SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-19T07:37:05-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsBeelzebot on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutBeelzeboturn:uuid:790b65d4-333b-59fa-9f84-53d4183785fd2013-07-12T06:55:36-06:00<p>http://www.adafruit.com/products/1379 $4.95 for 10x</p>
e-radionica on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoute-radionicaurn:uuid:cc7db685-7b52-9f15-dbf2-60886483918d2013-05-31T15:29:38-06:00<p>I'm pretty sure this is 5050</p>
e-radionica on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoute-radionicaurn:uuid:5aa028f4-e2d0-afcc-8d26-ed436ec636a52013-05-31T15:28:49-06:00<p>There are 27ohm resistors on feedback pins on this board. They regulate current output on 22mA on R/G/B channels. If you are using 5050 LED and 5V supply, you can void resistors on output pins.</p>
Kamiquasi on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutKamiquasiurn:uuid:54a2ec77-b380-af2c-9932-f1c7264734272013-05-20T09:59:05-06:00<p>Yes, but keep in mind that these have a fairly high current draw, so if you add more than one you can quickly reach the maximum current draw allowed from your USB port. Check out some of the other comments here :)</p>
MKH on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutMKHurn:uuid:2005b723-71bc-401b-eecd-60b6c69daca82013-05-20T08:29:34-06:00<p>So just so I'm clear, I could run this board off the USB power connection for the Arduino Uno at 5V, correct?</p>
MKH on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutMKHurn:uuid:4c98fecf-e986-c102-7c6b-efa8557a11912013-05-20T08:28:12-06:00<p>Would you suggest a particular tutorial from this website?</p>
Customer #398914 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #398914urn:uuid:ecc6b467-683d-0d21-060f-51505b0a03932013-01-16T07:19:29-07:00<p>Got two of these, just fantastic. Even on low settings they are bright. Being able to just set the colour using RGB values is cool. The only thing I cannot find, I would like to document and blog what I am doing, using Fritzing to show the layout of the breadboard and Arduino. I cannot find the part in any of the libraries or anywhere on the net. Is there a ready made part to use in Fritzing?</p>
Stoof on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutStoofurn:uuid:b623ad38-c8aa-6d0b-bb35-5b6e843a365a2012-12-29T19:27:32-07:00<p>According to the WS2801 datasheet on page 9, a feedback resistor (R_XFB) with a value of 30 ohm will give a current of 20 mA.</p>
Customer #380389 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #380389urn:uuid:995a7c57-7e23-5114-820b-b55439bf37452012-11-18T12:41:17-07:00<p>What size resisters where used? 0805, 0603 oo 0402</p>
Customer #362811 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #362811urn:uuid:725af3e2-2aa4-d096-3178-3fb2263ec6aa2012-10-21T03:54:33-06:00<p>how would you connect three of these to a arduino mega 2560 and control them by an app on the host computer?</p>
Hivoltage on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutHivoltageurn:uuid:50f7218e-4c65-63d1-8f59-2d1e8437d3842012-10-19T08:03:07-06:00<p>I will see about digging up the code.
If I cannot find it I will recreate it.
I can even get it to bit bang it out if you want that instead.<p>as far as the arduino environment I have been working on other projects that require it and can convert from standard to arduino sketches now.</p></p>
JMP on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutJMPurn:uuid:00b95e55-75d0-fadd-1a73-3e7cac3383632012-08-24T14:15:43-06:00<p>what about the smd led : schematic show SMD 5050 and datasheet show SMD5060 ?</p>
wassabi on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoutwassabiurn:uuid:ba312434-6552-2697-e826-2be16beaa1502012-08-21T08:51:45-06:00<p>I am very interested in your code, I too am trying to implement these with an attiny.</p>
Customer #336386 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #336386urn:uuid:8f7326e8-9dd2-4e30-2698-6088080d27192012-07-07T11:43:19-06:00<p>The ws2801 datasheet shows resistors on the output and the feedback pins. Your circuit does not have them, so would I just use the appropriate resistors for the led on the feed back pins and connect the led directly? (I'm talking using the bare chip, not your breakout)</p>
TyTower on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutTyTowerurn:uuid:c2625c11-5c80-6e40-fdd0-582c1639a41d2012-02-23T15:39:03-07:00<p>With the strips I thought I had damaged a couple I was playing with and the library suggested by Sparkfun did not explain itself very well . I had difficulty understanding it. In the first post here is a link to a page on the strip and its suggested library is http://www.bliptronics.com/%5Carduinocode%5Cblip_leds_spi_2801.zip<p>I got this library and it required three changes -Change WProgram.h to Arduino.h and delete the reference to wiring.h. With these changes it now runs on Arduino Version 1 and I noticed the reference text included with the library had some good explanation notes for novices like myself.</p></p>
ELMatador on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutELMatadorurn:uuid:99777507-108e-11eb-048f-8541c735c5542011-12-31T09:10:42-07:00<p>do the boys at sparkfun solder the led on by hand? Or do you all do a double sided reflow?</p>
Hivoltage on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutHivoltageurn:uuid:ff9ff110-2b6a-a746-ff19-bb3385707d632011-11-19T21:44:40-07:00<p>Update.
