# Neopixel not working. (I've done my homework this time)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894>\
**Category:** Hardware\
**Created:** [7 February 2022 03:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894 "2022-02-07T03:12:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 06:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/21 "2022-02-12T06:22:30Z")

</div>

I may have to, but this is interesting and something I found after digging.

When NR is started I see this message pass me by.

```auto
      pi : TTY=unknown ; PWD=/home/pi ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/python3 -u /home/pi/.node-red/node_modules/node-red-node-pi-neopixel/neopix.py 8 400 pixelsneedle 100 true 0 18
pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
      pi : TTY=unknown ; PWD=/home/pi ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/python3 -u /home/pi/.node-red/node_modules/node-red-node-pi-neopixel/neopix.py 8 40 pcent 100 true 0 18

```

`TTY=unknown` definitely seems like a problem.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 07:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/22 "2022-02-12T07:09:22Z")

</div>

I don't know what you did to see those messages but I don't think they indicate a problem.  
TTY=unknown just means the script is running in the background rather than a command line terminal session.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 07:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/23 "2022-02-12T07:13:14Z")

</div>

Ok.... Sorry.

It is just I don't understand why it (the node) used to work and despite my every effort to get it working now on Buster, it won't work.

The only thing that has changed is the O/S.

I may have to dig up an older SD card with an older O/S on it, install the node and try it on the hardware.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 08:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/24 "2022-02-12T08:57:01Z")

</div>

(Trying other ideas)

Backed up all the flow/s.

Deleted all the flows.

Made a simple flow that only sends stuff to the `neopixel` node.

NOTHING. ☹ Ok. but I am establishing what is going on.

Stopping NR and going into the directory which was made when I installed the python stuff, I tried some of the examples.

They don't exactly work - picking random ones to try.  
But I do see the LEDs flash now and then.

So to me although not definitive, it shows that they are not _kaput_.  
There is something else going on that is stopping them working.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cymplecy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cymplecy/32/2773_2.png) [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 09:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/25 "2022-02-12T09:12:14Z")

</div>

> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> They don't exactly work

That's a very ambiguous piece of information 🙂

Go to the Pi forums - get them working using command line

Come back here when that's done and they don't work in NR

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 09:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/26 "2022-02-12T09:15:04Z")

</div>

Sorry, I am trying that also.

But this was just an update of what I have seen.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cymplecy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cymplecy/32/2773_2.png) [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 09:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/27 "2022-02-12T09:16:09Z")

</div>

No point in trying to get working in NR until they work from command line.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [12 February 2022 09:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/28 "2022-02-12T09:17:56Z")

</div>

Agreed in some ways.

But I can't say that it worked _originally_.  
I just installed the stuff, set up NR and it worked.  
I'll stop here.  
But again: thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [13 April 2022 09:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894/29 "2022-04-13T09:18:28Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

[Previous page](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/neopixel-not-working-ive-done-my-homework-this-time/57894.md?page=1)