WS2801-RPI 1.0.0.dev2

Conecting WS2801 LED strip to Raspberry Pi

A python module connecting RPI with WS2801

This is version 1.0.0.dev2. It is in development. Code may change without notice.

It is based on the spidev module you can find here.

You can use it like this:

import WS2801_RPI as w
s=w.set_led_colors_buffer_list_multi_call
w.set_number_of_leds(100)                      # adjust to the number of leds in your project
w.s(1)                                         # to let led number 1 shine in white
w.flush()                                      # to communicate your settings to the led strip via spi

You can call set_leds as often as you like before flushing it out. And of course you can flush as often as you need to create effects.

Other convenience functions are:

• clear(): turn off all leds. Remember you need to call flush() to see the effect.

• get_led_colors_buffer_dict(): Get all rgb values currently in the buffer as dictionary. This might differ from what you see on your LED strip.

• set_led_colors_buffer_dict_multi_call(): After you adjusted the dict of the function above: Write it back to the buffer. Don’t forget flush().

• set_max_speed_hz(hz): Default is 1MHz. You may change this but not below 1,5KHz.

Installation

I have not managed to upload to pypi so far. Therefore only way to install is: use python setup.py install in the download directory. Or simply put WS2801_RPI into the folder where you like to do your python programming.

Hint

You can raise the log level if you like to suppress warnings, like

import logging
logging.getLogger().setLevel(31)

General remarks on WS2801:

• In the Data Sheet of WS2801 I found the following passage I didn’t fully understand: When the WS2801 receives total 24 clock rising edges, the WS2801 enters relay mode .... Nevertheless I send now 24 times 1 [255,255,255] before sending the RGB data for the LEDs and have much better results.

• WS2801 is using the raising flag of the clock to retrieve the data and expects clock being low for 500 microseconds between data transmissions. Hence there is no need to chance the mode of spidev. It must be zero, regardless which effects you see.

Would be glad if this code was used often in your projects. Feedback and pull requests are more than welcome.