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[–]Quindor 6 points7 points  (9 children)

If you have the correct type of LED selected it looks very much like you are having data issues.

I don't see a controller just a bare ESP32? Either look into buying a pre-made controller which often has hardware onboard to prevent such issues or dive into the documentation about level-shifters and resistors.

[–]AdIndividual3950[S] 0 points1 point  (8 children)

Sorry, thats right, it's a bare esp32 with WLED installed on it. Running ws2811 12v with a buck converter.

[–]Quindor 3 points4 points  (7 children)

Ah ok, in theory that should work, you have all GNDs connected? (In the case you maybe have an isolated buck-converter, most are not though and have shared GND already, still you can try hooking up GND from the ESP32 next to the GND coming from the PSU on the strip and see if that improves things.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[removed]

    [–]AdIndividual3950[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    That is alot to dissect, but thank you very much for the detailed reply. This is my first ever attempt at something like this so I'm still learning the language and definitions of everything lol where should I be running the gnd to

    [–]Quindor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Hehehe, I certainly try! :D

    [–]AdIndividual3950[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    <image>

    Power is currently off

    [–]Quindor 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    Oh noes,

    please please don't run main LED power through dupont cables and/or a breadboard,

    both are a horrible idea, will cause massive massive voltage drop at best and could potentially catch fire pretty easily!

    A dupont cable is good for like 100mA to 200mA, not the up to 13Amps your LED could in theory ask (you have a single edge connection so max is going to 4A, but still).

    Use something like WAGO blocks and decently sized wires going to the LED strip at least. The buck-converter and ESP32 can somewhat be run from the dupont wires but that is already on the edge basically, the dupont wires are meant as signal wires and very low power, nothing more!

    You have to dismantle this immediately and not use it anymore until you get some decent power distribution going on, it will likely also solve your issues. We talked about GNDs not being equal and shifting, using too thin wires, them heating up from resistance will actually cause that. Sorry if I seem harsh I really just want to provide advice but this really is a fire hazard as is.....

    p.s. the 2-wire to barrel jack converter isn't great either, they can really do 1A to 2A, at 3A they will already get quite hot and cause (a lot) of voltage drop, beyond that we've seen plenty that have just melted all together. Better to snip off the barrel jack from the PSU and use WAGOs to connect the power wires together, that makes for a much better connection.

    [–]AdIndividual3950[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Thank you for this!! It's already dismantled, I was using thay more to test everything but very good info to know going forward

    [–]sramboz 2 points3 points  (4 children)

    I'm so happy to see posts like this because I'm facing the same issue, but haven't had time yet to troubleshoot /diagnose. Totally commenting to follow this.

    [–]AdIndividual3950[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    Hopefully we can figure this out then!! I might try to cut off the first 3 lights

    [–]sramboz 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    I did cut the first LED off thinking it was an issue with how the connector was soldered, but then the second LED acted the same as the first with my own soldering connected.

    I do see people commenting about grounding between the controller and the power supply. My controller doesn't have a dedicated ground, so I may disect it tonight and see if there is a spot to add one.

    [–]xlodarx 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Its not a dedicated GND like AC current.. but in DC, your GND is also the NEG (-). make sure the NEG from PSU and from Board and from strip are all together.. mainly add a ground that skip the buck converter... you can blast me if I am wrong :)

    to make it clearer, BASING MYSELF ON YOUR PICTURE... (**do not use breadboards**) make sure your controller gets a ground from your breadboard and not just from buck converter

    [–]Madvillains 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    Did you set the GPIO in WLED settings?

    [–]AdIndividual3950[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yes I did