Control RGB LEDs with Arduino || Arduino Essentials #1

In this first video in the Arduino essentials series, we go through how to program it to control an RGB LED strip that is individually addressable. By some, referred to as Neopixel, this can take creative projects to a whole new level. There are many tools that can be bought which implements fancy effects for you, but there is nothing quite like being able to write your own code to control your projects.

Follow us for social media for updates and behind the scenes content:

LED KIT:

Related videos at the end of the clip:

[thecaptain]

This is one of the best technical vids I have watched in a long time. Well scripted, to the point, complete detail to make something simple happen which then opens the door for the user to do something more complex. Complete theory of operation at the functional level leaving out unnecessary / trivial detail that does not directly support achieving a specific result. BRAVO.

[Nerdforge]

Did you like the idea of this series? I know there's a ton of Arduino videos on YouTube already, and I'm not sure if the topic is already too saturated. In the case that you liked it, have any ideas for what you would like to see in the future?

[snotvlek]

Good video! VERY IMPORTANT POINT, make sure your power supply can supply more amps than the LED strip pulls, you can check this by looking at how many leds the strip has, and since RGB LEDs take around 60mA, multiply the LED count by 60mA and you have the Amperage your PSU needs to supply!

[MoltenFungus]

I've had this video bookmarked for a while. Of course it's Xmas season, I'm staring at a couple of strips, and never realized how no nonsense this tutorial is. Thank you!

[Sheepsville]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this tutorial. I have been working with my Arduino controlling actual LED components individually wired up to separate pins on the Arduino, which limits the amount I can plug into it. I bought myself one of these LED strips with 300 LEDs on it but I haven't had the time to sit down and actually go through how I control every LED individually on the Strip. You have saved me such a lot of work...thank you, thank you, thank you. I am now happy to sit and start programming my strip of LEDs to dance a merry dance 😊😘

[ivorypoet]

personally, tuts like this are exactly what i’m looking for

[carlosjosejimenezbermudez]

This is what I was looking for, I don't need to be taught again how to program, just to understand the basics of arduino. Good job.

[khainestar]

Seen a few videos on doing LED strips and they all seem to assume you already know how to do wiring, So skim it. They also seem to use 4 wires and a lot more kit. Love the simplicity of this one, very clear too. Thanks.

[Branabis]

Oh my goddd I was literally hoping you would make one of these. I love learning all this stuff! I want to know all the possibilities of the Arduino.

[clarkso]

U cant please everybody we all have differences, but the bottom-line is ur vid is awesomely good! keep it up..

[AdamNadas]

Hi, i realy like the video, on question i have only, how many led u can control with this controller maximum? How big led matrix i can build with this if is possible?
Thank you for your help. Peace

[Joshua-juuc]

This was very helpful. I would love to see more projects for the 5V Leds using Arduino Nano

[TheItzGambit]

Love this concept! hit a wall with the reactive led video and this came out just in time for me to try something simpler with the same components. May I recommend you make an add on to this where you show coding in different patterns and effects into the strip?

I know the fastled library has demo codes, but a lot of them include defines and such that aren't covered here.

[drumminjeff]

This is a great tutorial! I wish you could do one about using multiple strips of LEDs on different channels of the Arduino. Working together as one array but also working totally separate of each other. I can't find any good tutorials on multiple Channel LED strips.
Thank you for your videos.

[TempleGuitars]

Hello! Thank you for this clear tutorial! I want to ask you, is it possible to change the code so on a chain of maybe 20 LEDs, the two outside LED's activate first, then the next two etc, until they meet in the middle, then reverse until they reach the outside pair again on loop? What would that code look like?

[roboticsgen]

For me the hardest part of Maker is programming. I follow up with many don't understand but it work, Thank anyway.

[mysticqro]

0:55 wait so how does the ESP32 get its power? Do you plug the ESP32 via USB or does it power from the power supply? I’m confused.

[WhiteError]

Plug in the Arduino Nano into your PC!!!!.

Thanks for the video dude, for everyone that was going through my pain on start-up you have to plug the Arduino into the usb port first (well that’s what I found worked for me!). Going to google search but hopefully I can get it working without the usb cable as I want to make a lightsaber with the Arduino nano in the hilt so plugging the usb cable in every time to the board is not ideal. Once the board is powered via usb i can take the usb cable out and the leds stay lit over a single 3.7v Li-ion battery I’m also running a 330om resistor in-between the data line as this takes less voltage so it's best practice to protect it. Took me so ling to figure this out because i didn't want to push too much current to the leds from both the nano and the 3.7v battery.

anyway hope this helps some people :)

[arenttelindert]

Great, it works, I now want to use the 12V WS2811. How do I put a mosfet in the diagram?
Thanks for the answer, in advange.

[wunderbar-qy]

thanks for the tutorial. does individual control work with ws2812? or only 2812b?