Addressable LED Neon Flex Rope Hookup Guide

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Example Code

The FastLED library includes a few examples for a variety of addressable LED chipsets to get started. The following examples will demonstrate how to modify the example to use with the UCS1903 chipset. For more information, check out the FastLED Library's wiki.

FastLED Library Wiki: Chipset Reference

FastLED Blink Modification

For simplicity, lets blink one segment of one LED neon flex rope using the FastLED's Blink.ino example by following the steps listed below:

First adjust the number of LEDs in the strip to 16.
Change the DATA_PIN to pin 5.
Comment out the CLOCK_PIN and LED arrangement for the neopixel.
Uncomment out the LED arrangement for the UCS1903 chipset.
Modify the color order by changing RGB to BRG.

Or copy and paste the modified example in an Arduino sketch. After uploading, you should see one segment blink with red.

language:c
/*Modified FastLED Blink.ino Example
 * 
 * Description: This modified example is used to control one segment 
     * of the LED Neon Flex Rope.
 */
#include "FastLED.h"

// How many leds in your strip?
#define NUM_LEDS 16 //# of segments on the LED Neon Flex Rope

// For led chips like Neopixels, which have a data line, ground, and power, you just
// need to define DATA_PIN.  For led chipsets that are SPI based (four wires - data, clock,
// ground, and power), like the LPD8806 define both DATA_PIN and CLOCK_PIN
#define DATA_PIN 5
//#define CLOCK_PIN 13

// Define the array of leds
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() { 
      // Uncomment/edit one of the following lines for your leds arrangement.
      // FastLED.addLeds<TM1803, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<TM1804, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<TM1809, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      //FastLED.addLeds<NEOPIXEL, DATA_PIN>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<APA104, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      FastLED.addLeds<UCS1903, DATA_PIN, BRG>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<UCS1903B, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<GW6205, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<GW6205_400, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

      // FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<SM16716, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<LPD8806, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<P9813, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<APA102, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<DOTSTAR, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

      // FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<SM16716, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<LPD8806, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<P9813, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<APA102, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
      // FastLED.addLeds<DOTSTAR, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

void loop() { 
  // Turn the LED on, then pause
  leds[0] = CRGB::Red;
  FastLED.show();
  delay(500);
  // Now turn the LED off, then pause
  leds[0] = CRGB::Black;
  FastLED.show();
  delay(500);
}

Blink Each Segment

To control all the segments with control, you would need to address each segment in the array with a color. Write code to address each segment defined in the array and reduce the delay between each blink. Or copy and paste the modified blink example in an Arduino sketch. After uploading, you should see each segment blink red.

language:c
/*Modified FastLED Blink.ino Example
* 
* Description: This modified example is used to control all segments
* of the LED Neon Flex Rope.
*/
#include "FastLED.h"

// How many leds in your strip?
#define NUM_LEDS 16 //# of segments on the LED Neon Flex Rope

// For led chips like Neopixels, which have a data line, ground, and power, you just
// need to define DATA_PIN.  For led chipsets that are SPI based (four wires - data, clock,
// ground, and power), like the LPD8806 define both DATA_PIN and CLOCK_PIN
#define DATA_PIN 5
//#define CLOCK_PIN 13 //not used with UCS1903 chipset

// Define the array of leds
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() { 
    // Uncomment/edit one of the following lines for your leds arrangement.
    // FastLED.addLeds<TM1803, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<TM1804, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<TM1809, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    //FastLED.addLeds<NEOPIXEL, DATA_PIN>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<APA104, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    FastLED.addLeds<UCS1903, DATA_PIN, BRG>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<UCS1903B, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<GW6205, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<GW6205_400, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

    // FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<SM16716, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<LPD8806, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<P9813, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<APA102, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<DOTSTAR, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

    // FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<SM16716, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<LPD8806, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<P9813, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<APA102, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
    // FastLED.addLeds<DOTSTAR, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

void loop() {
// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[0] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[0] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[1] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[1] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[2] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[2] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[3] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[3] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[4] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[4] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[5] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[5] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[6] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[6] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);


// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[7] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[7] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[8] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[8] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[9] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[9] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[10] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[10] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[11] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[11] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[12] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[12] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[13] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[13] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[14] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[14] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);

// Turn the LED on, then pause
leds[15] = CRGB::Red;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
// Now turn the LED off, then pause
leds[15] = CRGB::Black;
FastLED.show();
delay(250);
}

Color Palette Modification

Let's try modifying one more example from the Fast LED library to add the color paltette animation to the LED Neon Flex Rope light. After uploading, you should see the patterns cycling.

language:c
/*Modified FastLED ColorPalette.ino Example
* 
* Description: This modified ColorPalette example is used to control all segments
* of the LED Neon Flex Rope.
*/

#include <FastLED.h>

#define LED_PIN     5
#define NUM_LEDS    16
#define BRIGHTNESS  255
#define LED_TYPE    UCS1903
#define COLOR_ORDER BRG
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

#define UPDATES_PER_SECOND 100

// This example shows several ways to set up and use 'palettes' of colors
// with FastLED.
//
// These compact palettes provide an easy way to re-colorize your
// animation on the fly, quickly, easily, and with low overhead.
//
// USING palettes is MUCH simpler in practice than in theory, so first just
// run this sketch, and watch the pretty lights as you then read through
// the code.  Although this sketch has eight (or more) different color schemes,
// the entire sketch compiles down to about 6.5K on AVR.
//
// FastLED provides a few pre-configured color palettes, and makes it
// extremely easy to make up your own color schemes with palettes.
//
// Some notes on the more abstract 'theory and practice' of
// FastLED compact palettes are at the bottom of this file.

