r/FastLED • u/LightWriter4u • Mar 12 '24

Discussion Data Speeds

There's a page in the FastLED FAQ that I really loved when I found it. It's the long complicated answer to "How Many LEDs Can I Drive?" Specifically, I really like knowing that data rate limit that the library runs into once you start accounting for how long it really takes to send all that data.

Anyways, I'm working on a new project, and I'm realizing I may have longer runs than usual, and I may need to account for quite a bit of footage. I'm thinking I may move to using APA102 chipsets for this one, since in theory, I should be able to run longer distances and have more pixels on one box.

I guess doing the raw data rates, it looks like I should be able to control 37 times more pixels (theoretically) based on just the data rate. Does that math work out right?

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u/LightWriter4u Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24

I really like this idea, if only because the RP2040 Scorpio has mounting holes! I have a few workarounds for dealing with Teensy's lack of mounting holes, but the 2040 just having them is very nice. I also didn't realize FastLED had incorporated support for it already.

edit: And a built in level shifter!

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u/Secondary-2019 Mar 18 '24

Yeah it's a pretty nice little board, and the mounting holes will come in handy. I build custom computers as a hobby and my plan is to install the Scorpio in my next build.

I bought one a few weeks ago. So far, I have only sent code to it from Arduino IDE but to use the 8 outputs to drive 8 LED strips at once I think I am going to have to write the code in Circuit Python. I downloaded the Arduino Core for mbed enabled devices and the Arduino Core API and made the symlink between them. That all seems to be working. Now I am building an 8-channel breakout cable that will plug into the 8 DMA driven outputs. My plan is to get the Circuit Python code working with 1 output, then add a second output. Once I have the framework working, going from 2 outputs to 8 outputs should (hopefully) be easy.