RGB LED strip

[maghac]

@LastSamurai Thanks!

I started looking into it but realized it's a bit complex since you probably need to consider the characteristics of the MOSFETs as well. Also, when playing with it I've realized that fading between colours actually looks linear (e.g moving from ff8080 to 00ff80 is actually quite smooth), which means you need to consider the overall intensity too.

Another interesting situation is when the user sets colour 808080 and intensity 100% compared to colour ffffff and intensity 50%. In my sketch this ends up as the same value.

[maghac]

@sundberg84 Thanks.

Yes, I've noticed that some of them are a bit unreliable when fed with 12V. Maybe I will put a separate regulator to drive the board with 5V instead.

[maghac]

I noticed that the indents in the sketch are a bit off, I guess there's a mix of spaces and tabs in the file :) I blame the crappy editor in the Arduino IDE.

As a side note, has anyone managed to set up a Arduino development environment based on Notepad++ or some other editor? I know about platformio.org but I never managed to make friends with Atom so I haven't looked into it.

[AWI]

@maghac You can setup Notepad++ to run the arduino IDE

There is a good instruction (in German ;-), use google translate if you need to ) here

[AWI]

@maghac The FastLed library has some functions for linear fading. The characteristics of the Mosfet's can be ignored. When using PWM these are used as switches (i.e. on/off).
For inspiration: this sketch was for a RGBW strip and uses the FastLED nscale8() for smooth fading. Also there is a non-blocking version of the fading routine and a state machine to have button control.
(the 'W' in the RGBW can easily be removed. It is calculated here as a kind of greatest common divisor of RGB)

/*
 PROJECT: MySensors / RGB light NEOPIXEL
 PROGRAMMER: AWI
 DATE: october 10, 2015/ last update: september 20, 2016
 FILE: AWI_Wall_LIght_x.ino
 LICENSE: Public domain

 Hardware: RGBW Pro Mini and MySensors 2.0,
		
 Special:
	uses Fastled library  (great & fast RBG/HSV universal library) 			https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED
	
 SUMMARY:
	
	Different patterns and brightness settings
	
	Button switches on/off and color with long press
	
 Remarks:
	Fixed node-id
	
 Change log:
 20160915 - Updated to MySensors 2.0
 20160920 - Changed state change to dimmer i.s.o. switch()
 20161120 - Various small adjustments
 20170120 - Change to RGBW non addressable strip

*/
//****  MySensors *****
// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG 
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24										// Enable and select radio type attached

#define MY_NODE_ID 63										// 62
#define NODE_TXT "W 63"										// Text to add to sensor name

// change the pins to free up the pwm pin for led control
#define MY_RF24_CE_PIN   4 									//<-- NOTE!!! changed, the default is 9
#define MY_RF24_CS_PIN   10  								// default is 10
//#define RF24_PA_LEVEL RF24_PA_MAX

// helpers
#define LOCAL_DEBUG											// enable if print wanted 

#ifdef LOCAL_DEBUG
#define Sprint(...) (Serial.print( __VA_ARGS__))			// macro as substitute for print, enable if no print wanted
#define Sprintln(...) (Serial.println( __VA_ARGS__))		// macro as substitute for println
#else
#define Sprint(a)										
#define Sprintln(a)
#endif


#include <SPI.h>											// My Sensors
#include <MySensors.h>

#include <FastLED.h>										// https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED
#include "Button.h"											// https://github.com/JChristensen/Button

// Arduino pin attached to drivers
const int RED_PIN  = 5 ; 
const int WHITE_PIN = 9 ;
const int GREEN_PIN = 3 ;
const int BLUE_PIN = 6 ;

const int buttonPin = 7 ;									// push button

const int RGB_LightChild = 0 ;								// Child Id's, standard light child on/off/ dim
const int RGB_RGBChild = 1 ;								// RGB light child (on/off/dim/color, if controller supports V_RBG))

CRGB strip ;												// RGB(W) strip (Fastled)
uint8_t stripW = 0 ;										// White component
uint8_t actualBrightness = 0xFF ;							// actual strip brightness

