Assembling this project is super simple. No soldering required! Simply connect the alligator clips on the NeoPixel strip to the correct Circuit Playground Bluefruit alligator-clip-friendly pads.
You can optionally include the Adafruit Circuit Playground Enclosure. To use the enclosure with the Remote Control, simply snap it onto a Circuit Playground Bluefruit. If you'd like to use the enclosure with the NeoPixel Animator, snap it onto the CPB before attaching the NeoPixel strip alligator clips to the pads.
Single NeoPixel Strip
To complete this project with one NeoPixel strip, connect the NeoPixel Animator CPB and NeoPixel strip up as follows:
- Bluefruit GND to NeoPixel GND (black wire/clip)
- Bluefruit A1 to NeoPixel DIN (white wire/clip)
- Bluefruit VOUT to NeoPixel 5V (red wire/clip)
Two NeoPixel Strips
You can easily add a second NeoPixel strip to this project. If you connect them both as suggested, there are no changes needed to the code. To complete this project with two NeoPixel strips, connect them up as follows.
The two ground wires can be connected to separate pads as there are multiple GNDs on the Bluefruit. The 5V and NeoPixel data clips need to be connected to the same pins for both strips. After experimentation, the most stable connection is achieved when clipping the alligator clips on the second strip to the alligator clips on the first.
- Bluefruit GND to NeoPixel strip 1 GND (black wire/clip)
- Bluefruit A1 to NeoPixel strip 1 DIN (white wire/clip)
- Bluefruit VOUT to NeoPixel strip 1 5V (red wire/clip)
- Bluefruit GND to NeoPixel strip 2 GND (black wire/clip)
- NeoPixel strip 2 DIN (white wire/clip) to NeoPixel strip 1 DIN (white wire/clip)
- NeoPixel strip 2 5V (red wire/clip) to NeoPixel strip 1 5V (red wire/clip)
The first image shows the 5V red alligator clip on the second strip clipped to the 5V alligator clip on the first strip, not attached to the Circuit Playground Bluefruit. Slide the cover back on the clip on the first strip, and attach the second strip by clipping onto the first clip below the teeth.
The second and third images show both strips attached to the Circuit Playground Bluefruit.
Now you can decorate anything with it, including a wreath, tree or garland! We'll cover the craft aspect of this project further at the end of the guide.
Now that everything is connected, it's time to move on to the code!
