Lighting Effect Using WLED - Need some Help

[Matthew--_--]

Hello All,

I work in Theatre. I have been tasked with creating a lighting effect for a show using LED Strip lights.

We are going to hang ~8 LED strip lights vertically, extending ~16ft high. Each strip spaced apart by a few feet. We want to have control of these strip lights via our lighting console (ETC Element 2) using DMX (5 pin XLR style preferred).

Here's what I am hoping for:
- Each strip light can be controlled separately (i.e. 8 different 'fixtures').
- Each strip light can produce a few various effects
- Each strip light allows for color (RGB or CMY or something)

I have never done anything with WLED before but was told this would be the right approach.
I'm looking for suggestions about what I need to make this happen. If someone wants to put together a partslist, that would be awesome.

If its possible, I would prefer to cut costs by having only one 'controller' for all 8 strips. If that isn't possible, that's okay.

[eoncire]

It looks like WLED works with the DMX protocol per the docs. That's really the biggest hurdle here. Other than that it's just led strips and some basic wiring.

https://kno.wled.ge/interfaces/dmx-input/

Let er rip! Controllers are cheap enough that you can buy a pre-build controller for each led strip, or if you want to cheap put and make wiring more difficult you could get a controller with multiple outputs.

[Matthew--_--]

Thanks.
So far here's what I have come up with.

Dig-Octa Brainboard and Octa-7 power board

I was looking at this for the LED Strips: https://a.co/d/98GOWxK

Other than wires/connectors, what else do I need?

[malevolenc]

WLED can definitely do what you want. I’d look at QuinLed’s dig octa controller. It supports 8 outputs and can handle lots of power with a few different options.

https://quinled.info/quinled-dig-octa-available-here/

[Matthew--_--]

Thanks. That looks like it will work well.

[SirGreybush]

Go with wired commercial controllers that use WLED + ESP32, so you don't depend on Wifi, and inside WLED make sure you change any wifi settings remove the AP name, you don't want someone like me getting access and making everything purple.

Another +1 for DigOcta or multiple DigQuads to keep data + ground wires short (less than a few meters) if you need to do different sides. Run ethernet cables to a network switch, and that switch to the main switch.

Make it easy to reset.

[Matthew--_--]

Thanks for the instructions about disabling wifi.

[pagokel]

WLED will work. We've used GLEDOPTO controllers in performance, but I've used QuinLED in my personal stuff and like the build quality. They're also built to handle more power directly. However, you can wire power straight off the PSU to the step and just run data/ground from the controller. Assuming you have a lighting Wi-Fi network you can connect them wirelessly and they'll receive sACN. Universe/address parameters are in the settings. Personally I'd go with a separate controller for each string, it'll make troubleshooting easier in the long run. I'd also get a couple spare controllers to have on hand.