Now its time to get BLINKY!

We'll have to install a version of the Arduino IDE called Teensyduino and our LED strip library, so we can program the controller chip.

If you're running Windows, you can just download this ready-to-go zip package. Uncompress it and inside will be an Arduino IDE

If you're running Mac OS X, you can just download this ready-to-go dmg package. Uncompress it and inside will be an Arduino IDE

Download and install whichever matches your setup. Uncompress it onto your desktop or where ever you want to store the IDE folder. This will take a while so we'll wait here for you.

OK welcome back! Now you will install the 'library' for the Digital LED strip.

Open up the Arduino library manager:

Search for the LPD8806 library and install it

We also have a great tutorial on Arduino library installation at:
http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-all-about-arduino-libraries-install-use

You should now see a new example folder called LPD8806 and inside, an example called LEDbeltKit. Open up the LEDbeltKit example.

Be sure to select Atmega32u4 breakout in the Board menu. Also select the Serial Port that is made when you plug in the Atmega32u4 board to USB.

To upload the LEDbeltKit sketch, simply have the board plugged in, click the Upload button in the IDE and press the RESET button on the breakout board.
Don't forget to press the reset button on the blue 32u4 PCB right after clicking upload to launch the bootloader and get it ready for programming!
Once you've uploaded you should see the LED belt perform the blinky test! It will look a little similar to this:

This guide was first published on Jan 03, 2013. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Upload the Test Sketch) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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