// Kelving colors: Light & daylight (in Fastled reference only)
/// 1900 Kelvin Candle=0xFF9329 /* 1900 K, 255, 147, 41 */,
/// 2600 Kelvin Tungsten40W=0xFFC58F /* 2600 K, 255, 197, 143 */,
/// 2850 Kelvin Tungsten100W=0xFFD6AA /* 2850 K, 255, 214, 170 */,
/// 3200 Kelvin	Halogen=0xFFF1E0 /* 3200 K, 255, 241, 224 */,
/// 5200 Kelvin CarbonArc=0xFFFAF4 /* 5200 K, 255, 250, 244 */,
/// 5400 Kelvin HighNoonSun=0xFFFFFB /* 5400 K, 255, 255, 251 */,
/// 6000 Kelvin DirectSunlight=0xFFFFFF /* 6000 K, 255, 255, 255 */,
/// 7000 Kelvin OvercastSky=0xC9E2FF /* 7000 K, 201, 226, 255 */,
/// 20000 Kelvin ClearBlueSky=0x409CFF /* 20000 K, 64, 156, 255 */

char setRGBvalue[] = "FEBC5400";
CRGB curRGB = 0xFEBC54 ;	 								// Controller sent RGB(W) value, default tungsten40W "FFC58F"
uint16_t curBrightness = 0xFF, setBrightness = 0xFF ;		// Brightness globals (actualBrightness)
unsigned long updateBrightnessDelay, lastBrightnessUpdate ; // Brightness timers
int RGBonoff ;												// OnOff flag

unsigned long idleTimer = millis() ;						// return to idle timer
const unsigned long idleTime = 10000UL;						// return to idle after 10 secs

const unsigned long dimTime = 1000UL;						// dim period

const unsigned long heartbeatInterval = 1 * 60UL * 1000UL ;	// heartbeatinterval, just to let the controller know I am alive
unsigned long heartbeatCounter = 0 ;

MyMessage lightRGBMsg(RGB_LightChild, V_RGB);				// standard messages, light
MyMessage lightdimmerMsG(RGB_LightChild ,V_DIMMER);	
MyMessage lightOnOffMessage(RGB_LightChild, V_STATUS);

Button myBtn(buttonPin, true, true, 20);					//Declare the button (pin, pull_up, invert, debounce_ms)

// Simple state machine for button state
enum {sIdle, sBrightness, sPattern} ;						// simple state machine for button press
int State ;

void setup() {
	pinMode(RED_PIN,   OUTPUT);
	pinMode(GREEN_PIN, OUTPUT);
	pinMode(BLUE_PIN,  OUTPUT);
	pinMode(WHITE_PIN, OUTPUT); 
	request(RGB_LightChild, V_RGBW) ;

	/*for(int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++) {			// get color value from EEPROM (8 char for RGBW)
		setRGBvalue[i] = loadState(i) ;
		}
	
	curRGB = strtol( setRGBvalue, NULL, 16);				// copy the RGB value to the led Strip (convert to long)
	showAnalogRGB() ;
	*/
}

void presentation(){
// MySensors
	sendSketchInfo("AWI RGBW strip " NODE_TXT, "2.0"); wait(50) ;
	present(RGB_RGBChild, S_RGB_LIGHT, "RGB RGBW strip " NODE_TXT); wait(50) ;
}

