LED STRIP LIGHTS over WIFI! NightDriver Arduino How to Project in C++ and Python
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- The NightDriver Open Source Code package for creating incredible LED shows and effects using Arduino projects in PlatformIO. Able to display remotely or over WiFi, NightDriver can support effects running in C++, Python, VB, C#, Javascript, and more!
** See the LED Parts Shopping List Below **
Just in time for your Christmas LED Display: How to use LED STRIP LIGHTS over WIFI! NB: Lots of flashing lights, if you're sensitive to them, please be careful.
Whether you're interested in addressable WS2812B RGB LEDs or the programming side of things, this introduction to RGB LEDs features several easy arduino projects. Each RGB LED Arduino Project features a different application such as reacting to music, beat detection, controlling multiple channels, a python programming tutorial on sending color data, Unity C# programming, and so on.
Includes a sample arduino project with remote control and microphone support that shows how to LED strip your room with music-reactive effects. Includes numerous led strip light ideas for your led strip light installation. Dozens of custom LED effects included plus create your own. Select your favorite effects from the built-in web server interface from your smartphone.
Helpful project links such as parts and installation such as LED Strip lights Amazon links:
Installing PlatformIO: randomnerdtuto...
Github Code: github.com/Plu...
Sample Parts to Get Started. I recommend a couple of strips, two ESP32 Heltec modules, two M5 sticks, and a matrix. That will keep you busy for quite a while!
BTF-Lighting WS2812B Strip, 144 pixels per meter, white: amzn.to/3CtZW2g
BTF-Lighting WS2812B Strip, 144 pixels per meter, black: amzn.to/39ljqcO
MakerFocus ESP32 Module with 8M Flash (not PSRAM) and built-in blue TFT: amzn.to/3ApdF9H
M5StickCPlus ESP32 Module with built-in OLED, Mic, buttons, battery, PSRAM, and more: amzn.to/3CrvCFh
16x16 LED Matrix panels (3 per Spectrum Analyzer) amzn.to/3ABs5DK
Infinity Mirror for use with the MAGICMIRROR config: amzn.to/3lEZo2D
Super-handy breakout board for ESP32-DevKitC: amzn.to/3nKX7Wt
LED Strip Aluminum Channel: amzn.to/2YmGshp
LED Strip Diffuser: amzn.to/3itUrc2
LED Strip Remote Control: amzn.to/3D6pfYs
LED Strip Connector 3pin: amzn.to/3a0EOEv
LED Strip Connector 4pin: amzn.to/3Fe0fQV
It's crazy how similar our "LED origin stories" are. I broke my back in 2016 (60% compression of T12) and poured myself into Arduino, addressable LEDs, and home automation while I was couchbound.
Thanks for this software, I'm excited to give it a go!
Covid did the same for me. I didn't contract it but I got an extended lock down.
I started with old school tube driven amps. ( because I had a handful of NOS 6L6 bottle tubes from the late 50's sitting on a shelf ), then a pair of high efficiency transmission line speakers to go with. 20% time spent on design & build / 80% on testing & tuning... Pareto at work.😐 But the result was well worth it.
Arduino type applications are my thing now and binging Dave's series is rocking me.
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome project! I find it fascinating that we both had the same idea to realize the potential in the ESP + WS2812B combination and offer open source software for it.
While almost every option in my WLED project is runtime configurable (even e.g. the LED type + pin), and it offers a very nice UI, it is a bit of a "one-size-fits-all". I believe NightDriver has a lot more potential to encourage people to modify and expand it sandbox-style to perfectly match their LED project. I would be excited to collaborate with you in the future!
this is exactly what i was looking forward to you saying Aircookie & Dave. Imagine collaborating and having a nightdriver wled! theres so much potential here!
That would be an awesome collaboration. I'd love to see MQTT & Home Assistant discovery in Nightdriver!
Just in time!. I'm doing something similar because i'm creating a sort of "modular" pcbs for smart leds and a dedicated esp32 pcb with a cheap TCXO for driving them. So far i've constructed a smart led bulb and a lamp with RGBW chips. I was ruminating about how to have a led scripting languange, so that the effects are not pre programmed on the esp32, but that can load dinamically from an smartphone app.
