Did I fry my WS2801 strip? (LEDs are all white/off-white) [Updated]

i've been using 50 led ws2801 strip week, trying make decorative light-up branch ones sell around christmas time. going great, they've started behave strangely.

i in middle of programming new section of visualizer when happened. had programmed turn on 1 segment of 12 leds, next segment, , on (so map led indexes on branch). when wrote next part of program, changed switch statement variables move new function, after flashing arduino uno, strip frozen in middle of previous visualization. tried reset button; nothing. unplugged usb , plugged in. caused leds reset, new section of program turning on first led. switched library's example code (which has worked in past strip , arduino), suspecting program @ fault.

result of leds turn on full white or off-white, can still see trying example visualizations. example, in "color chase" visualization, can see running through leds, it's white. it's if adding 250 each color value between arduino , strip.

to recap:

- have been working week
- leds not burned out because on full white
- program not @ fault since same behavior displayed example worked before
- tried switching out wires connect arduino strips (they short flexible ones in kits)
- tried switching other arduino uno, same behavior
- strip seems still able address leds since can still sort of see test visualizations
- strip powered arduino, , manufacturer rates 5v

so think? did somehow wreck strip? possible unplugging power in middle of reset or initialize permanently damage strip? i'm worried because project meant gift special person @ end of month, , though buy replacement in time, don't want give gift burn out after 5 hours of use.

thank in advance help.

update:

i messing around strip last night, trying figure out wrong. noticed lights lit full white if strip object given proper number of leds- beyond maximum they'd stay off. kept trying different things, flashing new sketches, until suddenly, strip started behave again. when went original program, strip didn't respond, found out because using large arrays , running out of memory. think somehow, when program ran out of memory, did strip caused behave strangely while. issue technically "solved" i'm curious how malfunctioning program affect behavior of led strip across multiple flashes.

i sure hope solved problem.
in case didnt, wanted point ive had similar problem,
with leds lighting erratically, showing right sequence, random colors, few light up.
it turned out havent been joining arduino's ground led strip power-supply ground.
once hook them works perfectly.

have fun project!

Arduino Forum > Using Arduino > LEDs and Multiplexing > Did I fry my WS2801 strip? (LEDs are all white/off-white) [Updated]

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