// read button and act accordingly
// short press: on/off
// longer press: set patterns with following short press
// long press: set brightness increase 
void loop() {
	myBtn.read();               							//Read the button (only read)
	unsigned long now = millis(); 							// loop timer reference
	switch (State) {
		case sIdle:											// default state, browse through patterns
			if (myBtn.wasReleased()){						// light on/ off in idle
				RGBonoff = !RGBonoff ;						// invert light state
				setLightBrightness((RGBonoff == 1)?setBrightness:0, dimTime);
				send(lightOnOffMessage.set(RGBonoff));		// and update controller	
			} else if (myBtn.pressedFor(800)){				// move to Pattern update state with long press
				idleTimer = now ;							// return to idle after ...
				State = sPattern ;
			}
			break ;
		case sPattern:										// entered after long press/ change colors (tbd)
			if (myBtn.pressedFor(4000)){					// when press even longer move to Brightness update
				State = sBrightness ;
			} else if (myBtn.wasPressed()){
				//setPattern = (setPattern + 1) % lastPatternIdx ;  // increase pattern and wrap
				//setLightPattern((setPattern), 500 );
				idleTimer = now ;
			} else if ( now > idleTime + idleTimer  ){		// return to idle after ...
				State = sIdle ;
			}
			break ;
		case sBrightness:									// entered after looong press
			if (myBtn.wasPressed()){						// if pressed again increase brightness
				setLightBrightness((curBrightness+0x1F) % 0xFF, 0) ; // increase brightness and wrap (0..0xFF)
				idleTimer = now ;
			} else if ( now > idleTime + idleTimer  ){		// return to idle after ...
				State = sIdle ;
			}
			break ;
		default :
			State = sIdle ;
			break ;
	}
	updateLightBrightness();								// update Brightness if time
	if ( now > heartbeatCounter  + heartbeatInterval){		// heartbeat every hour
	    sendHeartbeat();
		heartbeatCounter = now ; 
	}
}

// Sets the light brightness, takes value and time (ms) as input
void setLightBrightness(int newBrightness, unsigned long updateTime){
	// global: curBrightness, actualBrightness, updateBrightnessDelay
	updateBrightnessDelay = updateTime / 0xFF ;				// delay = time / max steps
	curBrightness = newBrightness ;							// set curBrightness to new value, rest is done in update
}	
 
// Update the light brightness if time
void updateLightBrightness(){
	// global: curBrightness, actualBrightness, updateBrightnessDelay, lastBrightnessUpdate ;
	//static byte actualBrightness ;							// store real brightness state for slow dim
	unsigned long now = millis() ;
	if (now > lastBrightnessUpdate + updateBrightnessDelay){// check if time for update
		if ( actualBrightness > curBrightness) {
			--actualBrightness ;
			showAnalogRGB() ;
		} else if ( actualBrightness < curBrightness){
			++actualBrightness ;
			showAnalogRGB() ;
			}
		lastBrightnessUpdate = now ;
	}
}

// Incoming messages from MySensors
void receive(const MyMessage &message){
	int ID = message.sensor;
	Serial.print("Sensor: ");
	Serial.println(ID);
	switch (ID){
		case RGB_LightChild:									// same behaviour as RGB child/ fall through
		case RGB_RGBChild:										// if controller can handle V_RGB
			if (message.type == V_RGB) {						// check for RGB type
				strcpy(setRGBvalue, message.getString());		// get the payload
				curRGB = strtoul( setRGBvalue, NULL, 16) ;	// copy the RGB value to the led Strip (convert to long)
			} else if (message.type == V_RGBW) {						// check for RGB type
				strcpy(setRGBvalue, message.getString());		// get the payload
				curRGB = strtoul( setRGBvalue, NULL, 16) >> 8;	// copy the RGB value to the led Strip (convert to long)
			} else if (message.type == V_DIMMER) {				// if DIMMER type, adjust brightness
				setBrightness = map(message.getInt(), 0, 100, 0, 255);
				setLightBrightness(setBrightness, dimTime) ;
			} else if (message.type == V_STATUS) {				// if on/off type, toggle brightness
				RGBonoff = message.getInt();
				setLightBrightness((RGBonoff == 1)?setBrightness:0, dimTime);
			}
			break ;
	}
    showAnalogRGB();
	dispRGBstat();
}


// showAnalogRGB: this is like FastLED.show(), but outputs on 
// analog PWM output pins instead of sending data to an intelligent,
// pixel-addressable LED strip.
void showAnalogRGB(){
	strip = curRGB ;
	strip.nscale8(actualBrightness)  ;
	int commonRGB = min(min(strip.r, strip.g), strip.b) ;		// smallest value is White component
	strip.r -= commonRGB ;
	strip.g -= commonRGB ;
	strip.b -= commonRGB ;
	stripW = commonRGB ;
	Sprint("Color RGBW ") ;
	Sprint(strip.r, HEX); 
	Sprint(" ") ;
	Sprint(strip.g, HEX); 
	Sprint(" ") ;
	Sprint(strip.b, HEX); 
	Sprint(" ") ;
	Sprintln(stripW, HEX) ;
	analogWrite(RED_PIN,   strip.r );
	analogWrite(GREEN_PIN, strip.g );
	analogWrite(BLUE_PIN,  strip.b );
	analogWrite(WHITE_PIN, stripW ) ;
}



