CircuitPython is a fast growing programming platform based on Python, that's easy to learn and customize. This project makes use of the Circuit Python LED Animations code by Kattni Rembor to quickly and easily add gorgeous animations to your light strand. There are more pre-made animations available than I'm using for this guide, so go check it out if you want more modes on your light strand.
Step 1: Update CircuitPython
- Download the latest version of the Circuit Python operating system using the button above.
- Plug your Circuit Playground into your computer via its USB port and double-click the "reset" button. All the lights will turn green and your Circuit Playground will appear as a drive on your computer called CPLAYBTBOOT.
- Drag the code you just download onto this drive to install CircuitPython -- like putting files on a USB stick.
Note: If you plug in the board and you see a drive called CIRCUITPY appear, press the reset button again (double-click) to get to CPLAYBTBOOT.
Step 2: Install the Required Libraries
- Click the button above to download the latest CircuitPython Library Bundle Release.
- Open the file you just downloaded and look in the lib folder. Find these files and copy them into the lib folder on your Circuit Playground's CIRCUITPY drive.
- adafruit_ble (directory)
- adafruit_bluefruit_connect (directory)
- adafruit_led_animation (directory)
- neopixel.mpy
Step 3: Upload the Code
Copy the code from the code window below and save it as code.py at the root of your CIRCUITPY drive.
Your CIRCUITPY drive should look like this when you're done:
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2020 Kattni Rembor for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2020 Erin St Blaine for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""
Bluetooth Controlled Room Lights using a Circuit Playground Bluetooth
Scroll between 7 modes and control brightness with your smartphone via Bluetooth
Full tutorial: https://learn.adafruit.com/easy-no-solder-bluetooth-controlled-room-lights/overview
Code by Kattni Rembor & Erin St Blaine for Adafruit Industries
Adafruit invests time and resources to bring you this code! Please support our shop!
"""
# pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
# pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
import board
import neopixel
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.solid import Solid
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.comet import Comet
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.rainbow import Rainbow
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.rainbowcomet import RainbowComet
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.sparkle import Sparkle
from adafruit_led_animation.animation.sparklepulse import SparklePulse
from adafruit_led_animation.sequence import AnimationSequence
from adafruit_led_animation.group import AnimationGroup
from adafruit_led_animation.animation import Animation
from adafruit_led_animation.sequence import AnimateOnce
from adafruit_led_animation.color import (
AMBER,
ORANGE,
WHITE,
RED,
BLACK,
colorwheel,
)
from adafruit_ble import BLERadio
from adafruit_ble.advertising.standard import ProvideServicesAdvertisement
from adafruit_ble.services.nordic import UARTService
from adafruit_bluefruit_connect.packet import Packet
from adafruit_bluefruit_connect.button_packet import ButtonPacket
from adafruit_bluefruit_connect.color_packet import ColorPacket
NUM_LEDS = 240 # change to reflect your LED strip
NEOPIXEL_PIN = board.A1 # change to reflect your wiring
# Declare a NeoPixel object on NEOPIXEL_PIN with NUM_LEDS pixels,
# no auto-write.
# Set brightness to max, we'll control it later in the code
pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(NEOPIXEL_PIN, NUM_LEDS, brightness=1.0,
auto_write=False,
#pixel_order=(1,0,2,3) #uncomment if using RGBW NeoPixels
)
ble = BLERadio()
uart_service = UARTService()
advertisement = ProvideServicesAdvertisement(uart_service)
class RainbowFade(Animation):
''' fades the entire strip through the whole spectrum '''
_color_index = 150 # choose start color (0-255)
def __init__(self, pixel_object, speed, name): # define animation
super().__init__(pixel_object, speed=speed, color=WHITE, name=name)
def draw(self): # draw the animation
''' fades the entire strip through the whole spectrum '''
self.color = colorwheel(self._color_index + 1)
self._color_index = (self._color_index + 1) % 256
self.fill(self.color)
# ANIMATION DEFINITIONS --
# create as many animations as you'd like and define their attributes here.
# They can be a single line or a group of animations - the groups will play
# at the same time, overlaid on top of each other.
readingLight = Solid(pixels, color=0xFF7D13) #warm white color HEX code
brightWhite = Solid(pixels, color=(150, 150, 150))
rainbow = Rainbow(pixels, speed=0.1, period=10, step=0.5)
rainbowfade = RainbowFade(pixels, speed=0.4, name="rainbowfade")
powerup = RainbowComet(pixels, speed=0, tail_length=50, bounce=False)
off = Solid(pixels, color=BLACK)
#startup animation will play just once
startup = AnimateOnce(powerup)
#starrynight and fire are animation groups with layered effects.
starrynight = AnimationGroup(
SparklePulse(pixels, speed=0.01, color=(0, 0, 150), period=1),
Comet(pixels, speed=0, tail_length=8, color=(150, 150, 150), bounce=False),)
fire = AnimationGroup(
Comet(pixels, speed=0, tail_length=1, color=BLACK),
Sparkle(pixels, speed=0.05, num_sparkles=10, color=AMBER),
Sparkle(pixels, speed=0.05, num_sparkles=10, color=RED),
Sparkle(pixels, speed=0.05, num_sparkles=20, color=ORANGE),
Sparkle(pixels, speed=0.05, num_sparkles=5, color=0xFF7D13),
Sparkle(pixels, speed=0.05, num_sparkles=10, color=BLACK),
)
# Here is the animation playlist where you set the order of modes
animations = AnimationSequence(
readingLight,
fire,
rainbow,
starrynight,
rainbowfade,
brightWhite,
auto_clear=True,
)
MODE = 0
while True:
if MODE == 0: # If currently off...
startup.animate()
while startup.animate():
pass
MODE = 1
# Advertise when not connected
elif MODE >= 1: # If not OFF MODE...
ble.start_advertising(advertisement)
while not ble.connected:
if MODE == 2:
pass
elif MODE == 1:
animations.animate()
# Now we're connected
while ble.connected:
if uart_service.in_waiting:
packet = Packet.from_stream(uart_service)
# Color Picker Functionality
if isinstance(packet, ColorPacket):
MODE = 2
# Set all the pixels to one color and stay there.
pixels.fill(packet.color)
pixels.show()
# Control Pad Functionality
elif isinstance(packet, ButtonPacket):
if packet.pressed:
if packet.button == ButtonPacket.BUTTON_1:
MODE = 1
animations.activate(1)
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.BUTTON_2:
MODE = 1
animations.activate(2)
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.BUTTON_3:
MODE = 1
animations.activate(3)
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.BUTTON_4:
MODE = 1
animations.activate(4)
# change the mode with right arrow
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.RIGHT:
MODE = 1
animations.next()
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.LEFT:
MODE = 4
off.animate()
#change the brightness with up and down arrows
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.UP:
pixels.brightness = pixels.brightness + 0.1
pixels.show()
if pixels.brightness > 1:
pixels.brightness = 1
elif packet.button == ButtonPacket.DOWN:
pixels.brightness = pixels.brightness - 0.1
pixels.show()
if pixels.brightness < 0.1:
pixels.brightness = 0.1
if MODE == 1:
animations.animate()
if MODE == 4:
animations.freeze()
Page last edited January 22, 2025
Text editor powered by tinymce.