I managed to get the code working.
I used a tiny85 and if anyone is interested I can send them the code or post it where they wish.
Works but is crude.
The arduino code was bit banging it out. Not taking any advantage of the USI iterface or the spi in the case of the atmel 328p chip.<p>:)</p></p>
Hivoltage on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutHivoltageurn:uuid:019ec9f5-7db0-97ba-f2a6-467b656330ad2011-11-19T10:48:23-07:00<p>Does anyone know what this from the reference arduino is for?<p>"for(byte color_bit = 23 ; color_bit != 255 ; color_bit--) {
//Feed color bit 23 first (red data MSB)"</p><p>color_bit <--- this is not referenced anywhere. I have no idea where its defined.
Its causing me compilation errors.
I have nothing against arduino but I do not want to limit myself to that environment.</p></p>
Hivoltage on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutHivoltageurn:uuid:dce50467-b7f3-910d-3be3-5bf07802d03e2011-11-19T10:48:23-07:00<p>Example code is for the Adruno environment only.
I need to figure out what the refrences are.
like color_bit.<p>Its frustrating to try to convert the code. :/</p></p>
McLovin on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutMcLovinurn:uuid:ef99bae6-b031-8c72-9e27-7000cafa6c092011-11-08T15:55:09-07:00<p>This would be a dream LED! Wow. Diffused lens, integrated IC.. I WANT. Too bad you can't even find them for sale, and if you do.. I'm betting that they're expensive as hell. Soon though. It's coming.</p>
Customer #50029 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #50029urn:uuid:50238bd5-d8d7-f267-a685-fb44f3a079e32011-11-01T18:28:37-06:00<p>Did you find a work around, I have code working for RGB output. Looking for HSL to RGB or some way to fade throw the colors.</p>
Hivoltage on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutHivoltageurn:uuid:d9889542-7154-3420-8a78-fd17b2a610412011-10-14T15:21:41-06:00<p>I wish the sample code was standard and not specific to Arduino IDE....<br>
Its taking me a while to figure work around.</p>
KirAsh4 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutKirAsh4urn:uuid:4c2e9664-2f40-62c8-513a-1af93c7cea7b2011-09-29T16:15:15-06:00<p>Ok, Pearce responded (thanks Pearce!) The BoB is in constant current mode. From the datasheet, it shows 2 sets of resistors, RL and RXFB. The RL resistor is a load resistor and the engineer(s) said that's optional.<br>
As for the 27 Ohm resistors used, at the top of page 9 there's a formula, Ixout = Vref/Rxfb where Vref is 0.6V. So a 27 Ohm resistor will set Iout to approximately 22.2mA.<br>
There ya have it.</p>
KirAsh4 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutKirAsh4urn:uuid:d2a2a6d7-5727-f03d-bcc0-faa02aff29cd2011-09-19T14:02:57-06:00<p>Hey SFE, what configuration is this? It looks like the constant voltage configuration, however the schematic in the spec sheet has the resistors on R/G/BOUT pins going to the LED with R/G/BFB going to ground - this is backwards from that. The constant current mode has resistors on both sides, which this breakout doesn't have either. So, I'm curious.<br>
Also baffling is the 27 Ohms resistors being used. Calculating numbers based on the spec sheet, the red channel ought to have a 100 Ohms and the green and blue 68 Ohms (based on 5V VCC pin on an Arduino). So, what gives?</p>
KirAsh4 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutKirAsh4urn:uuid:dee6de96-23f8-414a-279e-5d98a9140aec2011-09-13T12:52:28-06:00<p>Page 13 of the Spec sheet says up to 6 meters at 2MHz. Not 100% on the I2C since a proper I2C device supports clock stretching, and I don't think the WS2801 does. So it's labeled as a 2-wire scheme, or interface device.</p>
BItBYBYtE on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutBItBYBYtEurn:uuid:114a5a02-c836-6b02-891a-c00789b363c02011-09-09T00:32:19-06:00<p>What is the max length between each WS2801 chip before they start flaking out? Does this run on I2C bus?</p>
KirAsh4 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutKirAsh4urn:uuid:36a84fd8-1142-f330-cd8a-cca6401899162011-09-06T13:52:57-06:00<p>You probably want to move up to the TLC5911 (parallel, 80mA x16 channels) or the TLC5930 (serial, 40mA x12 channels). The TLC5910 is obsolete.<br>
Mind you, there are others, however my search criteria was for active drivers with 1024 PWM steps driving between 40mA to 500mA. Change the PWM steps to a lower value and you get many other options.</p>
Zvika on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutZvikaurn:uuid:6506387e-8859-0e0b-0f81-f4cca684c2c72011-09-05T12:29:21-06:00<p>Greetings Sparkfunners,<br>
congrats for all the good work you've been doing!<br>
how about cooking for us a breakout board for something beefier, such as TI's TLC5910? $5 per one RGB does not make sense in any decent RGB LED project, which may contain dozens of LEDs...<br>
Thanks!</p>
