Matrix user forums

Hello all. I ordered a new string of led's for a project I want to start. They are like the ws2812 rgb's but they also have a white.
I did a search on the forum and didn't see anything come up. Does any one have a driver? Or can the led string driver be tweaked to work with these?

Here is the data sheet( I think).
http://www.normandled.com/upload/201805 ... asheet.pdf

This is the string.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079ZRLMQR?ps ... ct_details

Thanks,
Chad

Hi Chad,

It looks like it should be compatible.

Have a go and let us know how you get on.

Ok I'll give it a go. Just wasn't sure how a three channel control component is going to behave with a four channel led.

They should be here today.

Thanks,
Chad

Ok so it is sort of working. I tried first with some (should be) good R-G-B ws2812's. And they respond and I can control the color of them. The problem it seems that the start is shifted from 1. If i try #1 it starts at like 16? I think there is something funky with the rgb 2811 / / / component.

I then tried my new R-G-B-White strip and it does respond also offset from 1 but it is more or less impossible to control because there are 4 colors instead of three so everything is off and one led intensity control bleeds into another led.

Suggestions welcome.

thanks
chad

Hi Chad.

I looked at the datasheet on the driver ic sk6812 and there were only three colour channels. Is the white led part of the same led package or a separate package? Do you have a datasheet for the white led?

Hi Ben,

Yes They are in the same package , RGBW. So the white channel is just number 4 in the data packet.
I couldn't find a datasheet for the white led yet but I will keep looking.

This is a data sheet from adafruit.
https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-f ... sheet+.pdf

Here is their version using the same chip.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2867

Thanks,
Chad
They make RGB,RGBWW. WW is warm white. So that is 4 channels in a package.

Hi Ben, any new news?

Thanks,
Chad

Hi Chad,

Just had an experiment with one of these. They take a 32bit value using the same timing as ws2812 leds.

I modified my ATTiny85 ws2812 code to take a 32bit colour (note the ws2812 component has 24 bit color - no white - so would need modifying to have a 32 bit buffer. Here I just 'push' values)

Here I'm using a Uno (16MHz as per ATTiny though) - so I can also output info to UART. The LED pin is hardcoded as B0 (pin 8 ) - but I used this code as I knew the timing is 'spot on'.

Works fine - white value is just shifted in as the fourth byte (So GRBW I think...)

I only soldered up one LED (working on that SMD technique) - amazingly worked first time! The final 'switch option' should be 4 (currently 5) if you want to see the chip 'all in'.

Martin

Hi Martin, Thank you very much! I will play with this later and let you know.
I am using a pic32mz for my little project so we will see how it goes.

Chad

Hi Chad,

Won't work as is then... The source for the ws2812 component is on the forum @ viewtopic.php?f=76&t=22045&hilit=ws2812 - along with my refresh code which should be easier to modify.

Basically need to extend the data transmitted to 32bits (which will make the refresh slower) - see how it goes, and Ill try and tweak my refresh code this evening if you are having trouble..

Martin

And a datasheet (which seems to show the layout as RGBW) https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-f ... _REV01.pdf

To confuse the issue - they are also available in RGB form - which accept 24 bit colour (GRB as per ws2812) https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-f ... sheet+.pdf

The timings required are also different to WS2812 - (for example reset time is 80us instead of 50us) Guess I was lucky that it worked last night....
Martin

Hi Ben,

I noticed that you got this running in FC9. Can you post this to fc8?
I requested this on march 22nd.

Thanks,

Chad

Hi Chad,

I've now added the component into v8 for you.

Let me know how you get on.

Great! thanks. I'll try it out tonight!

Chad

Hey, I updated my components and it shows up but when I try to add it to a panel it errors with a "failed to add component".

Chad

Hi Benj and everyone
I bought some led strips with SK6812 - rgbw driver and I installed your component, but it doesn't work for me either.
Can you check what the problem is?

Thank you very much

BUMP

Hello,

Sorry about the delay and thanks for bumping, this should hopefully be resolved for you now.

Hi Benj
Great!!
thanks as always for your availability

Hi Ben,

Fired up this after you posted it. Seems to work great , thanks!

Chad