Plasma 2350 is all about vibrancy of display and very powerful core. Transform your lighting projects with our advanced LED controller. Seamlessly manage NeoPixel and DotStar LED strings while unleashing your creativity through programmable effects. Whether you’re crafting simple color patterns or complex dynamic displays, our controller’s enhanced processing power ensures smooth performance for every ambition. Perfect for both beginners seeking plug-and-play simplicity and experts requiring additional computational headroom for advanced applications.
The Plasma 2350 is being priced about $13 and believe me this cheap is great. It harnesses the capabilities of the RP2350 microcontroller—the same chip found in the Raspberry Pi Pico 2. This versatile board specializes in controlling 5V individually addressable RGB LEDs, supporting both WS2812 (NeoPixel) and APA102 (DotStar) varieties.
Technical Specifications
- Processor: Dual Arm Cortex M33 (up to 150MHz)
- Memory: 520kB SRAM
- Storage: 4MB QSPI flash
- Power Output: Up to 3A via USB-C
Connectivity and Features
The board’s slim “gum stick” design efficiently utilizes space while offering comprehensive connectivity:
- Four screw terminals for LED connection (5V, data, clock, ground)
- Unpopulated GPIO header with:
- UART and I2C interfaces
- Analog inputs
- PWM outputs
- PIO state machines
- Qwiic/STEMMA QT connector
- SP/CE port (8-pin JST-PH connector with SPI capabilities)
User Interface
- Single ‘A’ user button
- Boot button (doubles as user input)
- Reset button for convenient restarts
- On-board RGB LED for status indication
- Getting Started
- Software Setup
1. MicroPython – Available via custom UF2 file from Pimoroni’s RP2350 GitHub repository
2. CircuitPython – Alternative firmware option, compatible with Adafruit’s LED Animation library
Programming Environment
The Thonny IDE provides an excellent platform for coding. While the official example repository may be limited, the board maintains compatibility with most Plasma 2040 and Plasma Stick 2040 W code examples.
(i) Creative Possibilities
(ii) Lighting Effects
- Rainbow color cycling
- Alternating/random blinking
- Sparkle effects
- Simulated snowfall
- Fire effects
- Pulsing patterns
- Sweeping rainbows
- Expandability
Though lacking built-in Wi-Fi, the board’s breakout capabilities allow for sensor integration, enabling responsive lighting based on environmental data.
Available Packages
1. Board Only– $13
2. Starter Kit– $38
(i) Includes
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- 10m string of 66 frosted LED stars
Note: The Plasma 2350 represents a significant upgrade from the RP2040-based predecessors, offering enhanced processing power for advanced projects while maintaining user-friendly features for LED enthusiasts of all skill levels