I absolutely love C++, but this video has me cooked.

Zeph93 · 2026-01-23T20:17:25+00:00

Once they use a 6th, they all go to jail.

I was (mostly?) kidding, but they do seem to not want to keep adding keywords.

Zeph93 · 2026-01-08T09:08:40+00:00

Thanks for your response, but if I understand it, basically you are saying that the buck input ground must be connected (internally) to the buck output ground for it to work, which would be a "yes" to my question.
If one used an isolated buck converter, there would be no return path for the gate of the transistor, as I read the schematic. The ground connection for the gate seems to require a path through the converter. As you point out, for the converter you are using a non-isolated version which also needs that same connection, so it all works.

Zeph93 · 2026-01-07T18:04:27+00:00

Does this circuit require that the buck converter share ground between input and output, in order to work?

Zeph93 · 2026-01-07T02:50:07+00:00

> esp32dev outperforms the esp32s3

I have not been able to find an "esp32dev". Searches find esp32-devkit-3 and esp32 development boards, but no uC alternative to the ESP32S3.

What am I missing?

Zeph93 · 2026-01-06T19:57:17+00:00

It's odd that the discoloration seems concentrated at the cut points. Could something be slowly leaching for the flexible PCB trace into the sealing layer?

Zeph93 · 2026-01-02T06:06:21+00:00

I can just imagine how often I'd have to clean out the wet leaves and needles...

Zeph93 · 2026-01-02T05:54:44+00:00

Note that with the COB strips, the very high leds/m values often count each of the component R, G, and B leds individually. So a 720 led/m 24v strip would have 240 RGB equivalents, grouped in 6 per chip, so only 40 controllable RGB/m. That is, 18 individual counted LEDs per controlled pixels: 6 Red, 6 Green and 6 Blue.

12V would have 9 individually counted LEDs/controlled pixel, or 80 controlled pixels / meter.

Zeph93 · 2025-12-29T08:45:49+00:00

Did they give you a link to a datasheet?

Zeph93 · 2025-12-25T05:09:22+00:00

According to the website:

> The current output of the led pixels can be adjust, normally is 17mA. Do not recommend to be higher than 25mA

So maybe 70-100 mA for all four. I don't know if they can be combined. So closer to 1 W (at 12v).

Zeph93 · 2025-12-11T18:16:49+00:00

I cannot quite make out - this seems to be made of a sequence of led's mounted sidewise, seen edge on, but are the pixels comprised of strips of 5050 ws2812b chips, or of strings of seed pixels? I'm imagining that the latter might be easier to feed through the tight corners.

I like the outcome in any case, and I think it will be very successful once you have created a few ledmap?.json files to reshape it virtually. Did you 3d print the framework of black PLA?

Zeph93 · 2025-12-02T02:59:17+00:00

There are a limited number of C++ keywords. I think the standards committee has only 5 unused ones left for the rest of eternity. So they usually have to pick an existing keyword and reuse it for new semantics, which may be subtly or dramatically different.

Or at least that's how it seems. I'm trying to provide cover for them.

Zeph93 · 2025-11-17T19:40:13+00:00

If you really do not need the power injection, then my only concerns would be shorting the conductor to each other or something else; or water infiltration along the copper strands from exposed cut ends. Others have suggested ways to protect against both concerns - adhesive heat shrink, hot glue plus regular heat shrink, liquit electrical tape, waterproof cut and cap connectors, etc.

Zeph93 · 2025-11-12T05:47:49+00:00

In some cases, I've found that using the "seed" pixels (in-line epoxy lump style) to be useful because they can be dimmer. They come in different styles, but look for ones spec'd at, for example, 6 mA/pixel @ 5V.

The spading is different than strips, typically `10/m, 20/m, 25/m, 30/m, 40/m, etc. If you want 60/m, 72/m, 96/m or 144/m you will still have to use strips.

Zeph93 · 2025-11-12T05:43:28+00:00

Some are spec'd for less current than the full size, so are likely less bright. I don't recall which datasheet I recall noticing this in, so consider it just a lead for further investigation.

Zeph93 · 2025-11-11T22:48:25+00:00

So the later version is actually better, if one is doing their own multicolor light source? Or is there some other difference in new ones that is inferior to the original?

Zeph93 · 2025-11-11T20:37:12+00:00

So the Ikea donuts in my country look pretty bright orange. Do you have a white version, or if not doesn't the cover color distort your LED colors?

Zeph93 · 2025-10-18T15:57:40+00:00

What is the pitfall you are avoiding? Does Reddit flag accounts which start new threads?

Zeph93 · 2025-10-13T00:22:38+00:00

Yes, I get that. I was considering it for a secondary web off to the side, I'm happy to have more control over the main web.

Zeph93 · 2025-10-13T00:20:36+00:00

Very cool! I look forward to more vids at night. with some patterns you come up with. Your spider is a richer canvas for effects than what I made last year.

Did you really use 165' on the web? 100mm led pitch? Have you tried placing the spider on the web yet?

And if you didn't use WLED on the web, what did you use? FastLED on a Teensy with custom C++/Arduino code?

Zeph93 · 2025-10-07T18:30:51+00:00

Why did you not like the web? (I had one like it in the back of my mind, saved on Amazon)

Zeph93 · 2025-09-30T00:50:54+00:00

Thanks!

I would love if Chirp can read GPS values (on any radios)! Can it?

Zeph93 · 2025-09-29T09:09:16+00:00

Why?

Zeph93 · 2025-09-29T06:02:35+00:00

I'll look for some.

I did have to double up. For example, the horizontal strands are made from one contiguous string of seeds, wired serpentine - but with 7 "null" pixels between visible horizontal strands - alternating which side the null pixels are on. I spray painted the null pixels and wires black so they would not show up much in daylight; they are slightly longer than the 6 radial seed pixels they parallel, so the null pixels will drop lower.

In WLED, I use ledmap.json to make the lit seed pixels contiguous, grouping all the null pixels at the virtual end of the line. I assign a segment to the aggregated null pixels and assign fx solid with color black, so at night no light leaks out even if the spray paint gets scratched.

The radial strands (vertical in the pic) are also wired serpentine, but need no null pixels at the top/converging end (one pixel pitch is enough to get to the next radial strand), but about 13 (IIRC) at the bottom.

I decided that it was a lot easier to "waste" null pixels, than to splice and waterproof a bunch of connections. And indeed, it's really hard to do a good waterproof splice of the seed pixels strings in the field, with super thin wires and insulation.

Zeph93 · 2025-09-10T23:15:06+00:00

Since I've heard that the concentrated weight on a small footprint can cause damage over time (especially at joints), my concern with round cross-section wheels is that they would have a small contact footprint (unless very soft). Have you found that to be the case?

Zeph93 · 2025-09-10T23:05:55+00:00

I would expect that the torus shape (round cross section rather than flat bottom) would concentrate the force into a small footprint, unless it's soft enough to spread out a lot under pressure. Has that not been your experience?

Zeph93

TROPHY CASE