led hat notes
Raw dump, unfinished notes. Writeup to follow
I am so clueless it's maddening. I can't even remember how to use my voltmeter and hubby lost the instructions...
So I'm currently struggling to figure out why it doesn't change blink speed as per page two, but I've noticed that page 3, "stitch pixels and code" doesn't include any code or any hint of instruction regarding the code. Is it supposed to work on the original upload? Is there something I'm supposed to know that isn't included?
I have not read through every guide on this site. I am unfamiliar with too much of what's written, leading to data retension failure and emotional overwhelm.
The arduino software never works without some kind of error, so that doesn't help. The only way I know if the code uploaded is if it gets a result. I just built the "really simple animatronic tail" and there was never any sign of success except the servo going.
So I've checked for continuity on all the circuits. I'd already stitched the neopixels into my felt hat (I don't wear hoodies) and installed the slide circuit on the brim.
The red LED blinks but nothing else ever happens.
So I removed everything, all the stitches, circuits and thread. Set up a simple circuit hooking the lanyard bits to the gemma with aligator clips
Still didn't work
Redid the code upload and for once got no errors (wha?)
Then the blinking changed with sliding the pigtail.
So now I'll try and set it up with some simple copper wire connections to see what it does.
I'm still wondering what code is used on the neopixels.
I did a test assembly with brass wire. It was too sloppy for certainty but some of the neopixels did light a bit.
The next time I ran wires, I did so with precision and before the bits were sewn on so that removing and rethreading wouldn't be too hard if I had things crossed. It's hard to think of thread through felt as wiring!
One issue i kept having was the material I'd chosen to pocket the top of the hat for the battery holder and a vape pen. The crocheted mess I started with wound up in the trash. then I was going to try leather, but it needs to have the holes pre-punched for sewing. Then I thought of fabric, stitching the outer rim by hand all around to prevent fraying.
Finally I remembered needle felting and felted up a lovely little disk of felt and just felted it right up to the hat, which was built both of needle and wash felting. This will make sewing the thread in the tight quarters a little simpler. I've coated the thread ends with nail polish to make threading the needles easier. I could go with apholstery needles for the felt, remove the needle and hand thread the board? I'd only get one loop this way.
I am so clueless it's maddening. I can't even remember how to use my voltmeter and hubby lost the instructions...
So I'm currently struggling to figure out why it doesn't change blink speed as per page two, but I've noticed that page 3, "stitch pixels and code" doesn't include any code or any hint of instruction regarding the code. Is it supposed to work on the original upload? Is there something I'm supposed to know that isn't included?
I have not read through every guide on this site. I am unfamiliar with too much of what's written, leading to data retension failure and emotional overwhelm.
The arduino software never works without some kind of error, so that doesn't help. The only way I know if the code uploaded is if it gets a result. I just built the "really simple animatronic tail" and there was never any sign of success except the servo going.
So I've checked for continuity on all the circuits. I'd already stitched the neopixels into my felt hat (I don't wear hoodies) and installed the slide circuit on the brim.
The red LED blinks but nothing else ever happens.
So I removed everything, all the stitches, circuits and thread. Set up a simple circuit hooking the lanyard bits to the gemma with aligator clips
Still didn't work
Redid the code upload and for once got no errors (wha?)
Then the blinking changed with sliding the pigtail.
So now I'll try and set it up with some simple copper wire connections to see what it does.
I'm still wondering what code is used on the neopixels.
I did a test assembly with brass wire. It was too sloppy for certainty but some of the neopixels did light a bit.
The next time I ran wires, I did so with precision and before the bits were sewn on so that removing and rethreading wouldn't be too hard if I had things crossed. It's hard to think of thread through felt as wiring!
One issue i kept having was the material I'd chosen to pocket the top of the hat for the battery holder and a vape pen. The crocheted mess I started with wound up in the trash. then I was going to try leather, but it needs to have the holes pre-punched for sewing. Then I thought of fabric, stitching the outer rim by hand all around to prevent fraying.
Finally I remembered needle felting and felted up a lovely little disk of felt and just felted it right up to the hat, which was built both of needle and wash felting. This will make sewing the thread in the tight quarters a little simpler. I've coated the thread ends with nail polish to make threading the needles easier. I could go with apholstery needles for the felt, remove the needle and hand thread the board? I'd only get one loop this way.