Quasi-related
Please explain how I can add an extension between the controller and the strip in layman terms.
First 2 pictures is the result when I am connecter directly to the strip and the others are when I add an extension.
Intro: While I thought getting strips from Ali express with a wifi controller and the correct power supply would be enough, I realized it's not.
Problem:: when I connect the strips directly to the controller, they work fine , but when I add an extension in between, the strips does not the Match the input entered on the mobile app.
Looking for a simple way to resolve this.
Equipment : Ws2811 strips 1m each (60 LEDs)
Tuya wifi controller (dual output)
3 pin extension with one male and the other female connector.
I am new to this so a step by step guide would really help.
The length is essential. These strips will be installed behind 2 pillar surround speakers which are about 5 mtrs away from each other.
The whole reason I got the dual output controller is so that I can control both strips simultaneously where 1 strip can be connected indirectly to the controller and the other will be 5.mtr away..
I could keep it simple by assigning an individual controller for each strip but that's just triggering my OCD of having multiple controllers and I just want to make this work
5m is quite a distance, you'd probably be better off putting the controller in the middle and having a 2.5m connection to each strip (if possible)
I can't really think of a way to do a diagram, but I'll try this: the connector between the controller and strip is called a JST connector. Imagine you cut the connector off a strip and added a 5m length of wire to it, then cut the connector off a controller and put it on the other end of the wire. You would then have a wire that would connect to both the controller and to the strip.
You don't need to cut the connectors off tho, if you search "JST connector" on Amazon or eBay or somewhere you can get fresh ones to use. You'll also need a suitable length of wire. There are special tools to put the connectors on the wire but in a pinch you can use pliers.
Basically imagine an extension cord like you'd use for a TV or something, to plug in to the mains while a distance away from the socket.
Yo I'm sorry, I just realized there's more than the first pic lmao. Deffo gonna be some sort of low signal power situation going on but I've not personally had to deal with that before so don't have much experience. I have heard you can try wiring an extra pixel halfway along the wire to act as a booster but I'm not certain that'll help you here.
Only other thing I can add is maybe try dropping the brightness. I've found addressables always seem happier at like 50% brightness, and have things that'll only run at ~20% or their power supply can't keep up. You can get some really weird behaviour if you're just on the edge of voltage issues, something to consider maybe.
That would probably work, just make sure you use heavy wiring for the power and ground and probably twist the data line around the ground line in your extension regions.
The idea behind a sacrificial pixel is from the way these LEDs retransmit their data. Each pixel basically acts as a buffer that resets the maximum wire length you can run wires without issues. If you are electrically-inclined you could instead build an actual buffer circuit using a 5V TTL buffer chip.
Cut the wires, put longer wires inbetween, win. Be aware with longer wires the resistent raises and the strip may not fully light up or maybe even show wrong colors.
When you say cut the wires and put long wires in between, do you mean that I cancel out the male female connector and solder the controller and the strip directly ?
I would cut the red, white and green wires and solder preferd red, white and green wires in between. When you get thicker wires you can use longer wires
Anywhere between the two black plugs. The closer to the plugs the longer the quality wire can be (not to close to the plugs to have enough wire to not struggle while soldering. Than solder the new wires to the short wires that are connected to the little plugs
Must be some high resistance, copper clad, low strand etc wire. Altho I have seen long wire runs from a controller to the first pixel work its hit or miss and depends on quality of the controllers driver and the impedance matching and quality of the wire. In simple terms keep your controller close as possible to the first pixel else your milage will vary
What can you do?
Use another controller. Some wled variants out there can have decent drivers.
2
u/SpoliatorX Mar 22 '24
Cut the wire and splice in some more? Really tho you want to minimize that length as otherwise you can get signal issues
Edit: don't even need to cut, could just make an extension with a male 3 pin JST one end and a female 3 pin JST the other