# Adafruit 32x64 led matrix - rgb bonnet - rpi zero 2 w not lighting up

**URL:** <https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890>\
**Category:** Adafruit\
**Created:** [20 July 2025 07:48 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890 "2025-07-20T07:48:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Collin297761](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Collin297761](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Collin297761)\
**Post date:** [20 July 2025 07:48 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890/1 "2025-07-20T07:48:14Z")

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Hardware:  
64x32 RGB LED 2mm pitch from Adafruit (2.5-16S-V1.0)  
Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet  
Raspberry pi zero 2 w

I am powering the the bonnet with 5v 4a and the pi with a separate microusb power supply.

No matter what I seem to try the matrix does not turn on and no leds light up. I followed all the install instructions here [Driving Matrices | Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet for Raspberry Pi | Adafruit Learning System](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-rgb-matrix-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi/driving-matrices) I have also tried re-installing the rgb matrix library a few times with no luck. I’ve tried running a few different of the demo scripts from the library.

 ![image0 (1)](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/a/a507ffe469e39e8baca872fbde4c0e71a994f235.jpeg)  
 ![image2](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/d/d9663d27a0b367fab7777a91be80f0f58bc6bb64.jpeg)  
 ![image1](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/c/cfb093799616de6e2074b8076252065043bdfbcb.jpeg)

I’ve checked the connectivity of almost every solder and they seem fine, I also confirmed that the matrix is receiving power.

Any ideas on other things to try or is something defective?

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**Author:** ![Ryan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/ryan/32/12254_2.png) [@Ryan](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Ryan)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2025 06:15 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890/2 "2025-07-21T06:15:04Z")

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Hey @Collin297761,

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for sharing the details of your setup. Let’s try a minimal test to help isolate the issue.

1. Create a new Python file named `test.py` with this code:

```auto
import time
from rgbmatrix import RGBMatrix, RGBMatrixOptions

options = RGBMatrixOptions()
options.rows = 32
options.cols = 64
options.chain_length = 1
options.parallel = 1
options.hardware_mapping = 'adafruit-hat' # Or try 'adafruit-hat-pwm'

matrix = RGBMatrix(options=options)

while True:
    matrix.Fill(255, 0, 0)
    time.sleep(1)
    matrix.Fill(0, 255, 0)
    time.sleep(1)
    matrix.Fill(0, 0, 255)
    time.sleep(1)

```

1. Run the script with:

```auto
sudo python3 test.py

```

1. Check for errors

After running the script, check for any system messages with:

```auto
dmesg | tail -n 30

```

Note any errors or warnings that appear and include them in your reply.

Let us know how that goes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Collin297761](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Collin297761](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Collin297761)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2025 10:45 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890/3 "2025-07-21T10:45:35Z")

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That works! The demo functions still don’t work but that’s fine. I think everything is working except the demos, maybe I should’ve tried that before… Thanks for the help @Ryan !!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ryan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/ryan/32/12254_2.png) [@Ryan](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Ryan)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2025 23:32 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/adafruit-32x64-led-matrix-rgb-bonnet-rpi-zero-2-w-not-lighting-up/22890/4 "2025-07-21T23:32:45Z")

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Hey @Collin297761,

Glad to hear it’s working! Nothing more frustrating than the demo code not working. I haven’t looked through the demo code, but they may require this line:  
`options.hardware_mapping = 'adafruit-hat' # Or try 'adafruit-hat-pwm'`  
Some matrix versions require `-pwm` to function properly depending on timing or signal type.

Best of luck with your project.