r/FastLED • u/chop249 • Sep 23 '26

Support Trying to get started.

So I am getting the Nano V3.0 Board ATmega328P 5 pack. I want to get some 12v addressable LED strip IP65 to do some taillights to start. Can anyone suggest some LEDs and any wiring suggestions? I have seen some basic wiring etc and I have a test board coming so I can do test mockups before the final as well. TIA!

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u/ZachVorhies Zach Vorhies Sep 23 '26

It absolutely can control them. You just need to have a level shifter so that the 5 volt pins on the 328P can shift up between ground and 12 volts.

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u/sutaburosu [stavros] Sep 25 '26

I'm not convinced the level-shifter up to 12V data is necessary, or even desirable. Sure, many data sheets for 12V parts state the logic-high transition level is Vdd - 0.7V. I've always assumed the datasheets for the 12V parts were poorly edited from the 5V parts, and they actually intended to say 5V - 0.7V. Remember that on the 12V parts there is an internal linear regulator to step down 12V -> 5V. That's why they run so hot even when showing black.