Using the SPI port option of an FT232H, we can drive NeoPixels from any PC with a USB port. See here for details about getting the FT232H installed and setup for your specific operating system:

And of course, also install the NeoPixel library:

sudo pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-neopixel-spi

FT232H Wiring

The wiring is pretty simple.

  • FT232H 5V to NeoPixel VIN
  • FT232H GND to NeoPixel GND
  • FT232H D1 to NeoPixel DIN

Note how only the MOSI (D1) pin of the SPI port is used. The other SPI pins, including SCLK, are not used at all.

Once you are wired up, try running the program in the Example Code section.

python3 neo_ring.py
Don't forget to set the BLINKA_FT232H environment variable. See guide linked above for OS specific details.

This guide was first published on Oct 14, 2019. It was last updated on Oct 14, 2019.

This page (FT232H Example) was last updated on Oct 14, 2019.

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