I needed this as Diwali is coming
Great Scott shout out of Dave's Garage!! 😃
Other way around, but it'd be cool if he mentioned my channel at some point, I'm a big fan!
@@DavesGarage night driver may have solved my challenge. I'm building a sunrise led lamp setup that uses NTP to ensure it simulates a sunrise at the same time every day.
This is off the freaking hook. I'm blown away just because it automatically downloads all the dependencies! I'm going to enjoy just going over the project files.
Hope you enjyo!
Dave, you're my hero!! Although I'm not sure why - it can be either you've worked as a Developer in times of my favourite MS OS'es or cause you simply want to share your knowledge with us... Anyway - keep it up! I can't wait to see your next videos.
Best regards!
I am a tried and retired RF engineer; your tutorials are GREAT!; many thanks
Dave for the web server side of things would be nice if the Pi or any remote host could hold the bulk of the css/js like a CDN
Then build a SPA using something like Vuejs (my poison of choice) and tailwindcss then the frontend could have loads more functionality and wizzz as the source is hosted elsewhere and effects can be done in the browser.
wled and falcon pi already do this
Been looking forward to this for so long!
Just found NightDriver and was sad I couldn't find more tutorials! Any new ones coming soon?
I made a good attempt at creating a python script to send color data but ultimately failed. Unfortunately I'm only a n00b coder in my free time so I don't know enough yet about socket programming in python or c++. I'm more comfortable with python and watching a basic tutorial on socket programming in python right now. However, I would love a basic run specific to this project as I am kinda struggling trying to figure out how to send this properly in python. Love, love love this code...I was on vacation when you pushed it out so it was a super great thing to return to.
Nice work! I’ve made something kind of similar, but with an emphasis on real-time low-latency communication, and robustness for performance and wearable use. This is definitely a more solid way to do it for fixed installations.
Very cool! You can run this one "unclocked" as well if you have low latency comms, like a wired network... saves memory to not buffer! Or just buffer 3 frames, something like that?
2:28 .. Chilliwack!! 🇨🇦
Outstanding! I'm looking forward to trying this out, there are many incomplete LED tutorials but this project contains everything you could ever need. Wow!
This is great! Thank you for sharing. You mentioned a python programming tutorial on sending color data in this video's description. I was wondering if you could provide a link to that tutorial.
Very happy with this , started coding again, did C/C++ education in the past, i am a electronics engineer, at least by education it's my hobby, and it's fun, wil certainly be playing with this.
Who doesn’t love LED!
Absolutely brilliant Dave. Your excellent explanations are really informative and programming with LED's are so much fun. Thank you so much!
You're very welcome! Hope you can make use of it!
@@DavesGarage The Task manager has also been crucial in my career at monitoring memory leaks. I cannot thank you enough for your work. It's still an essential tool that I rely on.
Ok, ok... You've convinced me! I'm now subscribed... I've been planning a "Camper Lightshow" project for the camping season in the summer months...
Welcome aboard!
Love the rides Dave! How about a video on each one?
Also... Those Nikes could just as well be New Balances and for all we know you've got jean shorts on. 😆😆😆
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
. YEAH DAVE. I am thinking I will use this for my wife's spa. Thanks man.
Parts ordered! Can't wait to get started on my new project!
I use bibliopixel for leds over WiFi. Has a really nice web interface too
Thank you Dave! Your injury has turned positive, with a great benefit to the electronics community.
What do we do when we get a positive result? We optimize!
Further testing will be necessary to determine the ideal type and severity of harm you should suffer, to return the maximum open source utility.
I've been enjoying your videos for a while, and this one is right up my alley. as a musician/performer, lighting is very important to me, and this project seems to be a great deal. I currently use qlc Plus on a Raspberry pi, which allows me four DMX universes out of the box but for doing animations on strips, I think you've got it wrapped up... who knows? you may come up with another new project for stage lighting...
I'm not seeing a series of tutorial videos on the details of the project as touted by this video. Am I missing something?
There is a tutorial playlist building on programming for the WS2812 but that seems to be a prequel to NightDriver and even the prequel leaves us hanging on setting up the 8 strip fire, instead forking over lighting up fans.
As much as I get stuck with what I find as gaps in the details, I am still learning a lot and having fun!
This is fantastic. It slices, it dices, but wait there's more, it manages protocols!
