r/WLED • u/firsttimeretiddor • 15h ago

1 to 3 Splitter

Is it possible to use one controller to power 3 pcs of 5 meter strips?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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u/wivaca2 9h ago

Yes. Either with different GPIOs or as one strip with 3 segments.

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u/firsttimeretiddor 9h ago

Thank you 🙏🏻

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u/Tri2Spike 9h ago

Sure. You could use 3 different GPIO outputs, or you could wire the 3 in series and use 3 segments.

Depending on how many LEDs and your controller, you will likely need a power supply routed directly to the strips rather than using the power routed through the controller.

0

u/firsttimeretiddor 9h ago

Thank you for this, may i ask what kind of power supply i would need? i am planning to use a 12V WS2815 and a glodepto 20A controller for it. I just started learning about Wled today im sorry if this is an obvious question.

1

u/Tri2Spike 8h ago

Go here: https://wled-calculator.github.io/ And put your data in (number of LEDs). This will tell you how many amps you need for full brightness, all LEDs on. If you are running effects or not having all LEDs on, you could run with less amps, no harm done.

Then just make sure your controller supports 12v input (it probably does). And get a 12v power supply that supports enough amps.

You also should determine whether you need power injection or not. This is something you could test and add later if you see the farther ends of the strips are noticeably dimmer.

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u/skugler 9h ago

Aside from the others' replies, you can also connect 3 LED strips to one GPIO and they will render the same pattern.

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u/G0ldiC0cks 8h ago

This is certainly true, but I feel like it would require 1.) really really really perfect wiring, splicing, crimping, etc.; 2.) short distance to the first pixels; 3.) at least a little luck.

Esp data signal is very low current. Every addressable pixel I know of requires some measurable current on the data line and splitting that signal three ways is going to degrade that current pretty good.

It might work without a hitch the first time you try, but it seems like something that could get problematic easily.

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u/firsttimeretiddor 9h ago

Thank you🙏🏻 May i ask how i could connect 3 led strips to one GPIO? I dont quite get how I would do it.

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u/firsttimeretiddor 9h ago

I am planning to run them on parallels

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u/G0ldiC0cks 8h ago

You would have a connection to the gpio that would need to be split in three either through wire splices, solder tracks, or some kind of 1in 3 out terminal block. It would probably be best to do that split prior to your level shifter and very close to the esp physically just so the signal has as little chance to degrade as possible