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Author Topic: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator  (Read 6648 times)

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Offline Kouri

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5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« on: September 06, 2017, 06:47:51 AM »
I've heard a single color on a 2-strip NeoPixel blade can easily eat up 5-6A of current, and a full-blast white can trip the protection circuit on some cells.

I whipped up a quick calculator that (in theory) should give Plecter RGB values for mixed-colors that won't eat up any more power than a full-blast single color.

Still putting my first blade together, but I figured I'd share this now to get some feedback:

Low-Power Color Selector
« Last Edit: September 20, 2017, 03:43:45 AM by Kouri »

Offline erv

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Re: 6A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2017, 07:43:23 AM »
thank you for sharing !

Offline SA22C

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Re: 6A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2017, 10:38:54 AM »
Erv,

Are there any concerns for running the neopixel strips at lower drive values?  In your manual, you caution against running the standard in-hilt LEDS at values lower than 80%.

Thanks!

Offline erv

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Re: 6A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2017, 11:16:43 PM »
no

Offline Obi_1

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Re: 6A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2017, 10:37:31 AM »
If you want to calculate current consumption, rely on facts instead of rumors:
https://github.com/Protonerd/DIYino/blob/master/Neopixels_Characterisation_report1.pdf

Offline Kouri

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Re: 6A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2017, 03:43:24 AM »
Just wrapped up my blade. 36" at 130 pixels long. Two SMD strips.

Going off the provided info, that's about 4.7-5A for a standard-length blade, assuming 260 LEDs at 18mA.

I'll get photo/video documentation, but so far, the calculator's working great. I'm getting some nice white flashes without having to throw the strip on full-blast.

Offline Kouri

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Re: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2017, 02:38:31 PM »
Video demo:



Lime-Green and all FoC colors were made with the calculator. Red and Blue are default 1023. Each FoC is an off-white color meant to provide the most contrast to the main blade. Lime-Green vs Purple-White. Red vs Cool-White. Blue vs Warm-White.

Sarge Green: [241, 779, 0]
Sarge FoC: [340, 308, 374]

Vader Red: [1023, 0, 0]
Vader FoC: [260, 381, 381]

Luke Blue: [0, 0, 1023]
Luke FoC: [348, 389, 285]

Offline Kouri

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Re: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2017, 09:43:51 AM »
Just added a couple lines to the calculator with standard 0-255 RGB values for NEC and TeensySaber boards. NEC are ordered BGR as is default in the editor.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2017, 11:04:25 AM by Kouri »

Offline Cave Waverider

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Re: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2018, 05:50:51 PM »
Nice calculator, it's very helpful. Thank you very much for making it!

I've been wondering, will lower drive values like the ones generated by the calculator considerably increase the time a Neopixel saber lasts on a battery charge compared to using the a color mix with higher drive values or would the difference be neglible?
« Last Edit: July 29, 2018, 05:57:46 PM by Cave Waverider »

Offline jbkuma

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Re: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2018, 06:03:05 PM »
In short, yes. Single color (ie green) versus multiple (ie red+green=yellow) also makes a big difference.

Offline Cave Waverider

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Re: 5A NeoPixel Color Calculator
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2018, 06:12:49 PM »
In short, yes. Single color (ie green) versus multiple (ie red+green=yellow) also makes a big difference.
Nice, thank you for your reply. So I guess one could expect going 0,511,511 with FOC 341,341,341 from the calculator about double the duration a battery charge lasts compared to the full drive equivalent of 0,1023,1023 with 1023,1023,1023 FOC (using Plecter values).


Update: I tested how much of an effect it would have on my Neo Saber (with NBv4, 30" Neopixel blade, two strips) and compared the above mentioned settings. I let the saber run until the blade and sound went out each time on a freshly charged battery (18650, 3120mAh 3.7V 11.54Wh protected, max. 15A continuous discharge current). Note that I just let the saber powered on and idle, combat time would likely be less, too. Here are the results:

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Normal Power Setting: 0,1023,1023 (Cyan) with 1023,1023,1023 FOC

Duration until blade color degradation & flicker: 48 Minutes
Duration until sound crackling: 48 Minutes
Duration until battery empty/saber off: 59 Minutes
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Low Power Setting from this calculator: 0,511,511 (Cyan) with FOC 341,341,341

Duration until blade color degradation & flicker: 66 Minutes
Duration until sound crackling: 73 Minutes
Duration until battery empty/saber off: 89 Minutes
---

Not as much of a leap I had hoped for, but definitely an improvement. With one full battery charge it can go over an hour with the low power setting, which isn't bad at all. One should note that while the full power setting is visibly brighter to the naked eye, it doesn't seem to be all that much, as the Low Power Setting still appears to be plenty bright to the naked eye, especially compared to in-hilt LEDs (even with photon blade).


Thanks again for creating this wonderful calculator!
« Last Edit: July 31, 2018, 07:12:14 AM by Cave Waverider »

 

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