CRGBPalette16 currentPalette;
TBlendType    currentBlending;

extern CRGBPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette;
extern const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM;


void setup() {
    delay( 3000 ); // power-up safety delay
    FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, LED_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS).setCorrection( TypicalLEDStrip );
    FastLED.setBrightness(  BRIGHTNESS );

    currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;
    currentBlending = LINEARBLEND;
}


void loop()
{
    ChangePalettePeriodically();

    static uint8_t startIndex = 0;
    startIndex = startIndex + 1; /* motion speed */

    FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( startIndex);

    FastLED.show();
    FastLED.delay(1000 / UPDATES_PER_SECOND);
}

void FillLEDsFromPaletteColors( uint8_t colorIndex)
{
    uint8_t brightness = 255;

    for( int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) {
        leds[i] = ColorFromPalette( currentPalette, colorIndex, brightness, currentBlending);
        colorIndex += 3;
    }
}


// There are several different palettes of colors demonstrated here.
//
// FastLED provides several 'preset' palettes: RainbowColors_p, RainbowStripeColors_p,
// OceanColors_p, CloudColors_p, LavaColors_p, ForestColors_p, and PartyColors_p.
//
// Additionally, you can manually define your own color palettes, or you can write
// code that creates color palettes on the fly.  All are shown here.

void ChangePalettePeriodically()
{
    uint8_t secondHand = (millis() / 1000) % 60;
    static uint8_t lastSecond = 99;

    if( lastSecond != secondHand) {
        lastSecond = secondHand;
        if( secondHand ==  0)  { currentPalette = RainbowColors_p;         currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 10)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 15)  { currentPalette = RainbowStripeColors_p;   currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 20)  { SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette();             currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 25)  { SetupTotallyRandomPalette();              currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 30)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = NOBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 35)  { SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette();       currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 40)  { currentPalette = CloudColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 45)  { currentPalette = PartyColors_p;           currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
        if( secondHand == 50)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = NOBLEND;  }
        if( secondHand == 55)  { currentPalette = myRedWhiteBluePalette_p; currentBlending = LINEARBLEND; }
    }
}

// This function fills the palette with totally random colors.
void SetupTotallyRandomPalette()
{
    for( int i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
        currentPalette[i] = CHSV( random8(), 255, random8());
    }
}

// This function sets up a palette of black and white stripes,
// using code.  Since the palette is effectively an array of
// sixteen CRGB colors, the various fill_* functions can be used
// to set them up.
void SetupBlackAndWhiteStripedPalette()
{
    // 'black out' all 16 palette entries...
    fill_solid( currentPalette, 16, CRGB::Black);
    // and set every fourth one to white.
    currentPalette[0] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[4] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[8] = CRGB::White;
    currentPalette[12] = CRGB::White;

}

// This function sets up a palette of purple and green stripes.
void SetupPurpleAndGreenPalette()
{
    CRGB purple = CHSV( HUE_PURPLE, 255, 255);
    CRGB green  = CHSV( HUE_GREEN, 255, 255);
    CRGB black  = CRGB::Black;

    currentPalette = CRGBPalette16(
                                green,  green,  black,  black,
                                purple, purple, black,  black,
                                green,  green,  black,  black,
                                purple, purple, black,  black );
}


// This example shows how to set up a static color palette
// which is stored in PROGMEM (flash), which is almost always more
// plentiful than RAM.  A static PROGMEM palette like this
// takes up 64 bytes of flash.
const TProgmemPalette16 myRedWhiteBluePalette_p PROGMEM =
{
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray, // 'white' is too bright compared to red and blue
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,

    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,

    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Red,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Gray,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Blue,
    CRGB::Black,
    CRGB::Black
};



// Additionl notes on FastLED compact palettes:
//
// Normally, in computer graphics, the palette (or "color lookup table")
// has 256 entries, each containing a specific 24-bit RGB color.  You can then
// index into the color palette using a simple 8-bit (one byte) value.
// A 256-entry color palette takes up 768 bytes of RAM, which on Arduino
// is quite possibly "too many" bytes.
//
// FastLED does offer traditional 256-element palettes, for setups that
// can afford the 768-byte cost in RAM.
//
// However, FastLED also offers a compact alternative.  FastLED offers
// palettes that store 16 distinct entries, but can be accessed AS IF
// they actually have 256 entries; this is accomplished by interpolating
// between the 16 explicit entries to create fifteen intermediate palette
// entries between each pair.
//
// So for example, if you set the first two explicit entries of a compact 
// palette to Green (0,255,0) and Blue (0,0,255), and then retrieved 
// the first sixteen entries from the virtual palette (of 256), you'd get
// Green, followed by a smooth gradient from green-to-blue, and then Blue.

More Examples!

Now that we have some experience using two of the examples, try modifying and testing out the others in the FastLED library!

FastLED > Examples

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Resources and Going Further

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Library Overview

Addressable LED Neon Flex Rope Hookup Guide

Example Code

FastLED Blink Modification

Blink Each Segment

Color Palette Modification

More Examples!

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