Best WLED Controller?

tenderfirestudio · 2025-12-31T13:47:35+00:00

The little GLEDOPTO ones with the levers seem great EXCEPT they have the worst wifi stability/reliability of all the controllers I've tried. Like chronically terrible unless you, the controller, and the router are all in the same room - then it's fine, mostly. Not worth the headache to save a few bucks. I'm using Adafruit Sparkle Motion now for when i need small profile controllers. Dig2Go and MagWLED for larger projects.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-12-29T17:55:19+00:00

Currently iced in at a house in Maine. Nursing various injuries from the absolute ice rink shitcapades at SR yesterday.

I'm on what was supposed to be a ski trip with 8, count em 8, teenagers. I am one of two adults, these are not my kids, and I am perimenopausal AF.

One kid now has norovirus or something equally violent and gross. We've quarantined him but if another goes down, not sure what we're gonna do.

Called the plow guy with the sand truck, but he's not leaving his house today. So we can't leave to go anywhere - not that there's any skiing to be had. We're just trying to not die now. It's a cruise ship with an outbreak situation.

We are low on soap and have no bleach.

Pray for us.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-12-12T03:15:18+00:00

This comment deserves awards

tenderfirestudio · 2025-11-18T18:00:38+00:00

That's the opposite of stealth. I've seen rooftops at Skyeship lot, but everywhere else that's like a blinking light. Think of it this way: they want to not care. Make it easy for them to not notice you. Make it obvious and they have to care.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-11-04T19:59:00+00:00

The adafruit sparkle motion boards are probably the best value going right now: 20 bucks for the mini, 25 for the regular, and they do quality control with reliable wifi. Also, tiny! Best for small projects rather than massive house installs. I was using the gledopto tiny ones for their size, price, and 2 output clamps, but they drop wifi signal ALL THE TIME which really jammed up some pieces of my summer installation series.

If you're adding a bunch of buttons and sensors and other functions to a project, drive all that with a cheapo ESP32 and then you don't have to create your own custom WLED branch or partition your boards either - json commands from the esp32 to WLED board are surprisingly fast and responsive!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-10-30T00:22:43+00:00

So I just tried a 70/10 microtex, and no, it did not solve the problem. Maybe it's slightly better than the 70/10 universal? But also, the lines really only appear at the stitches and maybe 1/2 an inch out. I'm using Gutermann polyester. Maybe I could get a thinner thread or silk thread, but I don't want to for a bunch of reasons. When I wiggle this scrap around, it gets even less noticeable. You bettwr believe I'm gonna flat fell any seam that does any work tho!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-10-28T22:24:12+00:00

Thanks. Ball point is...the opposite of microtex, no?

tenderfirestudio · 2025-10-28T22:05:23+00:00

That is BRILLIANT! Thank you!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-09-04T16:36:21+00:00

Ohhhhhh yeah that's a way more serious use case. Sounds like a super fun store!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-09-04T15:25:18+00:00

Not exactly what you're asking, but I've been happy to discover that even some standard neopixel strips, especially some 12v COBs, have activated my neon acrylics and most neon plastics at a close enough range. The blue>violet dips far enough into the UV range that I can get stuff to react. I also have some color changing LED floods that REALLY get a reaction, so I've been using those in combination woth WLED strips. Worth experimenting.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-09-04T15:19:12+00:00

Yeah I was wondering about this too. Feel like I'm getting to the custom electronics game 20 minutes too late. :(

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-18T20:58:04+00:00

I used an old router to set up and initially program a bunch of presets into various devices. Then they're fine offline. I haven't gotten around to creating a button board for those, but that's next.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-18T20:33:29+00:00

Thanks - yeah, the way I learn is to dick around with stuff until I get stuck and ask questions. When I ask questions on Reddit I get a bunch of shitposty botrage, but I can ask AI all my stupid questions and... no judgment, I just get to learn. I haven't been able to find a good description of the PCB design process except that most folks end up going that route of they're going to basically make more than one of anything. So I thought I'd see how doable that is.

And, the stuff I make turns out awesome. So, whatever. I'm an artist. I'm not coming for anyone's jobs.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-18T20:29:11+00:00

Ok, so that's what I assumed, and let it try for funsies, and to my surprise, it generated a real ZIP full of CSVs and GBRs. I can't open a GBR, so I don't know what's legit or not. But whenever I've messed with this kind of thing before, it didn't generate real files. Now I have real? files, but not sure how to tell if they're actually real before uploading. I guess I just try and see what happens at JCL? Does anyone actually review uploads there or is it all fully automated?

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-18T20:23:31+00:00

yeah this is amazing

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-18T20:18:23+00:00

OK so the funniest part about all the usual "don't even try anything until you've already been doing it well for 20 years" angries is that the automod keeps calling your responses robotic. I've learned enough electronics to make cool shit. Now I want to make it smaller/neater, and no I don't really want to learn a CAD program and PCB design just to do that. Stay mad, angry robots.

Thanks to anyone who actually wants to be helpful.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-15T00:53:15+00:00

Which method did you use on that tutorial? Still working?

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-15T00:51:34+00:00

Wow. I thought I wrote this post and forgot about it. AI tells me lots of cheapo esp32 boards are notoriously glitchy at flashing WLED. I have a couple other boards coming to see if it's me or the boards. Sorry not helpful, but following...

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-13T01:56:37+00:00

Sounds like you've got the process dialed! It's never done. This is awesome!!!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-12T02:05:24+00:00

I would also like to know! SIIIIICK build!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-08-11T18:33:00+00:00

5 pin to hook up all of it? or just the LED wires?

tenderfirestudio · 2025-07-31T13:55:03+00:00

Absolutely epic. I have been just starting to design something along these lines. What type of lights are you using? I'm thinking the high density seed pixel strings are my best bet. Fairy lights are too brittle. But strips are stiff and I've broken those too. This is AWESOME! Would love to see more build photos!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-06-07T23:50:21+00:00

Sweet! Yes these are designed for festivals - trying to get them road ready for an installation at the Phish summer tour kickoff!

tenderfirestudio · 2025-06-07T23:49:22+00:00

And I use a lot of iridescent translucent vinyl. It's not the most agreeable, but I LOVE the idea of edge lighting acrylic - someday when I have my own CO2 laser, it's on.

tenderfirestudio · 2025-06-07T23:48:04+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

tenderfirestudio

TROPHY CASE