config for Nodemcu with multiple strands on same pin

**dhenning** · 12-04-2019, 10:43 PM

Hi, new member here with a basic question. I setup a nodemcu with a 5v WS8212B strip of 150 pixels using the following code:

Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <E131.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NUM_PIXELS 150   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 1   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 1   /* Channel to start listening at */
#define DATA_PIN 2  /* Pixel output - GPIO 2 */

const char ssid[] = "xxx";   /* Replace with your SSID */
const char passphrase[] = "xxx";    /* Replace with your WPA2 passphrase */

E131 e131;

Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels_b = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS_B, DATA_PIN_B, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(10);

    // Initial pin states
    pinMode(DATA_PIN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(DATA_PIN, LOW);
     

    /* Choose one to begin listening for E1.31 data */
    e131.begin(ssid, passphrase);   /* via Unicast on the default port */

    /* Initialize output */
    pixels.begin();
    pixels.show();
}

void loop() {
    /* Parse a packet and update pixels */
    if(e131.parsePacket()) {
        if (e131.universe == 1) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 1);
                pixels.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels.show();
 
        }
    }
}

I added the network setup to xLights and run a successful test chase to verify all pixels light up.

Annotation 2019-12-04 213223.jpg

That part works great! However what I'd like to do is run 2 strips of 150 pixels each off a single port on the nodemcu, but I'm not sure what needs to be done in code on the nodemcu and xLights to support that. I tried changing the NUM_PIXELS to 300, but that didn't work out. I tried specifying another universe (2), but couldn't get the settings right to make it work. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Doug

**angus40** · 12-04-2019, 11:24 PM

Hi , I haven't tested this but it does compile

Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <E131.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NUM_PIXELS 150   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 1   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 1   /* Channel to start listening at */

#define NUM_PIXELS_B 150   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 2   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 451   /* Channel to start listening at */

#define DATA_PIN 2  /* Pixel output - GPIO 2 */

const char ssid[] = "xxx";   /* Replace with your SSID */
const char passphrase[] = "xxx";    /* Replace with your WPA2 passphrase */

E131 e131;

Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels_b = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS_B, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(10);

    // Initial pin states
    pinMode(DATA_PIN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(DATA_PIN, LOW);
     

    /* Choose one to begin listening for E1.31 data */
    e131.begin(ssid, passphrase);   /* via Unicast on the default port */

    /* Initialize output */
    pixels.begin();
    pixels.show();
    pixels_b.begin();
    pixels_b.show();
}

void loop() {
    /* Parse a packet and update pixels */
    if(e131.parsePacket()) {
        if (e131.universe == 1) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 1);
                pixels.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels.show();
      
           }
      
        if (e131.universe == 2) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 451);
                pixels_b.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels_b.show();
      
        }
    }
}

**dhenning** · 12-04-2019, 11:57 PM

Thanks for trying, unfortunately it didn't work. It keeps flashing the first string, and doesn't light up the second string.

**angus40** · 12-05-2019, 12:03 AM

take 2 , this may need a universe count added.
unfortunately I haven't tried to get more than one universe on a single pin.
You could load EspixelStick firmware .

Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <E131.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NUM_PIXELS 300   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 1   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 1   /* Channel to start listening at */


#define UNIVERSE 2   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 451   /* Channel to start listening at */

#define DATA_PIN 2  /* Pixel output - GPIO 2 */

const char ssid[] = "xxx";   /* Replace with your SSID */
const char passphrase[] = "xxx";    /* Replace with your WPA2 passphrase */

E131 e131;

Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(10);

    // Initial pin states
    pinMode(DATA_PIN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(DATA_PIN, LOW);
     

    /* Choose one to begin listening for E1.31 data */
    e131.begin(ssid, passphrase);   /* via Unicast on the default port */

    /* Initialize output */
    pixels.begin();
    pixels.show();

}

void loop() {
    /* Parse a packet and update pixels */
    if(e131.parsePacket()) {
        if (e131.universe == 1) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 1);
                pixels.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels.show();
      
           }
      
        if (e131.universe == 2) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 451);
                pixels.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels.show();
      
        }
    }
}

**angus40** · 12-05-2019, 12:59 AM

Try Multicast . I added it in your code , also a correction

Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <E131.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NUM_PIXELS 150   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 1   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 1   /* Channel to start listening at */

#define NUM_PIXELS_B 150   /* Number of pixels */
#define UNIVERSE 2   /* Universe to listen for */
#define CHANNEL_START 451   /* Channel to start listening at */

#define DATA_PIN 2  /* Pixel output - GPIO 2 */

const char ssid[] = "xxx";   /* Replace with your SSID */
const char passphrase[] = "xxx";    /* Replace with your WPA2 passphrase */

E131 e131;

Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels_b = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS_B, DATA_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(10);

    // Initial pin states
    pinMode(DATA_PIN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(DATA_PIN, LOW);
     

    /* Choose one to begin listening for E1.31 data */
  //  e131.begin(ssid, passphrase);   /* via Unicast on the default port */
   e131.beginMulticast(ssid, passphrase, (UNIVERSE)); /* via Multicast for Universe 1 */
    /* Initialize output */
    pixels.begin();
    pixels.show();
    pixels_b.begin();
    pixels_b.show();
}

void loop() {
    /* Parse a packet and update pixels */
    if(e131.parsePacket()) {
        if (e131.universe == 1) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 1);
                pixels.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels.show();
			
	    }
			
        if (e131.universe == 2) {
            for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS_B; i++) {  // I forgot the _B
                int j = i * 3 + (CHANNEL_START - 451);
                pixels_b.setPixelColor(i, e131.data[j], e131.data[j+1], e131.data[j+2]);
            }
            pixels_b.show();
			
        }
    }
}

**dhenning** · 12-05-2019, 07:54 PM

I was able to get the ESPixelStick firmware installed and that is working great- it sees both universes. Thank you for your help!

**Casper** · 01-03-2020, 09:35 AM

Were you able to find a How to? ESPixelStick firmware to NodeMCU? I can't seem to find anything on it.

Originally Posted by dhenning

I was able to get the ESPixelStick firmware installed and that is working great- it sees both universes. Thank you for your help!

**MartinMueller2003** · 01-03-2020, 10:48 AM

ESPixelStick code is an arduino sketch designed to run on ESP8266 based platforms. The nodeMCU devices I have seen are typically ESP8266-12 based platforms. As long as you are using an ESP8266 based platform, the ESPixelStick sketch can be compiled to work on it.

**dhenning** · 01-03-2020, 11:46 PM

I don't remember where I found the info, but here are the steps I took. I am on a Windows 10 PC, not sure what changes are required if any for a Mac or other OS. I used the pre-compiled firmware on a stock NodeMCU V3 so I didn't have to compile anything, and it worked fine.

1. Download the firmware from the Github page: https://github.com/forkineye/ESPixel...eases/tag/v3.0

You only need to download the zip file (ESPixelStick_Firmware-3.0.zip), then extract to a directory.

2. Plug in your NodeMCU with the USB cable to your PC (hold down the "Flash" button as you plug it in to put it into flash mode.)

3. From a command prompt, run the EspFlashTool that's in the root of the unzipped directory (make sure you have java installed):

java -jar ESPSFlashTool.jar

4. It will open a dialog box- fill in your wifi info, hostname, etc. It should fill in the Firmware and Serial Port automatically.

5. When you're ready, just click "Upload". It should take about a minute to flash, then check the Serial Output window to find the IP address it assigned.

6. Open up that IP in your browser, and you should see a ESPixelStick status page. Use the Device Setup tab to configure your pixel setup.

That's it!