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If you are looking for a way to add some colorful and dynamic lighting effects to your Arduino projects, you might want to try using neo-pixel rings. Neo-pixel rings are circular arrays of RGB LEDs that can be controlled individually by a single data line. They are easy to use and can create amazing patterns and animations with Arduino code. In this article, I will show you how to integrate a pixel ring with Arduino Nano, a small and cheap microcontroller board that can be programmed to interact with various sensors and devices. You will learn how to wire the neo-pixel ring to the Arduino Nano, how to install and use the Adafruit Neo Pixel library, and how to code some basic lighting effects using the neo-pixel ring. By the end of this article, you can create your custom lighting effects using a neo-pixel ring and Arduino Nano. You will also be able to modify and customize the code according to your preferences and needs. Let’s get started! Get PCBs For Your Projects Manufactured You must check out PCBWAY for ordering PCBs online for cheap! You get 10 good-quality PCBs manufactured and shipped to your doorstep for cheap. You will also get a discount on shipping on your first order. Upload your Gerber files onto PCBWAY to get them manufactured with good quality and quick turnaround time. PCBWay now could provide a complete product solution, from design to enclosure production. Check out their online Gerber viewer function. With reward points, you can get free stuff from their gift shop. Also, check out this useful blog on PCBWay Plugin for KiCad from here. Using this plugin, you can directly order PCBs in just one click after completing your design in KiCad. Materials and tools: 8-bit neo-pixel ring Arduino nano Jumper wires Mini USB cable Adafruit Neo Pixel library for Arduino Wiring: Connect the IN pin of the neo-pixel ring to the D2 pin of the Arduino nano Connect the VCC pin of the neo-pixel ring to the +5V pin of the Arduino nano Connect the GND pin of the neo-pixel ring to the GND pin of the Arduino nano Programming: Once all the connections are made, open up the Arduino IDE and go to the Include library option. Then add the downloaded zip library that we have previously mentioned. Once the library installation is successful, you can see the neo pixel library examples in the examples sketch. Next, open up the strandtest_wheel sketch and change the pin to 2. Because we have connected our Neo pixel to the D2 pin of the Arduino. # include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h> #ifdef __AVR__ #include <avr/power.h> #endif #define PIN 2 // Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip // Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid) // Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed: // NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs) // NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers) // NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products) // NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2) // NEO_RGBW Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products) Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(8, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800); // IMPORTANT: To reduce NeoPixel burnout risk, add 1000 uF capacitor across // pixel power leads, add 300 - 500 Ohm resistor on first pixel's data input // and minimize distance between Arduino and first pixel. Avoid connecting // on a live circuit...if you must, connect GND first. void setup() { // This is for Trinket 5V 16MHz, you can remove these three lines if you are not using a Trinket #if defined (__AVR_ATtiny85__) if (F_CPU == 16000000) clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1); #endif // End of trinket special code strip.begin(); strip.setBrightness(100); strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off' } void loop() { // Some example procedures showing how to display to the pixels: colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 0), 50); // Red colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 255, 0), 50); // Green colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 0, 255), 50); // Blue //colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 0, 0, 255), 50); // White RGBW // Send a theater pixel chase in... theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 127, 127), 50); // White theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 0, 0), 50); // Red theaterChase(strip.Color(0, 0, 127), 50); // Blue rainbow(20); rainbowCycle(20); theaterChaseRainbow(50); } // Fill the dots one after the other with a color void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) { for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) { strip.setPixelColor(i, c); strip.show(); delay(wait); } } void rainbow(uint8_t wait) { uint16_t i, j; for(j=0; j<256; j++) { for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) { strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255)); } strip.show(); delay(wait); } } // Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) { uint16_t i, j; for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) { strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255)); } strip.show(); delay(wait); } } //Theatre-style crawling lights. void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) { for (int j=0; j<10; j++) { //do 10 cycles of chasing for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) { for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) { strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c); //turn every third pixel on } strip.show(); delay(wait); for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) { strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0); //turn every third pixel off } } } } //Theatre-style crawling lights with rainbow effect void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) { for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) { // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) { for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) { strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255)); //turn every third pixel on } strip.show(); delay(wait); for (uint16_t i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) { strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0); //turn every third pixel off } } } } // Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value. // The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r. uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) { WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos; if(WheelPos < 85) { return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3); } if(WheelPos < 170) { WheelPos -= 85; return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3); } WheelPos -= 170; return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0); } Next, select the correct port and board. Here is the response. Conclusion: You have learned how to connect neo pixel ring with Arduino Nano and create some lighting effects using Arduino code, You can try different colors, patterns, and speeds for your animations by changing the code parameters. You can also use other types of neo-pixel products, such as strips, matrices, or jewels, for more variety and complexity.

