I just bought a makeblock inventor electronic kit. After messing with it I wanted to try something more advanced than the 10 project ideas it came with, so i decided to get a LED strip from Radio Shack (thats designed to work with an arduino uno.) How can I get it to work with my makeblock orion.
The LED strip I used : http://comingsoon.radioshack.com/radioshack-tricolor-led-strip/2760339.html#.VYR8lvlVhBc
I am very new to coding, forums, and makeblock so any help/critique would be appreciated.
I’d say you have several options in order of difficulty.
As far as the software,using the built in libraries in option 3 I don’t think will work. You’ll have to figure out which pin it is in the arduino ide and code it to that pin. Can be done but a but tricky.
You’ve presumably downloaded the PDF manual for you LED strip, from http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aasr_prd/on/demandware.static/Sites-radioshack-Site/Sites-radioshack-Library/default/dwb0da82ea/Support/ProductManuals/2760339_PM_EN.pdf
Also, in case you missed it, Radio Shack used to have support files for that strip on their website, at shack.net/LED0339 . But of course things are a little chaotic with the bankruptcy and the support page for the strip is gone. However, somebody kindly posted either the originals or a modified improved version on github: https://github.com/chrisallenlane/arduino-radioshack-tri-color-led-strip-2760339
That last link should have what you need, software wise, to get this thing running on the Orion.
Option #2 appears best. I just don’t have the coding experience to make it work, so #3 is even farther beyond me. If anyone could somehow convert this to a useable code I would be very grateful.
V- This is the radioshack code that should have been online -V
RadioShack-Tricolor-LED-Strip-Support-Files1.zip (1.9 MB)
2760339_Program.ino (from that ZIP) compiles just fine in my Arduino 1.0.6 IDE. It should run on your Orion board. You’ll just have to get the LED hooked up correctly to your makeblock adapter. Refer if necessary to the diagrams on the ME ORION baseboard page which show how the ports on your Orion map to the connectors on an Arduino UNO board; that will tell you how to adjust the code from that program.ino file to match wherever you decide to hook up the connectors. http://wiki.makeblock.cc/index.php?title=Me-Baseboard
At some point you are going to have to get comfortable writing arduino code. The best way is to just start experimenting.
I was able to get it to light up (which I had not been able to) so I want to thank you guys for the help. However it’s only flashing (sorta like running through the entire program at once). So I was wondering if gave actually gave you the code would you be able to tell me what’s wrong?
V- Working Version -V
_2760339_WORKING.zip (1.7 KB)
I didn’t see anything in the code that jumps out as an issue. Are you saying it runs once, but doesn’t actually loop through the loop statement?
Could you upload a video of what’s happening. Il try to run this through the debugger tool to see if anything jumps out.
…I sorta shorted the strip out (I think) It was working but now it’s not. If you know how to fix that problem let me know, if not ill prob buy a new strip, but I won’t be working on it for a day or two.
you could also try buying the Makeblock version of the strip if you can find it somewhat cheaply somewhere. Easier to experiment with probably.