Introduction
Connect a Crazy Circuits NeoPixel and a Potentiometer to a Bit Board and control them with code.
We'll explore how to control an RGB LED (a "NeoPixel") using a potentiometer.
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We'll use Maker Tape to connect the NeoPixel and the Potentiometer to the Bit Board on a LEGO baseplate.
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We'll connect our Potentiometer to Pin 1, Ground (GND), and 3.3v BUT! We're going to use the "gutter" between the LEGO baseplate studs so we can have two layers of tape that do not touch.
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See the photos to show how this works. It's a technique we'll use for certain projects. It can also be used when you're tight on space for tape paths.
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Once the Button is connected we'll need to connect the NeoPixel. One side goes to Ground (GND) and the other side to 3.3v
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We'll then connect the center pin labeled DI (for Digital Input) to Pin 0, which will control the NeoPixel. Run the tape on top of the studs so it does not touch the tape connected to the Potentiometer.
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You'll notice the Ground on the Bit Board (as well as the NeoPixel and other Crazy Circuits components we'll use) is color coded White.
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The 3.3v hole on the Bit Board is labeled and is actually two holes right next to each other on the Bit Board. (There is a small line showing the connection between them.)
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If you've never used a micro:bit before you'll want to check out this guide: Bit Board V2 Setup and Use
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We're going to load the following code for our NeoPixel Potentiometer RGB program: https://makecode.microbit.org/_Lky8Vt8g9...
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We'll use the Potentiometer as a "selector switch" to choose which color the NeoPixel will show.
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This time we'll use the map function to output a 0, 1, or 2 from the value we get from the Potentiometer. An if/else block will then be used to show the corresponding color.
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Once the code is loaded it should start running immediately.
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You can power the micro:bit via the USB cable you used to load the code or you can use a battery pack plugged into the Bit Board.
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Turn the small blue knob on the Potentiometer and you'll see the color of the NeoPixel change between red, blue, and green.
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Follow along with our recorded Live Stream!
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You can watch the full video of us walking through this project, along with explaining and exploring the code: https://youtube.com/live/KBatTBnfasY
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Attached Documents
