{"product_id":"adafruit-neopxl8-featherwing-for-feather-m0-8-x-dma-neopixels","title":"Adafruit NeoPXL8 FeatherWing for Feather M0 - 8 x DMA NeoPixels!","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince we first started carrying NeoPixels back in 2012, the chainable RGB LEDs have taken over the world. And a big part of that success is due to the simplicity of their wiring - just one data wire, no matter how many pixels you've got. So no surprise they're \u003cem\u003eeverywhere\u003c\/em\u003e, blinking away in art exhibits, maker faire demos, DJ booths, decorations and costumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut, at some point, every NeoPixel'er bumps into the constraints of that single-data-wire: the timing is very picky and often time your code has to stop completely so that it can burst out the data without any interruptions. This requirement makes it tough to create fast-update lighting effects, and limits the number of pixels you can drive before other hardware peripherals get attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eResident pixel-pro Paint Your Dragon (who coined the name NeoPixel dont-cha-know!) took on this challenge and has succeeded gloriously. By carefully examining the ATSAMD21 datasheet he noticed you could use the Timer 0 in 'waveform' mode, and create 8 unique waveforms over DMA that would handle all the pixel-pushing for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThus is born the \u003cstrong\u003eNeoPXL8 Arduino library\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eNeoPXL8 Featherwing!\u003c\/strong\u003e The library runs on our \u003cstrong\u003eFeather M0\u003c\/strong\u003e's (the Basic Proto, Adalogger, Bluefruit, Express, and others) and handles all the NeoPixeling for you, up to \u003cstrong\u003e8 strands of concurrent DMA output\u003c\/strong\u003e each one can be 250 pixels long for a total of 8 x 250 = 2000 pixels. That leaves you some RAM for your code to run in as well - the theoretical max is 340 pixels per strand but you'd be using all the RAM on the M0 chip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you have a \u003cstrong\u003eSAMD51 Feather\u003c\/strong\u003e, check out the sister product - \u003cstrong\u003eNeoPXL8 FeatherWing for M4 boards\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo make connection easy, this Featherwing does the level-shifting and pin arrangements for you. All 8 strands have a level shifter that converts the 3.3V logic level to 5V logic, there's a little switch-cap converter that generates the clean 5V power supply for you. Then a 100 ohm resistor in line after the buffer reduces ringing on long wiring runs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou get two options for connecting NeoPixels:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x 8 Header with ground and 5V-logic signal, in pairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x RJ-45 'Ethernet' Jacks, with ground and 5V-logic signal per twisted pair. This matches the same wiring as the OctWS2811\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo keep the 'Wing compact we let you choose which wiring you'd like to go with, just solder in the connectors you prefer. Then you'll also need to provide power to the NeoPixels. Since you'll need many Amps of current, we don't manage that through the Wing - the PCB copper would be too limiting. We recommend using terminal blocks or bus bars to connect all the ground\/5V power wires together and powering them from their own chunky 5V supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince we are using TCC0 (Timer 0), we are limited in what pins can be used for NeoPixel output. Here are the options you have:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #0 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eA3\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #1 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eA4\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #2 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eeither\u003c\/strong\u003e Digital #\u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c\/strong\u003e or the Serial \u003cstrong\u003eTX\u003c\/strong\u003e pin (selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #3 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eeither\u003c\/strong\u003e Digital #\u003cstrong\u003e12\u003c\/strong\u003e or the Serial \u003cstrong\u003eRX\u003c\/strong\u003e pin (selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #4 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eeither \u003c\/strong\u003eSPI \u003cstrong\u003eMOSI\u003c\/strong\u003e or I2C \u003cstrong\u003eSDA \u003c\/strong\u003e(selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #5 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eeither\u003c\/strong\u003e Digital #\u003cstrong\u003e5\u003c\/strong\u003e or the SPI \u003cstrong\u003eSCK\u003c\/strong\u003e pin (selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #6 comes from \u003cstrong\u003eeither\u003c\/strong\u003e Digital #\u003cstrong\u003e11\u003c\/strong\u003e or the SPI \u003cstrong\u003eMISO\u003c\/strong\u003e pin (selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutput #7 comes from Digital #\u003cstrong\u003e13\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs you can see, some of these pins are fixed (A3, A4, #13) and the rest have two options. If you absolutely cannot spare both options, you can disable that from the NeoPXL8 DMA output and live with 7 strands only.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile we designed this specifically for use with Feather M0 (SAMD21 based), you \u003cem\u003ecould\u003c\/em\u003e use it with other Feathers, for the level shifting capabilites. You'll just have to figure out what NeoPixel driver firmware you can use and what pins are available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf that all sounds groovy to you, pick up one of these wings and \u003cstrong\u003echeck out the NeoPXL8 Arduino library\u003c\/strong\u003e examples to get your massive LED project going!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"tab-technical-details-content\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions (board only, no components): 50.7 x 23 x 2.6mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduct Weight: 3.6g \/ 0.1oz \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul id=\"product-files\"\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-lg-2 col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-4\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-lg-2 col-md-3 col-sm-3 col-xs-4\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Adafruit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46039320920124,"sku":"xfq1787257863188","price":4.62,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0676\/6985\/2220\/files\/adafruit-neopxl8-featherwing-for-feather-m0---8-x-dma-neopixels_1.jpg?v=1787257871","url":"https:\/\/luxecladstore.shop\/products\/adafruit-neopxl8-featherwing-for-feather-m0-8-x-dma-neopixels","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}