// debug	
// display the status of all RGB: controller, requested, real
void dispRGBstat(void){
    Serial.print(" Color: "); Serial.print(setRGBvalue); 
    Serial.print(" Brightness: "); Serial.println(setBrightness);
}


	```

[maghac]

@AWI Looks good, I'll see if I can incorporate this in my solution. Thanks!

[maghac]

I'd thought I'd share a pic now that the led strip has been mounted. Unfortunately the iphone camera doesn't have enough dynamic range to capture the light correctly - it looks a lot better in reality!

Through some HomeAssistant/tellstick magic I can also turn it on and off using a normal 433Mhz remote instead of having to send MQTT messages from the command line. This increased the WAF considerably :)

[OliverDog]

@maghac , great work!!!

I want to build a battery powered Mood Light based on your sketch and RGB Common Cathode Leds (4 or 5 of them).

Before getting those RGB leds yet (already ordered but it takes 2 months to receive) I tested your sketch with three ordinary 3 mm colored leds - Green, Red and Yellow (should be blue but I don´t have it) and got it running on Home Assistant. On batteries as well. Color selection and Dimmer working as well...

But I don´t get fading effects (called by transition time on Home Assistant). No matter how long I ask the transition it changes the same time I ask.

Serial monitor never shows that V_VAR1 message type. Was it supposed to show it?
What did I miss?

Thanks.

[maghac]

@OliverDog, thanks!

The V_VAR1 message is used to set the speed of the fading (e.g the time between stepping the RGB values towards the value received with the V_RGB message). Not sure why it doesn't work for you, but maybe it's related to the fact that you don't have the real RGB leds?

You may be interested to know that I have implemented a new version of this sketch. The problem with the old one is that it did the fading in a loop which meant that no new commands were processed during the fade. The new version implements it differently so that messages can be received while the light is fading in a sort of multitasking fashion. This opened up the possibility to implement "programs" that control the LED strip in the background while the device is still receiving messages (e.g during a slow fade to green I can tell it to turn off or to fade to blue instead, without having to wait for the current fade to stop). I have implemented two such programs - one is a sort of an alarm mode (blink white on/off) and the other is a relax program (very slow fade between various pastel colours). To enable the programs, you send a V_VAR2 message with a number: 0: normal (e.g fixed to one colour), 1: alarm and 2: relax.

Since V_VAR2 is message type 25, this is the corresponding MQTT message to enable the relax program:

mosquitto_pub -t mysensors-in/2/1/1/0/25 -m 2

Code is below. I intend to update it further (i.e the "party" program is missing! :) ) and then I'll post the new versions here.

Have fun!

/**
 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
 * version 2 as published by the Free Software Foundation.
 *
 * LED STRIP sketch for Mysensors
 *******************************
 *
 * REVISION HISTORY
 * 1.0 
 *   Based on the example sketch in mysensors
 * 1.1
 *   fadespeed parameter (send as V_VAR1 message)
 *   HomeAssistant compatible (send status to ack)
 * 1.2
 *   OTA support
 * 1.3
 *   Power-on self test
 * 1.4
 *   Bug fix
 * 1.5
 *   Other default values
 * 1.6
 *   Repeater feature
 * 1.7
 *   Multitasking. Alarm, Relax and normal modes.
 */

#define MY_OTA_FIRMWARE_FEATURE
#define MY_REPEATER_FEATURE
#define MY_NODE_ID AUTO

#define MY_RADIO_NRF24

#define MY_DEBUG

#include <MySensors.h>

#define CHILD_ID_LIGHT 1

#define SN "LED Strip"
