So today’s question is pretty simple and straightforward, but the way you go about it is not quite as direct. You need a little bit of programming knowledge and understanding of electronics to make this work but don’t worry, I’ll guide you through it step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But before we get into the details of how to do this, let’s answer the question of why you would want an LED strip that can flash a color other than white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common application for this is in RGB lighting, where you have red, green, and blue LEDs that can mix together to create any color of the rainbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is used in all sorts of applications, from computer case lighting to under-car lighting, to home accent lighting, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a really popular way to add some customization and personality to your setup, and it can also be used for functional purposes like indicating different states or conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So now that we know why you might want an RGB LED strip that can flash colors other than white, let’s talk about a few things to consider before making it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two common types, WS2812 and SK6812. The WS2812 is an older standard, and it’s what you’ll find in most pre-made RGB LED strips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It uses a common anode design, which means that the + side of the power supply is connected to all the LEDs in parallel, and then each one has its own data line that goes back to the controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SK6812 is a more recent standard that uses a common cathode design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means that the power supply is connected to each of the LEDs in series, and then they all share a single data line back to the controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which one you have will determine how you wire things up, so it’s important to know which type you have before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re not sure, the best way to find out is to look at the datasheet for your LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will usually list the model number somewhere, and from there, you can do a quick Google search to find out which type it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a key feature of modern RGB LED strips, and it’s what allows you to control each LED individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your strip doesn’t have this feature, then you won’t be able to make the LEDs flash different colors and you’ll be stuck with a single color (usually white).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can usually tell if your LED strip is individually addressable by looking at the datasheet, but another giveaway is that each LED will have its own tiny chip on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can’t see any chips, then it’s likely that the LEDs are not individually addressable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controller is the brains of the operation, and it’s what tells the LEDs what color to display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a few different types of controllers out there, but for our purposes, we’re going to focus on two common ones: Arduino and Raspberry Pi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arduino is a very popular choice for LED projects because it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raspberry Pi is also a popular choice, but it’s more expensive and requires a bit more technical know-how to set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Either one will work for this project, but for the sake of simplicity, I’m going to focus on using an Arduino in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will determine how much current the LEDs can draw and thus how bright they can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most RGB LED strips are rated for around 60mA per color, so that’s a good starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if you want your LEDs to be super bright, you can look for ones that are rated for higher currents. Just keep in mind that this will also increase the power consumption of your LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is important because you need to make sure that the voltage of your power supply is compatible with the LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most RGB LED strips to operate on 12V, but there are also some that work with 24V. Again, you can check the datasheet for your LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing you need is an LED strip that is capable of displaying colors other than white. You can find these online or at your local electronics store. Make sure to get one that is compatible with your controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, you’ll need to find a way to control the LED strip. I recommend using an Arduino board or a Raspberry Pi. If you don’t have either of these, you can use a basic breadboard and some jumper wires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have all the hardware, it’s time to start programming. If you’re using an Arduino, you’ll need to download the Arduino IDE. This is a free software that allows you to write code for your Arduino board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re using a Raspberry Pi, you can use any programming language that you want. I recommend using Python, but you can also use C++ or Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you have the IDE installed, it’s time to start coding. The first thing you’ll need to do is create a new project. In the IDE, go to File > New > Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give your project a name and select the location where you want to save it. Then, click on the Create button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have a new project, it’s time to start writing some code. The first thing you’ll need to do is include the Arduino library for controlling LEDs. This library will give you all the functions you need to control your LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To include the library, go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Library Manager, search for “FastLED” and install the latest version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have the FastLED library installed, it’s time to start writing some code. The first thing you’ll need to do is declare some variables. These variables will store the data for your LED strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first variable is called “less.” This will be an array of CRGB objects that represent each LED in your strip. The second variable is called “NUM_LEDS.” This should be set to the number of LEDs in your strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third variable is called “less.” This will be an instance of the FastLED class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have your variables declared, it’s time to write some code. The first thing you’ll need to do is initialize the FastLED class. To do this, add the following line of code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FastLED.addLeds(less, NUM_LEDS);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This line of code will tell the FastLED library to use your LED strip and the number of LEDs in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have the FastLED class initialized, it’s time to write some code to control your LED strip. The first thing you’ll need to do is set the color of your LEDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To do this, add the following line of code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for(int i=0; i NUM_LEDS; i++) {<\/p>\n\n\n\n
less[i] = CRGB::Red;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
}<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This code will loop through all the LEDs in your strip and set their color to red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have the LED strip set to red, it’s time to add some code to make it flash. To do this, add the following line of code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FastLED.show();<\/p>\n\n\n\n
delay(1000);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This code will make the LEDs flash once per second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also add code to make the LEDs fade in and out. To do this, add the following line of code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for(int i=0; i NUM_LEDS; i++) {<\/p>\n\n\n\n
less[i].fadeToBlackBy(64);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
}<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FastLED.show();<\/p>\n\n\n\n
delay(1000);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This code will make the LEDs fade in and out once per second. There is a lot more customization you can do to make your LED strip flash a color other than white. But, this should give you a good starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you’re satisfied with the code, it’s time to upload it to your Arduino or Raspberry Pi. To do this, go to Sketch > Upload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will compile your code and upload it to your board. Once the code is uploaded, you should see your LED strip flashing a color other than white. If you have any problems, make sure to check the documentation for the FastLED library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s it! You should now know how to make your LED strip flash a color other than white. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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