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[Help] Custom PCB w/ WS2812 LEDs

wasaler

Nov 20, 2013
1
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
1
Hello everyone,

Quite new here, this being my first post. If you care for an introduction, here is a really short one (if not, skip to the next paragraph :D): currently a second year neuroscience student in Canada; found out not too long ago that I like tinkering and making random stuff, but am not very good at it. Started out small with arduino tutorials, and currently looking at a (slightly) more ambitious project.

Anyways! Any help is appreciated for the following:
- I am currently looking to design a custom PCB onto which I will be mounting the fancy WS2812 LEDs. In doing some research though, I am confused as to what components I should include on top of the barebones WS2811 driver + LED package.
- Schematics for an Adafruit design show use of capacitors and resistors (example: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Breadboard_NeoPixel_PCB), whereas SparkFun show use of only a single 0.1microF capacitor (https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/BreakoutBoards/ws2811-Breakout.pdf)

So when I'm designing my own PCB, what are the pros and cons of including/excluding these extra capacitors and resistors?

Thanks!

-----------------------

(If anyone feels like answering the following, that'd be great as well, but these are less urgent matters:

- Assuming I wanted to move away from using a ready made Arduino board, and create my own (likely will be based on the ATMega 328), what are the essential components other than the microcontroller that I should include just to drive the above LEDs? Unessential components include things like indicator LEDs, pin jacks, etc. This board would be integrated in a project with the LEDs and wouldn't need to be as versatile as the Arduino is.
 

OLIVE2222

Oct 2, 2011
690
Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Messages
690
Hi,

The typical connections are available at the datasheet end, both the resistors and the caps are needed.
http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812.pdf

For your page end question only the AVR (and the associated decoupling caps) are needed for a minimal setup assuming you provide a regulated supply.

Olivier
 

matt79

Mar 15, 2014
1
Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Messages
1
I am in for 2 sets of 125 LED's 2 sets of PCB's. I am only interested in the LED's if we are able to get the PCB's along with them.
No spare LED's. I have a way to drive them so as long as the PCB's provide the basic DO --> DIN chaining, I am good to go!

WS2812 or WS2812B's are fine as long as the PCB's will accept either.
 
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