#define SV "1.7"

MyMessage lightMsg(CHILD_ID_LIGHT, V_LIGHT);
MyMessage rgbMsg(CHILD_ID_LIGHT, V_RGB);
MyMessage dimmerMsg(CHILD_ID_LIGHT, V_DIMMER);

int current_r = 255;
int current_g = 255;
int current_b = 255;
int target_r = 255;
int target_g = 255;
int target_b = 255;
int save_r;
int save_g;
int save_b;


float delta_r = 0.0;
float delta_g = 0.0;
float delta_b = 0.0;

char rgbstring[] = "ffffff";

int on_off_status = 0;
int dimmerlevel = 100;
int fadespeed = 20;
unsigned long last_update = 0;
int tick_length = 10;
int fade_step = 0;

int program_timer;
int program_cycle;

#define REDPIN 6
#define GREENPIN 5
#define BLUEPIN 3

#define LIGHT_NORMAL 0
#define LIGHT_FADING 1

#define PROGRAM_NORMAL 0
#define PROGRAM_ALARM 1
#define PROGRAM_RELAX 2

int light_mode = LIGHT_NORMAL;
int program_mode = PROGRAM_NORMAL;

#define RELAX_SPEED 50
#define MAX_CYCLES_RELAX 7
const int program_param_RELAX[MAX_CYCLES_RELAX][3] = {
  {255, 32, 0},
  {255, 32, 16},
  {255, 16, 32},
  {255, 128, 0},
  {255, 32, 00},
  {255, 32, 32},
  {255, 0, 32}
};

void setup()
{
  // Fix the PWM timer. Without this the LEDs will flicker.
  TCCR0A = _BV(COM0A1) | _BV(COM0B1) | _BV(WGM00);

  // Output pins
  pinMode(REDPIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(GREENPIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BLUEPIN, OUTPUT);
  
}

void presentation()
{
	// Send the Sketch Version Information to the Gateway
	sendSketchInfo(SN, SV);
	present(CHILD_ID_LIGHT, S_RGB_LIGHT);
}

void selftest() {
  on_off_status = 1;
  current_r = 255;
  current_g = 0;
  current_b = 0;
  set_hw_status();
  wait(100);
  current_r = 0;
  current_g = 255;
  set_hw_status();
  wait(100);
  current_g = 0;
  current_b = 255;
  set_hw_status();
  wait(100);
  current_r = 255;
  current_g = 255;
  set_hw_status();
  wait(100);
  on_off_status = 0;
}


void loop()
{
  static bool first_message_sent = false;
  if ( first_message_sent == false ) {
    selftest();
    set_hw_status();
    send_status(1, 1, 1);
    first_message_sent = true;
  }

  unsigned long now = millis();
  
  if (now - last_update > tick_length) {
    last_update = now;

    if (light_mode == LIGHT_FADING) {
      calc_fade();
    }

    if (program_mode > PROGRAM_NORMAL) {
      handle_program();
    }
    
  }
  set_hw_status();
  
}

void receive(const MyMessage &message)
{
  int val;
  
	if (message.type == V_RGB) {
		Serial.print( "V_RGB: " );
    Serial.println(message.data);
    long number = (long) strtol( message.data, NULL, 16);

    // Save old value
    strcpy(rgbstring, message.data);
    
    // Split it up into r, g, b values
    int r = number >> 16;
    int g = number >> 8 & 0xFF;
    int b = number & 0xFF;

    init_fade(fadespeed, r, g, b); 
    send_status(0, 0, 1);

	} else if (message.type == V_LIGHT || message.type == V_STATUS) {
    Serial.print( "V_LIGHT: " );
    Serial.println(message.data);
    val = atoi(message.data);
    if (val == 0 or val == 1) {
      on_off_status = val;
      send_status(1, 0, 0);
    }
    
  } else if (message.type == V_DIMMER || message.type == V_PERCENTAGE) {
    Serial.print( "V_DIMMER: " );
    Serial.println(message.data);
    val = atoi(message.data);
    if (val >= 0 and val <=100) {
      dimmerlevel = val;
      send_status(0, 1, 0);
    }
    
  } else if (message.type == V_VAR1 ) {
    Serial.print( "V_VAR1: " );
    Serial.println(message.data);
    val = atoi(message.data);
    if (val >= 0 and val <= 2000) {
      fadespeed = val;
    }

  } else if (message.type == V_VAR2 ) {
    Serial.print( "V_VAR2: " );
    Serial.println(message.data);
    val = atoi(message.data);
    if (val == PROGRAM_NORMAL) {
      stop_program();
    } else if (val == PROGRAM_ALARM || val == PROGRAM_RELAX) {
