Issues with some lights staying on, color, and some lights flickering

[tavedroid]

I'm a neewb, sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong stop. I've tried the following with a Arduino Mega 2560 and a Arduino Uno, and got the same results.

I have a 12V power source feeding the Arduino.
The code I'm using is the TiconXmas2012 Demo. I'm using two strands of 25 - GE G35 lights.

I'm having issues with some lights staying on, color, and some lights flickering. The only deltas that I made to your code is the following lines, replacing 50 with 25.

G35String lights_1(13, 25, 25, 0, false); G35String lights_2(12, 25);

I'm not a coder, but I followed your comments under the G35String.h for the fields that I modified // |pin|: the Arduino pin driving this string's data line // |light_count|: the number of visible, physical bulbs on the string. // |physical_light_count|: the number of physical bulbs on the string.

I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do, or tweak, in order to get the lights to stop flickering, outputting the wrong color, and come on properly.

Sorry again if this is the wrong place to post this.

[sowbug]

What is powering your lights? If you applied 12V to them, they're probably dead now.

If you are powering the lights with a separate 5V source, are the two power sources (lights + Arduino) sharing a common ground? If not, you'll get undefined behavior that could include what you're seeing.

Generally, if you're not seeing predictable patterns during startup, you have a problem with your wiring. Technically yes, wiring problems are off-topic for this software project, but if they're easy problems, I don't mind.

[tavedroid]

Thanks for your reply,

I have my configuration connected according to this diagram at this link http://mevans77.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/lights-diagram1.jpg

The arduino, and both light strands are connected to a power strip. I have the arduino attached to the 12V power source, which if I'm not mistaken gets bumped down to a 5V source.

Where I run into a problem is when I attach the ground from the lights to the arduino, the lights don't go on. When I remove the ground from the arduino to the lights. The lights start going through the test patterns. When I attach the ground again, it stops at the pattern it was on until I remove the ground.

I believe it's a wiring issue, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

[tavedroid]

Sowbug, I figured out the issuer with your suggestion that it may be a wiring issue. I mixed up my v+ and my v-, everything works perfectly now. Thanks.

[sowbug]

Have fun.