Story A NeoPixel ring controlled by a DHT11 sensor and an Arduino Nano can be a fascinating project that combines temperature sensing with visual feedback. This article will guide you through the process of building such a system. Materials Needed Arduino Nano DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor Neo Pixel Ring Jumper Wires Get PCBs For Your Projects Manufactured You must check out PCBWAY for ordering PCBs online for cheap! You get 10 good-quality PCBs manufactured and shipped to your doorstep for cheap. You will also get a discount on shipping on your first order. Upload your Gerber files onto PCBWAY to get them manufactured with good quality and quick turnaround time. PCBWay now could provide a complete product solution, from design to enclosure production. Check out their online Gerber viewer function. With reward points, you can get free stuff from their gift shop. Also, check out this useful blog on PCBWay Plugin for KiCad from here. Using this plugin, you can directly order PCBs in just one click after completing your design in KiCad. Step 1: Connecting the Hardware First, connect the DHT11 sensor and the Neo Pixel ring to the Arduino Nano. The DHT11 sensor can be connected to any digital pin on the Arduino Nano. The Neo Pixel ring should be connected to the D2 pin of the Arduino Nano. Step 2: Installing the Libraries You will need to install the DHT library and the Adafruit Neo Pixel library in your Arduino IDE. These libraries contain the necessary functions to interact with the DHT11 sensor and the Neo Pixel ring. First Navigate to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries... In the Library Manager, there is a search box. Type “DHT sensor library” into the search box. In the search results, find the library named “DHT sensor library” by Adafruit. Click on it, then click the “Install” button. And that’s it! You’ve successfully installed the DHT11 sensor library in Arduino IDE. This library should now be available for inclusion in your sketches. Step 3: Programming the Arduino The next step is to program the Arduino Nano. The program should read the temperature from the DHT11 sensor and change the color of the Neo Pixel ring based on the temperature. For example, you could program the Neo Pixel ring to display a blue color when the temperature is below a certain threshold. A green color when the temperature is within a comfortable range, and a red color when the temperature is above a certain threshold. Step 4: Testing the System After programming the Arduino Nano, it’s time to test the system. Power up the Arduino and observe the color of the Neo Pixel ring. Try changing the temperature around the DHT11 sensor (for example, by blowing hot or cold air onto the sensor) and see if the color of the Neo Pixel ring changes accordingly. #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h> #include <Adafruit_Sensor.h> #include <DHT.h> #include <DHT_U.h> #define DHTTYPE DHT11 // DHT 11 #define DHTPIN 3 DHT_Unified dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE); #define PIN 2 // Neo Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(8, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800); void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); dht.begin(); sensor_t sensor; strip.begin(); strip.setBrightness(100); strip.show(); } void loop() { sensors_event_t event; dht.temperature().getEvent(&event); Serial.print(F("Temperature: ")); float temp1 = event.temperature; Serial.print(temp1); Serial.println(F("°C")); dht.humidity().getEvent(&event); Serial.print(F("Humidity: ")); float hum1 = event.relative_humidity; Serial.print(hum1); Serial.println(F("%")); if (temp1 >= 28 && temp1 < 31) { strip.clear(); // Set all pixel colors to 'off' for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++) { // For each pixel... strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 150, 0)); strip.show(); } } else if (temp1 < 28) { strip.clear(); for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++) { // For each pixel... strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 150)); strip.show(); } } else { strip.clear(); for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++) { // For each pixel... strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(150, 0, 0)); strip.show(); } } } Conclusion Building a DHT11-controlled Neo Pixel ring with an Arduino Nano is a fun and educational project combining temperature sensing and visual feedback. With this system, you can visually monitor the temperature in a room and get a sense of whether the temperature is within a comfortable range.