      init_program(val);
    }

	} else {
		Serial.println( "Invalid command received..." );
		return;
	}

}

void set_rgb(int r, int g, int b) {
  analogWrite(REDPIN, r);
  analogWrite(GREENPIN, g);
  analogWrite(BLUEPIN, b);
}

void init_program(int program) {
  program_mode = program;
  program_cycle = 0;
  save_rgb();
  
  if (program == PROGRAM_ALARM) {
    light_mode = LIGHT_NORMAL;
    current_r = 255;
    current_g = 255;
    current_b = 255;
    program_timer = 50;
  } else if (program == PROGRAM_RELAX) {
    program_timer = 300;
    init_fade(fadespeed,
              program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][0],
              program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][1],
              program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][2]);
  }
}

void handle_program() {
  program_timer--;
  if (program_mode == PROGRAM_ALARM) {
    if (program_timer == 0) {
      program_timer = 50;
      if (program_cycle == 0) {
        program_cycle = 1;
        current_r = 0;
        current_g = 0;
        current_b = 0;
      } else {
        program_cycle = 0;
        current_r = 255;
        current_g = 255;
        current_b = 255;
      }
    }
  } else if (program_mode == PROGRAM_RELAX) {
    if (light_mode == LIGHT_NORMAL) {
      program_cycle = (program_cycle+1) % MAX_CYCLES_RELAX;
      Serial.print("Next cycle step ");
      Serial.println(program_cycle);
      init_fade(fadespeed * RELAX_SPEED,
                program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][0],
                program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][1],
                program_param_RELAX[program_cycle][2]);
    
    }
    
  }
}

void stop_program() {
  restore_rgb();
  light_mode = LIGHT_NORMAL;
  program_mode = PROGRAM_NORMAL;
}

void save_rgb() {
  save_r = current_r;
  save_g = current_g;
  save_b = current_b;
}

void restore_rgb() {
  current_r = save_r;
  current_g = save_g;
  current_b = save_b;
}
void init_fade(int t, int r, int g, int b) {
  Serial.print( "Init fade" );
  light_mode = LIGHT_FADING;
  target_r = r;
  target_g = g;
  target_b = b;
  fade_step = t;
  delta_r = (target_r - current_r) / float(fade_step);
  delta_g = (target_g - current_g) / float(fade_step);
  delta_b = (target_b - current_b) / float(fade_step);
}

void calc_fade() {
  if (fade_step > 0) {
    fade_step--;
    current_r = target_r - delta_r * fade_step;
    current_g = target_g - delta_g * fade_step;
    current_b = target_b - delta_b * fade_step;
  } else {
    Serial.println( "Normal mode" );
    light_mode = LIGHT_NORMAL;
  } 
}

void set_hw_status() {
  int r = on_off_status * (int)(current_r * dimmerlevel/100.0);
  int g = on_off_status * (int)(current_g * dimmerlevel/100.0);
  int b = on_off_status * (int)(current_b * dimmerlevel/100.0);

  set_rgb(r, g, b);
  
}


void send_status(int send_on_off_status, int send_dimmerlevel, int send_rgbstring) {
  if (send_rgbstring) send(rgbMsg.set(rgbstring));
  if (send_on_off_status) send(lightMsg.set(on_off_status));
  if (send_dimmerlevel) send(dimmerMsg.set(dimmerlevel));
}

[OliverDog]

the new sketch is even better... it responds faster than the other...

but I still don't have fading effects... just the one that you have configured on the sketch (20) which is awesome by the way...

It seems that Home Assistant does not send neither V_VAR1 nor V_VAR2 messages...

the command:
{"entity_id":"light.rgb_leds_12_1", "color_name":"green", "brightness_pct": 15, "transition":20}

shows the same effect that the command:
{"entity_id":"light.rgb_leds_12_1", "color_name":"green", "brightness_pct": 15, "transition":1}

I will try HASS forum!
Thank you very much.

[moskovskiy82]

