Adafruit NeoDriver - I2C to NeoPixel Driver

NeoPixels over I2C!

by Liz Clark

published June 07, 2023, last edited January 22, 2025
last major update June 22, 2023

posted in Adafruit Products LEDs Arduino Compatibles CircuitPython STEMMA

Beginner

Product guide

Arduino

Using the NeoDriver with Arduino involves wiring up the driver to your Arduino-compatible microcontroller, installing the Adafruit_Seesaw library and running the provided example code.

Wiring

Wire as shown for a 5V board like an Uno. If you are using a 3V board, like an Adafruit Feather, wire the board's 3V pin to the adapter VIN.

Here is an Adafruit Metro wired up to the driver using the STEMMA QT connector:

Board 5V to driver VIN (red wire)
Board GND to driver GND (black wire)
Board SCL to driver SCL (yellow wire)
Board SDA to driver SDA (blue wire)
5V power supply positive to driver 5Vin (red wire)
5V power supply ground to driver G (black wire)
NeoPixel power to driver 5Vo (red wire)
NeoPixel data to driver Neo (green wire)
NeoPixel ground to driver G (black wire)

Here is an Adafruit Metro wired up using a solderless breadboard:

Board 5V to driver VIN (red wire)
Board GND to driver GND (black wire)
Board SCL to driver SCL (yellow wire)
Board SDA to driver SDA (blue wire)
5V power supply positive to driver 5Vin (red wire)
5V power supply ground to driver G (black wire)
NeoPixel power to driver 5Vo (red wire)
NeoPixel data to driver Neo (green wire)
NeoPixel ground to driver G (black wire)

Library Installation

You can install the Adafruit_Seesaw library for Arduino using the Library Manager in the Arduino IDE.

Click the Manage Libraries ... menu item, search for Adafruit_Seesaw, and select the Adafruit seesaw Library library:

If asked about dependencies, click "Install all".

If the "Dependencies" window does not come up, then you already have the dependencies installed.

If the dependencies are already installed, you must make sure you update them through the Arduino Library Manager before loading the example!

Example Code

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// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 Phil B. for Adafruit Industries
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#include <seesaw_neopixel.h>
#define PIN 15

// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
//   NEO_RGBW    Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)
seesaw_NeoPixel strip = seesaw_NeoPixel(12, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// IMPORTANT: To reduce NeoPixel burnout risk, add 1000 uF capacitor across
// pixel power leads, add 300 - 500 Ohm resistor on first pixel's data input
// and minimize distance between Arduino and first pixel.  Avoid connecting
// on a live circuit...if you must, connect GND first.

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
  while (!Serial) delay(10);   // wait until serial port is opened
  
  if(!strip.begin(0x60)){
    Serial.println("seesaw not found!");
    while(1) delay(10);
  }
  
  Serial.println(F("seesaw started OK!"));
  
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}

void loop() {
  rainbowCycle(20);

}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}

// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 Phil B. for Adafruit Industries
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#include <seesaw_neopixel.h>
#define PIN 15

// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
//   NEO_RGBW    Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)
seesaw_NeoPixel strip = seesaw_NeoPixel(12, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// IMPORTANT: To reduce NeoPixel burnout risk, add 1000 uF capacitor across
// pixel power leads, add 300 - 500 Ohm resistor on first pixel's data input
// and minimize distance between Arduino and first pixel.  Avoid connecting
// on a live circuit...if you must, connect GND first.

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
  while (!Serial) delay(10);   // wait until serial port is opened
  
  if(!strip.begin(0x60)){
    Serial.println("seesaw not found!");
    while(1) delay(10);
  }
  
  Serial.println(F("seesaw started OK!"));
  
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}

void loop() {
  rainbowCycle(20);

}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}

Upload the sketch to your board and open up the Serial Monitor (Tools -> Serial Monitor) at 115200 baud. You'll see the seesaw I2C address (0x60) recognized by the code. Then, you'll see the attached NeoPixels advance through a rainbow color gradient.