adafruit / adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_NeoPixel

Neopixels stop responding after some time

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#129 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Dominant language
Python
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Forks
96
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Description

Hello there! ^^

I use my neopixel matrix 64 rgbw as a light source for my plant growing project.

I have a light script, that implements sunrise, noon and sunset.
basically, the light dims up, sleeps while noon (16 hours in my case) and then it dims down again.

The `pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(...)` was defined on top of the script, after the includes and some config. It was working fine, dimming the light up and down. But after updating to v6.3.0 (i guess, but nothing fancy was changed there) the neopixels won't respond after 16h sleep of the script.

Because I didn't want to upset my basil, i was not able to test it thoroughly, but i guess that 15-20 minutes after the last change to the neopixels is sent, the library silently fails to change the neopixels any further (the log says it dims down, but nothing happens at all).

I circumvent this, by invoking `neopixel.NeoPixel(...)` when i need it, as you can see here in my commit to my light daemon [here](https://github.com/jonesthefox/growbox/commit/b3df84ea120361eca43a46cb0fe81143e6b3e47d)

I believe that this is a bug in the library, but I am also willing to admit that my code is bad :-)

Contributor guide

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Research direction

Start with the `neopixel.NeoPixel(...)` entry point and compare its behavior with the linked growbox commit. Reproduce the light daemon's update after a long sleep, including the reported 15–20 minute idle period, and determine why later changes are ignored. Done means neopixels respond after the idle period, with the behavior verified against the reported scenario.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
embedded-iot
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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