# FastLED WS2801 Verification errors and Runtime problems

**URL:** <https://community.particle.io/t/fastled-ws2801-verification-errors-and-runtime-problems/36531>\
**Category:** Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [October 5, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/fastled-ws2801-verification-errors-and-runtime-problems/36531 "2017-10-05T00:09:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![robertIOTT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dc4da7/32.png) [@robertIOTT](https://community.particle.io/u/robertIOTT)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/fastled-ws2801-verification-errors-and-runtime-problems/36531/1 "2017-10-05T00:09:48Z")

</div>

Hi there,

I have recently purchased a [50pc WS2801 Pixel LED string](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M7MN2F2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for a Particle Photon project, but seem to be tripping up at the first hurdle.

Using the FastLED (3.1.5) library I am running the provided GitHub example ‘FirstLight.ino’ ([https://github.com/focalintent/FastLED-Sparkcore/blob/master/firmware/examples/FirstLight/FirstLight.ino](https://github.com/focalintent/FastLED-Sparkcore/blob/master/firmware/examples/FirstLight/FirstLight.ino)).

I have added data and clock as follows:

```
// Data pin that led data will be written out over
#define DATA_PIN A5

// Clock pin only needed for SPI based chipsets when not using hardware SPI
#define CLOCK_PIN A3

```

And have uncommented the line:

`FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);`

However this triggered the same issues as [this user] ([https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/issues/166#issuecomment-152818523](https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/issues/166#issuecomment-152818523)), I managed to compile this code by following the advice of ‘Jasoncoon’ in the following message. Editing the line to read:

`FastLED.addLeds<WS2801, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN>(leds, NUM_LEDS);`

Despite this, my LED string still does not function as coded. It is wired as follows:

- +5v and GND - connected to a separate 5V 2A plug DC socket
- 3pin JST SM connector from LEDs - connected to the particle photon with Data wire: A5, Clock: A3, GND: Photon GND

Is there a problem with the code, or have a wired something faulty? Thank you in advance!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bert010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@bert010](https://community.particle.io/u/bert010)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 10:08am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/fastled-ws2801-verification-errors-and-runtime-problems/36531/2 "2017-10-17T10:08:02Z")

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you might try the digital pins e.g:

```cpp
#define DATA_PIN D5
#define CLOCK_PIN D6

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertIOTT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dc4da7/32.png) [@robertIOTT](https://community.particle.io/u/robertIOTT)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 9:20am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/fastled-ws2801-verification-errors-and-runtime-problems/36531/3 "2017-10-23T09:20:57Z")

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Hi thanks for the tip, however the real reason was I required the circuit to be globally grounded, i.e. data pins and power all needed to route through the particle’s ground pin.