ESP8266 NeoPixel Driver

pfn

Given all the problems with things like https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/25664/arduino-paneldue-sniffer I started putting together an alternative that runs on ESP8266 (Wemos D1 mini)

I realize RRF has had support for driving neopixels since 3.0, but it isn't very good at being responsive to status changes. This lead to a new project I put together on ESP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXgH2lOdC04
https://github.com/pfn/esp-rrf-neopixels

The firmware runs in pass-through mode (the ESP can forward information from RRF received on D7 out through D4) or sniffing by splicing the existing RX/TX between PanelDue and RRF.

I'm curious why it hasn't really been considered a problem before with other, arduino based solutions that operate in a similar manner, but the RX pin on Arduino is driven to 4.5V because of the onboard CH340C USB UART chip (TX is tied to arduino RX). This leads to drowning out the signal coming from RRF, and it seems like it could damage the PanelDue/Duet, unless it's 5v tolerant? I've always heard noise that the Duet2 isn't 5v tolerant on its UART pins.

dc42

@pfn the PanelDuet Rx input is 5V tolerant, but the PanelDue Tx and Rx pins on the Duet are not.

pfn

@dc42 that's interesting it hasn't caused any problems on users of this arduino sketch, I wonder why, or is it a slow spiral of death for them

deckingman

@pfn I'm a bit confused. You started out saying that you use a Wemos D1 mini but then go on to talk about an Arduino. I'm fairy sure that the logic pins on D1 Minis are 3.3v so I don't understand the bit about 5V.

pfn

@deckingman there is a previous arduino based solution that does a similar function and is wired the same way. Metering it shows that the rx pin is driven high to 4.5v.

There's also stuff like a cnc pendant that also uses arduino and operates similarly.

deckingman

@pfn said in ESP8266 NeoPixel Driver:

@deckingman there is a previous arduino based solution that does a similar function and is wired the same way. Metering it shows that the rx pin is driven high to 4.5v.

There's also stuff like a cnc pendant that also uses arduino and operates similarly.

Now I'm even more confused. Is this a topic about about using an ESP8266 NeoPixle Driver using Wemos D1 mini as the title and first sentence suggest, or is it about Arduinos or something else?

pfn

@deckingman this is about esp8266 replacing an arduino solution. (Edited original post to clarify)

dc42

@pfn said in ESP8266 NeoPixel Driver:

There's also stuff like a cnc pendant that also uses arduino and operates similarly.

The CNC pendant that I describe at https://github.com/Duet3D/CNC-Pendant-Firmware used a potential divider on the Arduino TxD output to reduce the voltage level.

pfn

@dc42 ah, it's not a concern with the cnc pendant because the arduino only connects to the duet through tx and that has a voltage divider on it

PCR

@BLV Something for your Project?;)

madedi123

Hello

My problem is that my pendant (the same as david's, with an arduino micro) only sends the M112 command, but does not perform any movement via the encoder. My hardware is a DUET3 6HC with SBC and without Panel DUE, Configuration CNC. The arduino sketch was uploaded with firmware 1.8.1 thank you for your help