Have tried to integrate your code and it's awesome except for one thing.
Fixing the PWM breaks the timer. So if i use it straight away my DHT22 and MQ-2 will not send any data.
Well not like that - DHT22 sends humidity but no temp

As soon as i comment out the below line everything starts to work out

TCCR0A = _BV(COM0A1) | _BV(COM0B1) | _BV(WGM00);

The only exception that i use PWM pins 5,6,9 and pin3 is user for IR transmitter. Any ideas for an easy fix?

[maghac]

@OliverDog HA will not send VAR1 or VAR2 unless you implement some specific functionality to do this. I set up switches in HA to send the correct MQTT message to the mysensors gateway in order to activate the alarm and relax modes. Here's my switch.yaml file:

- platform: tellstick


- platform: mqtt
  name: "Alarm"
  command_topic: "mysensors-in/3/1/1/0/25"
  payload_on: "1"
  payload_off: "0"
  optimistic: false
  qos: 0
  retain: false

- platform: mqtt
  name: "Relax"
  command_topic: "mysensors-in/3/1/1/0/25"
  payload_on: "2"
  payload_off: "0"
  optimistic: false
  qos: 0
  retain: false

[maghac]

@moskovskiy82 Thanks!

To be absolutely honest I'm not exactly sure what the TCCR0A statement does :) I had problems with flickering LEDs so I googled it and someone on the arduino.cc forums had the same problem and fixed it by putting that line in the code.

Using other pins for the LEDs should be fine, as long as they are PWM pins of course. Just change the #define statements accordingly.

[MikeF]

@maghac @moskovskiy82 I came across this some time ago, with an RGB LED project. Whilst I can't recall the details, it's to do with setting the Arduino's PWM timers - apparently, the frequencies of the R(ed) & B(lue) channels can be close enough to causing 'beating', which gives rise to flickering. This statement changes the frequency of one of the channels slightly, thereby eliminating the flickering.

[maghac]

Yes, after googling it I could see it was related to setting the timers. There is maybe another way to fix it and still keep the correct timer functions for other functionalities to be intact (e.g so that @moskovskiy82 can still use the DHT22), but I haven't investigated further. In any case, I believe it's easier to split separate functions to separate physical units instead of trying to put as much functionality into one single unit as possible.

In my case, the unit is mounted in a not-so-well-ventilated enclosure in the ceiling, so I doubt that I would get a correct temperature reading anyway :)

[OliverDog]

@maghac I have posted the issue (not working VAR1 and VAR2 on Home Assistant) on the HA forum, and got steps for asking the implement...
I will ask for such implement and it may work later...
Thanks for the help...

By the way, I did not test the switches but seems doing the job...

[moskovskiy82]

After some investigating it wasn't a timer issue but a range issue with a node (it was hard to figure out). So went ahead and built another node with your code. But being lazy - just bought an rgb strip drive from aliexpress (too much soldering of mosfets for me).

It uses some RGBdriver.h library https://github.com/letsgoING/Libraries/tree/master/LEDStripDriver
fe
All i had to change was

void set_rgb(int r, int g, int b) {
  Driver.begin();
  Driver.SetColor(r, g, b);
  Driver.end();
}

And it worked. Except that fading/RELAX don't work out for me. Instead just get a flashing of white light. So i thought you might know some other parts must be adjusted as my arduino knowledge is not there yer

[DrJeff]

@maghac What board is that?

[maghac]

@DrJeff That's the Newbie PCB by @sundberg84 (https://www.mysensors.org/hardware/newbie-pcb)

[DrJeff]

@maghac Wow! I guess I haven't been around here for a while.

Thanks