jamesotron on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoutjamesotronurn:uuid:0f129830-ee93-cee1-c41f-f4e7d30ddc572011-08-18T22:30:27-06:00<p>Looking at the datasheet, the absolute maximum constant current for each LED is 30mA, but with 27Ω current limiting resistors I calculate ~100mA current. Can you explain this discrepancy? I believe it should be using 100Ω resistors instead.</p>
jwin on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoutjwinurn:uuid:d5260028-f902-7843-b67c-47679edb0e6a2011-08-11T18:17:32-06:00<p>total newb question - Could I drive 10 of these from an arduino pro using an external power supply (li-ion battery)?<br>
Here's what I"m thinking:<br>
I see that the datasheet says it maxes out around 150mA. I know that the arduino maxes out at about 40mA per pin so I'm assuming I'd need an external power supply.<br>
Could I use a lithium ion battery http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10500 and a 5V voltage regulator and hook up the positive terminal of the battery to the voltage (VCC) pin on these boards? How many amps (mA) can the li-ion battery supply? I know how to create a voltage regulator from this tutorial: http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/57<br>
What is the best way to run these and the arduino pro at the same time with as light a battery as possible?<br>
I am planning to attach these to a kite.<br>
Thanks!</p>
Bruce The Hoon on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutBruce The Hoonurn:uuid:2c1f5c31-8726-2e06-05e1-f322db7dd6992011-08-03T12:25:21-06:00<p>Anyone that wants to run this chip VERY easily from an Arduino should look at the FASTSPI lib: http://code.google.com/p/fastspi/<br>
FAR better than the example approach.</p>
SD on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutSDurn:uuid:d3a84b31-a67a-9745-e71e-2534f0db89c72011-07-16T21:06:29-06:00<p>Man these things are bright. I bought 3 of them just to try them out and joined them together with some put through the holes and bent over on the ends just see how these work using the sample code. I like them. Too bad for me that they are so expensive. Great product though.<br>
I think to make the connections more secure but still make it so each unit could be removed I could solder some right angle breakaway male headers to these units and hook them together with wires that have some kind of female end on the wires. Is there anything out there like this?</p>
Bruce The Hoon on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutBruce The Hoonurn:uuid:2b795812-ce2c-8024-df9a-85f72e5e9c8e2011-06-19T12:36:02-06:00<p>And here's a slightly better one for a much better price - Cree is solid most of the time.<br>
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CLV6A-FKB-CK1P1G1BB7R3R3TR-ND</p>
SomeGuy123 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutSomeGuy123urn:uuid:efb05e24-06ce-8ba3-9008-fb19995d26572011-06-08T14:21:08-06:00<p>You can get similar LEDs <a href="http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=897-1039-1-ND" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
Jason2 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutJason2urn:uuid:1ba9e7c6-cfd4-9831-38ca-45941bc65c3d2011-06-02T08:25:30-06:00<p>Hah i find these boards funny :) You guys are crazy. How do you sell the PCB with the stuff on it but dont sell the stuff?<br>
Where can i buy these LEDs? I bought a strip from china and desoldered about 10 of them but that was some work heh.</p>
Ocean Controls on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutOcean Controlsurn:uuid:37c09f02-9189-912e-a1d7-49a4febda71b2011-06-01T21:44:01-06:00<p>How about getting some of these:<br>
<a href="http://www.kirronlightcomponents.com/index.php/download_file/view/63/83/" rel="nofollow">DycoLED</a><br>
They're RGB LEDs with an inbuilt driver IC.</p>
Reed on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutReedurn:uuid:2b54cec2-8a06-af7a-069e-b46d35bb19ab2011-05-29T00:50:55-06:00<p>It seems likely they probably used the 6-pin variant and snipped two of the pins off. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9429<br>
Failing that or needing more spacing then another good alternative would be 4-pin jumper wire. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10364</p>
Customer #227114 on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutCustomer #227114urn:uuid:f31f6f8d-e3a1-0a1a-bc06-db1810ec4c752011-05-28T21:33:51-06:00<p>I can't find the 4 pin right angle female headers that are used in this weeks video with this product.</p>
Nick Poole on BOB-10504 - WS2801 BreakoutNick Pooleurn:uuid:7a854655-d579-e020-a3ad-51aebf6f077b2011-05-27T14:10:16-06:00<p>I posted the datasheet for you, it should answer any questions you have :)</p>
ransomhall on BOB-10504 - WS2801 Breakoutransomhallurn:uuid:2edc9abd-a102-09f3-1a5e-ddbb58eb66372011-05-27T08:56:18-06:00<p>specs for the LED? is it the same as the ones in the addressable strip?</p>