I ordered a 32x32 LED matrix but when I hooked it up to my Arduino Uno for the first time it seems pretty off. When the matrix is powered and the various pins are connected, the board flashes random pixels and colors erratically, before the Arduino is even powered up. The Arduino can have a sketch of just the internal LED flashing, no power to the GPIO pins at all, and the matrix will still flash different colors eratically. Is the matrix just DOA, or something else? The colors and sections of the matrix that get lit up change depending on where I touch on the ribbon cable connecting the matrix and Arduino, which seems pretty weird. Perhaps I’m grounding something when I touch it? The matrix is being powered by a 5V 4A wall adapter with a DC screw terminal adapter and spade connectors. Is the power the problem?
When your Arduino isn’t configured to send data to the matrix, or you don’t have anything connected to the matrix the matrix input lines are all ‘floating’ and the matrix can interpret random electrical noise as data. This can result in flashing or other random information showing up on the matrix.
Does every thing work when you have the example code loaded?
Judging from the description of your issue, it sounds like you may have one or more loose connections going from the LED Matrix to your Arduino. Try double-checking all your wires are secure coming from the ribbon cable to your Arduino. Also, you may need to adjust the code if you are using the [Adafruit Arduino library. Those changes, as well as a few other troubleshooting tips, can be found in [this comment in our [Hookup Guide.
If you still have the issue after trying these suggestions, please take a few photos of your LED Matrix Panel and the circuit you have it in and attach it to your reply.](RGB Panel Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn)](Discuss Tutorial: RGB Panel Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn)](GitHub - adafruit/RGB-matrix-Panel: Arduino library and example code for the 16x32 RGB matrix panels in the shop)
Hey all,
Thank you so much for your help. I found the problem was an incorrectly CLK hooked up pin 11 instread of 8 on the Arduino.