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RachelDeBarrosLive]

They've updated the library since we first discovered the 3-color gradient bug, but it's still biting! 🤣

[@DBB-KE5DUO]

@@RachelDeBarrosLive - I see what you did there... bug bites... bug bytes? 🤣

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

Why not put 3 of those single led's together, preferabbly Red Green and Blue, now you have a giant RGB LED pixel! hook them up to an andruino and they're now programmable! PWM the intesity and you should be able to make any colour. Youd only be able to control only a couple of these LED RGB pixels with an arduino though because 1 would take up at leaste 3 pins. I actually did something similar to this but isntead of using single LEDs i used RGB LEDs, just not the programable ones, but if you hook each leg of them up to an MCU you can vary the different R G and B intesitities and make them programable too, but they also take up lots of pins of a MCU. I could only control 5 of these non programmable RGB LEDs like this with an STM32 because each one took up 3 pins, so in total it used 15 pins which was close or at the limit of the pwm pins i believe. Or its all i was willing to do , cant remember. But 1 mcu can control like 5-10 RGB led pixels, these indiviuduably addressble ones are more efficient, they have 1 mcu per LED. But technically you could DIY that part too, have1 MCU per 5-10 LED's , youd just have to make a new communication system to talk between other mcu's and i think these programmable ones already did that more efficiently. Still i think the DIY approach helps you learn more and is actually easier sometimes since its doing the most basic thing to get somethign accomplished, while these conventient libraries abstract that away for convenience, it doesnt help with understanding, and you could pull something like this off yourself without a special type of LED.

[@DBB-KE5DUO]

@@mikejones-vd3fg - wow! excellent idea!! I could actually build my own programmable strip by building my own pixels! ... then use the SPI (serial interface) to code for all the Rachel projects!! 🥳🎉🤩😊😎🍾

[@jayblanchard4477]

I have just discovered your channel and you have such a relatable way of working through things! BTW, what you made early on is called a Larson Scanner (named for Glen Larson who created Cyclons and KITT - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_A._Larson).

[@MohammadsarwarNoorzai]

Nice to meet you

[@MohammadsarwarNoorzai]

Nice to meet you