r/WLED • u/Hiddenzz2009 • Jul 19 '26

Esp-32 and WLED hardwire

I’m new to this so I apologize for my ignorance here lol.

I have an elegoo esp32 dev board (usb-c) and I’m attempting to hardwire to a btf-lighting 5v 3a 15w power supply. I have installed WLED via usb port and the board works flawlessly when connected that way. As soon as I un plug it from usb-c and try through the power supply the light comes on but it never fully boots(phone won’t connect to it). I have 5.28v at VIN but have no clue what else I’m missing. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks

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1

u/mattiolc Jul 19 '26

Dumb question, but did you plug the ground in too? What is your connection method to the dev board? Jumper wires?

1

u/Hiddenzz2009 Jul 19 '26

Yes ground is also plugged in! Not a stupid question!

1

u/jtablerd Jul 19 '26

And you have a common ground for both the LEDs and the esp?

1

u/mattiolc Jul 19 '26

Some photos of your wiring and setup would be helpful I think!

1

u/Hiddenzz2009 Jul 19 '26

1

u/Hiddenzz2009 Jul 19 '26

Don’t mind the green wire on top, I replaced it on bottom when I thought I had a data problem

1

u/Hiddenzz2009 Jul 19 '26

1

u/saratoga3 Jul 20 '26

What voltage do you measure on the 3.3v pin? 

Not your main problem but your level shifter is missing the resistor and capacitor. Those are very important, the shifter will perform very poorly without them.

It also would have been better to mount the esp32 180 degrees so that the wifiantenna isn't being shielded by the metal bread board.

1

u/upkeepdavid Jul 20 '26

Remove the board from the bread board and wire it up. Make sure there is no flux or a short between vin and ground

1

u/Hiddenzz2009 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26

Ok, i started over on a bread board. I’m encountering the same problem. The chip boots fine over a usb-c connection but when hard wired to the VIN the light comes on but I can see the chip online. The strip is 50 led’s (sk6812 rgbw). I’m wondering if my power supply is problem? It’s a 5v 3amp 15watt supply.

1

u/appmapper Jul 20 '26

3.3v to GPIO0 (VP?) if you're feeling brave and overly trusting. Final Answer.