Project idea for you..... How about a color changing Addressable LEDs that would retrieve its color based on the an xml file from the Nation Weather Service based on current watch or warnings for you location.
AWESOME PROJECT! Thank you, Dave.
My pleasure! Hope folks can use it!
Thank you so much Dave for this great project made available to all of us. My passion for building, coding and other hardware fun faded as adulthood came and work started consuming most of my time. This has definitely re-ignited a lot of fun. Thank you again and carry on with the great content! Cheers
I guess this is what happens when a software developer becomes obsessed with LEDs
Pretty much :-)
Not that there is anything wrong with that ;)
Once you have tried serial LEDs you get drawn into writing parallel GPU shaders (which are even more fun!)
Exactly!
You should see what happens when an electrician becomes obsessed lol
About your dog snoring at 9:30, that's what happens when you have a self exercising and bathing labradorable :-)
Good memory!
Great Scott is awesome and I'm sure honored. Stay creative!
and I'll see you next time!
I wish I could click the thumbs-up about 100 times for this one! Thanks Dave!!
Old Saskatchewan plates! Cool. They have programmers in Saskatchewan? If so, they need people to hack tractors! 🍁
This is awesome! Will you please have a discussion of the security implications of running these wifi devices on your a network? It would be great to hear your recomendations about securing both the project and the network it is attached to. (So many IoT devices don't even consider security, let alone bake it in from the start.)
There really are none, and they offer no security. So the security is the onus of whomever operates the wifi network. I could have added a simple password field to the COLORDATA stream, but didn't want to do "security theatre" that might look secure without being so.
So at this point, it relies on the network to be secure. If you have proposals for security that you think we (or you!) should add ad the device layer, start a discussion in GitHub, I'd say!
Great project - I am looking for more informatoin on how to setup the web server so I can control the light strips remotely.
Thanks for doing this! I've always wanted to dip a toe into hardware and while I'm not sure whether this would be a good starter project it's nice to know I can get up and going with a real use-case. Already have some ideas for tinkering when the time comes.
Go for it!
Great work Dave!
Hey Dave can you make some more tutorials about how to get started with nightdriver and set it up with some different configs?
Just. Awesome. I appreciate you.
Thanks!
Ordered my WS2812B's yesterday, I'm likely going to order even more now..
PlatformIO is wonderful.
Gigabytes of wasted *space*, broken dependencies by design! which results in wasted *time* because of unnecessary recompilation ... (but that doesn't matter because this indented remark boils down to "space-time" hehehehe) and the introduction of the wonderful idea of giving up all responsibility, security and insight all at once (called "The nodejs npm f'd up downloaded dependency from ... somewhere? phenomena") for a MCU project. I love it;)
needed to correct the spiffs length to fit 4mb flash for file system. Otherwise basics worked out of the box. great stuff!
Yes! Some of the mastery released ! Thank you Dave !
This looks like it will be an interesting topic. I have spent the months since Christmas getting a Raspberry pi and three esp32’s to control my outside lights (functional not decorative). My system mostly works but I’d really like to learn how ota works as I have to unplug an esp from its circuit board when I change its program. I need to learn more….
Dave, you are really an inspiration.. I hacked 2 Ikea Vidja floorlamps with 2x1m 144led strips .. Not yet nightdriver driven. as I didn't have any esp32 modules laying around.. But that is next..
As it uses Fastled does that mean it only supports 3 channel chipsets? Actually a video on the low level stuff of driving 3 and 4 channel strips using RMT on the ESP32 etc would be good if you have the time/inclination?
so I understand this could be used to drive individual LED strips over wifi, each strip potentially performing a different effect or non-effect on some? It can also be controlled programmatically for example 6 individual strips on local wifi, I could create a 'wave' type effect by adjusting brightness across a number of strips in a hallway?
That's really cool! I remember Mat Parker making something similar, but had its problems. Reach out to him!
Sorry, I don't know who that is, but point him at the channel and code, maybe he can collab on it!
@@DavesGarage standup maths UA-cam channel. He wired up a Christmas tree with addressable leds strings in no particular order but utilized their position in 3d space using photogrammatry or similar iirc.
Dave, Dave. Show us your light.
Can you share how you interact with Night Driver w/c#? I have been sitting here coding a project to do exactly what Night Driver does. Thanks for putting your code out there!
you are a hero for making this open source!
