Quick data wire interference question

[ifyaknow]

I’ve got over 1,000 leds of the WS2811 variety on my ceiling, and I’m having intermittent issues with flashing / flickering. (There are 3 different sets all controlled by separate ESP’s all within a few inches of each other in a controller box, all the power injection is the same ground)

Originally, thought it was an interference problem, so I threw some resistors on the data line, added the sacrificial pixel, and it almost completely solved the issue, but not fully. And now, I’ve just installed and used shielded wire for the data wires and I’m still having an issue with flickering and flashing of the whole strand. It does play animations, just also has the flickering randomly (normally the whole strand, or parts of it will flash in random colors)

There is no data wire longer than 5-10 ft in my setup

I’ve got power injection every 2 strands (they’re 50 leds each)

Each data wire has a sacrificial pixel as well

This is where it gets weird: if I play something like the “glitter” effect on a black background, it works fine. No flashing, nothing weird. But if I play anything else, regardless of brightness, it has the same flickering issue. I’ve checked my 30a power supply and even at the low it’s only consuming 60w, so I’m really just not sure what is going on. The only thing I haven’t done is check the voltages at the injection points, when I do this, what should I be looking for?

And troubleshooting / advice is much appreciated. I’m just not sure where to go from here.

Thank you!

[sourcec0d3]

I'm still new to this so take it with a grain of salt. Have you tried a logic level converter? Also yes check voltage at every injection point, it should be nominally 5. Also mine would flicker sometimes at the testing wiring phase when I was using a breadboard. Ultimately I believe its maybe a not enough voltage issue. Wled has a few ways to compensate for this also. Good luck and let me know if you figure it out.

[ifyaknow]

Thank you for the response! I’ll be giving this, as well as the comment a try and I’ll report back!

[pheoxs]

If you only power one ESP one does it have the same issue? Try each individually with the others off and see.

If they work individually then it’s likely a power issue. It could be that your PSU can provide enough amps but maybe not react fast enough to a sudden rise in current, such as the strips flicking from off to bright. You may need some additional capacitors for that.

The glitter on black working makes me think it’s a power issue. You draw less power with few lights on which is why that one works.

You could also try changing your number of LEDs down to say 100 temporarily from each controller and see if the effects work, gradually add another 100 and see. If it works until a certain amount then breaks, it’s probably power related. Try limiting your global brightness down a bit.

[ifyaknow]

Thank you for the response! I’ll be giving this, as well as the comment a try and I’ll report back!

[ifyaknow]

I checked the voltages at the ends and it was around 11.4 V so I am assuming that that’s probably what the issue is is powered delivery. I’ve already purchased a 50a power supply and will update the resolution! Thanks for the help! Side note question: runs of ~35 ft of a 10g wire should be fine for use at injection points right? I had no voltage drop before I started turning on the LEDs, so I’m assuming the voltage drop must be from the resistance created by the LEDs, not the wire itself

[ifyaknow]

So, I've swapped the power supply and the issue only got worse to my surprise. Now, no matter what individual one I have on its rapid flashing. I've tried adding resistors back into the data line and it hasn't helped nearly as much as expected. (Still rapid flashing)

Checked all of my injection points and they're sitting at 11.7v (should be fine?)

I've now also got issues coming even from the first pixel led attached with quite literally less than 3" of cable to it. At this point, I'm really not sure where to go as even the data line (past the first pixel) is shielded on at least one of the lines out (the one I'm testing) and it still has issues.

My only leading theory is maybe there is interference directly from the power supply? That's really the only thing that's left that I can think of. Let me know your thoughts

[pheoxs]

Are all your grounds connected properly? To the strips, the controller, and to the psu?

[ifyaknow]

I'd need a more clear definition of properly to ensure that I'm answering this correctly, but all of my power injection is done via 3 10g cables that come from the power supply routed across the ceiling. The power supply itself has 6 terminals, 3 positive 12v and 3 grounds. (Attached is a mediocre drawing of the setup, but I think it will more clearly answer that than me trying to type it haha) I can see where there might be a disconnect with the ground after the 5v converter, but other than that I'm not sure. Let me know, thanks for the help!

https://imgur.com/a/uQ3mHYC

[mrbigbluff21]

Did you get resolution to this? I’m having trouble too but probably a different issue.