WS2812B/NodeMCU Code Help

Need Help With My Project
1

Hello!

I am working on a DIY project revolving around an RGB strip, which I can control from my phone via Blynk. I am trying to have 2 “Modes” for the strip: one “Auto” mode where I will have more advanced color settings and animations, and a “Manual” mode where I can set a single color with the zeRGBa Widget in Blynk. I am currently accomplishing this with dedicated “Mode” buttons on Blynk and switch functions in my Arduino code. For the most part, everything is working as planned, but when I set the strip to “Auto” mode, it just strobes rapidly. This is my first real foray into Arduino AND Blynk, so I am sure I’m missing something, probably something very obvious. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleEsp8266.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define LED D2
#define LED_Count 300

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel (LED_Count,LED,NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
BlynkTimer timer;

char auth[] = "My Authentication Token";
char ssid[] = "My WiFi";
char pass[] = "My Password";

int selectmode = 1;
int color;
int vPin1;
int vPin2;
int vPin3;
int Auto;
int Manual;
int Brightness = 50;
int R;
int G;
int B;

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass);
  pinMode(LED,OUTPUT);
  timer.setInterval(100L,Mode);
  strip.begin();
  strip.show();
  strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
}

BLYNK_CONNECTED()
{
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V0);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V1);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V2);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V3);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V4);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V5);
  Blynk.syncVirtual(V6);
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V0)
{
  Brightness = param.asInt();
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V1)
{
  vPin1 = param.asInt();
  if (vPin1 == 1)
  {
    color = 1;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V2,LOW);
    vPin2 = 0;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V3,LOW);
    vPin3 = 0;
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V2)
{
  vPin2 = param.asInt();
  if (vPin2 == 1)
  {
    color = 2;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V1,LOW);
    vPin1 = 0;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V3,LOW);
    vPin3 = 0;
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V3)
{
  vPin3 = param.asInt();
  if (vPin3 == 1)
  {
    color = 3;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V1,LOW);
    vPin1 = 0;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V2,LOW);
    vPin2 = 0;
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V4)
{
  if (Manual == 1)
  {
    R = param[0].asInt();
    G = param[1].asInt();
    B = param[2].asInt();
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V5)
{
  Auto = param.asInt();
  if (Auto == 1)
  {
    selectmode = 1;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V6,LOW);
    Manual = 0;
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V6)
{
  Manual = param.asInt();
  if (Manual == 1)
  {
    selectmode = 2;
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V5,LOW);
    Auto = 0; 
  }
}

void Mode()
{
  switch(selectmode)
  {
    if (Manual == 1)
    {
      vPin1 = 0;
      vPin2 = 0;
      vPin3 = 0;
    }
    
    case 1:
    {
      if ((vPin1 == 0) && (vPin2 == 0) && (vPin3 == 0))
      {
        color = 0;
      }

      switch(color)
      {
        case 0:
        {
          for (int i=0;i<LED_Count;i++)
          {
            strip.setPixelColor(i,0,0,0);
          }
          strip.show();
          strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
          break;
        }
        case 1:
        {
          for (int i=0;i<LED_Count;i++)
          {
            strip.setPixelColor(i,200,0,0);
          }
          strip.show();
          strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
          break;
        }
        case 2:
        {
          for (int i=0;i<LED_Count;i++)
          {
            strip.setPixelColor(i,0,0,200);
          }
          strip.show();
          strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
          break;
        }
        case 3:
        {
          for (int i=0;i<LED_Count;i++)
          {
            strip.setPixelColor(i,0,200,0);
          }
          strip.show();
          strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
          break;
        }
      }
    }
    case 2:
    {
      for (int i=0;i<LED_Count;i++)
      {
        strip.setPixelColor(i,R,G,B);
      }
      strip.show();
      strip.setBrightness(Brightness);
      break;
    }
  }
}


void loop() 
{
  Blynk.run();
  timer.run();
}
2

No idea if this affects your strobing, but strip.show() should be the last command after changing all the strip parameters in your various functions and modes.

3

Thank you for the reply! I changed the command order as you recommended. It didn’t fix the issue but I always appreciate learning best practices.

5

I am not able to go through all your code… too time consuming… but at a glance, your whole Switch Case code looks off… firstly there are two case 2: options?

EDIT Now I see there are two nested Switch Case routines?? I think there might be better ways of doing whatever you are doing. I would search this forum for other RGB Strip control examples.