Why thanks!
Wow, can't wait to test it... looks awesome, thank you for sharing
Awesome just about to install a bunch of strips in the shop.
Amazing. Thank you so much for your hard work and valuable time.
My pleasure!
Dave, have you thought about implementing Artnet in NightDriver?
That is so nice that we have this sandbox developed by such a professional and it is Free and open source. I hope this project will spread and continues evolving
Dave, thanks for your ridiculously interesting videos 😂 Subscribed. I really enjoy your content, always varied and covering things no one else does. If you happen to read this, I am just wondering what your thoughts on Java are. I’m a 3rd year computer science undergraduate student who prefers C++, but have been learning Java as required for one of the classes. I realize this is a somewhat shallow question, as Java seems mature enough to handle anything and as a software developer I should be able to pick it up and go, but still curious about your thoughts on the language.
Also, do you run a discord server or are you available for chatting anywhere? Thanks!
Have a good one. -Cameron
I was a big Java fan initially but ultimately moved to C# which I like even better, but they're really very similar! I'm going to work on a Discord setup today actually, so "soon"!
Very good motivating story n excellent work ....good wishes !
This is awesome Dave, I'm going to follow along too
Wow, I get interested in LEDs and Dave releases a library to help me. Thanks, kind sir! :)
Thanks for the great tutorials Dave! any plans on doing the follow up on this video? Or any updates on nightdriver planned?
Across a bunch of interesting stuff. Thanks Dave's Garage
the last time that i was this early, you were comparing the speed of c, c++ and python.
i have use wled and its cool now to try someting just as cool. just waiting for parts to arrive
Have you done the episode where you enable the WebServer yet? If so could you link it?
Just curious what gauge of wire folks are using with their Heltec WiFi 32 boards?
Your amazing umbrella sent me back to 2008, when I did a similar thing but using independently wired LEDs and an LM 3915. Before modern LED strips, wiring each LED was a real pain in the ass! also the effect was very poor, compared with the beautiful colors you show. Greetings Dave, and thank you for your work!
Love this. Any advice for running longer strips for outside and protecting everything against the elements?
Buy weather resistant strips?
You can run external power lines that feed longer strips at one or more sections.
Buy IP67 or IP68 strips. Mine have been up for years, no problems. I run eight 1M strips per chip, and 5 total chips, for 40strips or about 30M.
Wonderful! This is really helpful for creating custom RGB Shows! ⭐
Oh, don’t worry, I’ve had the parts standing by for a awhile now. 😎
Thanks for being patient! Now you've got all the code too! It took me a while to sort it all out...
i use split power supply to prevent blowing things up
When you torn your C5/C6 disk, did you also for a hellish pain in your arm? My right thumb has still some weird nerve issues. It never fully recovered and my goodness it took me a while to shuffle cards again and play guitar fast.
Dave, you could make a lot of $$ off of selling a dedicated ARGB hub for computers w/ a quality software component (not that you need the $, but the RGB community needs someone like you). Corsair's components are way, way over priced and only play well with itself. Razer sells an ARGB 6 channel hub that's pretty much the only option for universal ARGB control and it only supports 1 hub per system. From there the hub has some basic configs that really gimp it like only 1 fan per port if you want discrete control over it even though it supports ~80 leds per port. No ability to say for instance port 1 has 4 fans of 12 LED's each. Its control are basic, but man does the industry need someone competent to put something together. The ability to use a little wifi controller for more remote aspects is even better. I'd bet the community would help create the machine's software --- the AIB partners (asus, msi, gigabyte, etc) all suck to put it nicely. It's so fragmented and there's only 1 hub worth a flip as stated above. Save PC users dave, you can do it.
Awesome stuff! And in perfect time for Hacktober ❤️
hmm.. I had two discs replaced, c 4-5 and 5-6 .. Wonder why they did not replace the disc from the front..
It much less invasive, as there's so much stuff to go through/around when you go through the front!
Hmmm, I'll have to try porting this to the Raspberry PICO this winter. Presuming nobody has done that already by then.
