Lights
Add LEDs to your project with Neopixels
Description
Neopixel strings are a fun and easy way to add animated lights to your micro:bit or Circuit Playground Express projects. They come in two lengths, 0.5 meters and 1 meter, with 30 LEDs. Neopixels are addressable, which means you can code each one separately to be a color of your choosing.To avoid soldering, use Neopixels that already have alligator clips attached. Adafruit sell them color-coded for easy attachment. The black wire goes to the negative connection or ground, red to power or 3V, and the white wire should be connected to the pin you are using to control the Neopixel. Note that, if you are connecting your Neopixels to a micro:bit, the MakeCode virtual diagram of the Neopixels for micro:bit displays the wiring incorrectly. It reverses the middle and left wire.
Note that in the image on the left, the red wire, which goes to 3V, is on the left and has to cross over the white wire, which is in the middle and connects to Pin0. The virtual micro:bit on the right is from MakeCode. You can see that those wires are reversed.
Age Range
11 and up
Skill Level
Advanced beginner: The alligator clips are easy to attach but the coding requires a deeper level of coding skills. For instance, the student needs to be able to understand how variables store and reference data.
Tools Needed
- NeoPixel LED strip with alligator clips
Cost
$12.50 – $15.00
Where to Buy
Neopixel .5 meter strip
Adafruit
Chicago Electronic Distributors