LED Strip Clapper

Use the ‘Parts List’ image along with the component cards in your box to correctly plug in the electronic hardware to your Maker Board. The colorful dots next to the legs of the components match up to the ports where that leg should go on Maker Board’s ports.

Code

The code in the editor below is ready to run! Plug in the electronic components just like the Parts List card above, connect Maker Board to your computer's USB port with the cable, and hit 'Upload Your Code!'. Tinker with the code and change something! If you get stuck, you can hit the 'Restore' button to make the code go back to the working example.

/* Clap light that turns on the entire LED strip when the sound trigger 'hears' a clap, then turns off the strip when it 'hears' another clap */ #include "LEDStrip.h" //The LEDStrip.h library gives your code access to special functions exclusive to the LED Strip LEDStrip strip = LEDStrip(15, 13, 12); //Set up the strip by defining how many pixels (15) and where the wires are connected (green = 13, blue = 12) int clapCount = 0; //create a variable named clapCount that is an integer (whole number) with starting value of 0 void setup() { pinMode(A3,INPUT); //sound trigger in the smaller block of ports with the + and - ports } void loop() { if(analogRead(A3) > 600){ //if the sound reading is greater than 600 clapCount++; //increase the value of clapCount by 1 } if(clapCount == 1){ //if clapCount equals 1 strip.setPixel(strip.ALL,200); //set all the pixels to a color value of 200 strip.draw(); //send the setPixel data to the strip } else{ //Otherwise, if clapCount is anything other than 1 clapCount = 0; //set clapCount to 0 strip.clear(); //turn off any pixels that are lit on the strip strip.draw(); //send that 'clear' command to the LED strip } } /*Note: To test if this is working, lightly tap the sound trigger. You may need to change the threshold for clapCount to increase, depending on how noisy your environment is. */ // (c) 2019 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense

Walkthrough Video

Watch the video for a line-by-line explanation of how the example program works. Then you'll be ready to make some changes of your own!

Use this spectrum to estimate the color values you'll need for your 'setPixel' arguments to achieve your favorite color!

Challenges

Can you complete the challenges? Change the code in your code editor above. Upload your code to see the effect when you're finished. Complete a challenge? Check it off the list!

Update the threshold number next to the ‘>’ sign in the code to adjust the sensitivity of the program to sound. If you’re in a noisy environment, the threshold should be higher. In a quiet environment, the threshold can be lower.

Tip: to test if the sound sensor is working, tap it lightly. This should trigger the LED strip to change.

Change the color of the LED strip by changing the second argument in the setPixel function.

Tough challenge: add an ‘else if’ statement between the ‘if’ statement and the ‘else’ statement that changes the color of the LED strip if clapCount == 2. Using this pattern, you could make the LED strip change colors over and over as it ‘hears’ more sound.

Concepts

These are the new code concepts covered in this example program. To become a great coder, read through these concepts to learn new vocabulary.

Quiz

If you're having trouble, try to run an experimental program or look at the example code to help you find the answer.

1. Which syntax ends the entire 'void loop' function?

semicolon ;
parentheses )
closing curly brace }

2. Which syntax ends a single code command?

semicolon ;
closing curly brace }
period .

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