New sub here. Scrapping Way Grandpa love your channel
Wow great stuff Dave
Great project! Probably out of scope but what would you recommend for people that have some DMX lights? A converter of some kind? I believe there's several professional film panels that can be controlled with DMX but not WS2812B. Like this comment if you're curious about DMX too
Dave. I owe you a dinner at least by now. Thanks for everything
Dave!! Bloody amazing TY.
words cant describe how much i love this project, i got a TTGO and uploaded it, third and fourth screen are very glitchy and some fonts are way too big, i kinda fixed it tinkering at screen.h. but still not perfect,, also i was wondering i can use wifi or bluetooth to send colordata from music playing on my pc instead of using the mic? i tried using aux cable to send directly music data to esp32 but it didnt work , i want the spectrum to analyze to music only without the mic. does input pin take line level signal ?
will you continue this series maybe explain the fft part and gain calculation ? that would be super interesting.
thanks dave for the marvelous work, wish u all the best.
Awesome project! Thank you. 👍😀
Thanks, especially for the nice list of materials. I'm also a "hardware curious" software developer, and I can think of some ideas for this combined with Home Assistant, MQTT, etc.
I’m going to closely follow this as I’ve had a vision of making a custom screen in my car that allows me to change led strip colors and such from it without needing my phone. I’m kind of new to this stuff I was just wonder if there is a way to bypass the need for wifi and have some sort of physical connection?
You can eliminate the wifi entirely if you don't needed it, OTHER than if you want a web ui to control it from the dash. Then in this case it needs a wifi connection from the phone/tablet to the ESP32. In theory if you had the hardware, hardwired ethernet would work too.
Neat project! 😀
Stoked!🤘🤘
I'm using a wemos d1 r32 board (esp32dev). Typically I have to hold the reset button down while uploading arduino projects. Will this device work with the web installer?
Thanks for the content, very interesting and yet overwhelming. I am very new to LED' s, and controlling them. I am starting a project for my deck post caps, 3D printing the caps and adding addressable LED's . I purchased an Arduino clone, just received it yesterday. I installed FastLed, needed with it for about an hour after work.
I guess I'm looking for advice on where to go from here. I eventually would like to write code for the project but initially would like to have some sort of lights working. Any thoughts or advice of best way to do this?
Thsnks
I really don't understand why u just don't become a developer on xlights , fpp or wled .. I need to give ur software a chance but I would love to see what u could add to the xlights and fpp projects
Thank you 🎉!!
Thank you Dave. This is really something special.
cool projects,
I am pretty deep into ws2811 based Christmas lighting this year with a 16 by 4 foot matrix,
and last year a 16 foot mega tree.
In our world , e131 , artnet are standard protocol for all our software
these are cool but probably more for accent lighting etc, then real deco lighting stuff
most of those esp's board cant due enought thought put to use for use , ei "espixelstick" project
For outside use and xmas lights, never to come down throughout the year - WS2812B ip30 with aluminum channel OR ip67 without channel OR ip67 with channel?
This just means there will be flashing stuff my son will have to deal with when I'm gone. A LOT OF FLASHING STUFF!
I look forward to trying this out on my 32x32 ping pong ball grid and its 1024 LEDs. To get that many LEDs to light up required a chunky 70 amp (0.3 watts per WS2811 led x 1024 /5v) power supply. Hopefully it will be easier than just using the FastLED Library!
Let me know how it goes! I would set MATRIX_WIDTH to 32, MATRIX_HEIGHT to 32, and NUM_LEDS to 32*32. Build the DEMO project as it comes default otherwise, and it should light right up! Then you can experiment with trying different built in effects or creating new ones!
@@DavesGarage I bought an ESP32 off eBay (Wemos D1 R32) but it seems not to be supported. The setup seems very complex and fragile (installing Visual Studio, Python for Windows, Github, Gitdesktop, PlatformIO, working out how to clone stuff (why no Setup.exe!). I'll order a different board and try again otherwise I'll have to go back to just using FASTLED in the simple Arduino IDE :-(
I like to use12 volts Neopixel ledstrips like WS2811, WS2815, ?? What brand, where to source?? There is a lot out there. Good advice is much appreciated..
Great stuff.I am busy building my energy neutral smarthome (past the bricks and mortar stage) Zo now it is time to begin with the funstuff.
For the smart devices, i use power over ethernet, MQTT and Home Assistant In Nightdriver I saw you can disable wifi, thats cool. To power the lights i use 12 volts. The hunt for the right 12 volts Neopixel ledstrips is on.