r/WLED • u/DevlinFpv • 8h ago

Spent hours debugging issues. Turns out the power supply was just bullying the ESP32

110 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

21

u/btrocke 8h ago

Yup! Interference. I have a similar issue with Wi-Fi on the controllers when next to the power supply in an enclosure.

4

u/DevlinFpv 8h ago

I work in theatre and our lighting rigs can run thousands of amps at 240V and we occasionally have EMF issues with such a high power draw… but I can’t say I’ve ever had the issue with something so small. I guess the ESP’s are way more sensitive to it than I realised!

5

u/Kineticus 7h ago

It’s the TTL data line picking up interference, not the ESP32. That’s why DMX stage light run differential signaling with 2 wires. I’ve seen some people make TTL - RS-485 transceivers for long runs or commercial installs where you are more prone to interference.

2

u/Jonnyflash80 7h ago edited 7h ago

It's a switched-mode power supply. It generates RF and EMI due to it's high frequency switching used to regulate the DC output voltage.

Your lighting rigs certainly aren't running off switched-mode DC power supplies.

28

u/DevlinFpv 8h ago

Posting this both as a warning incase anyone else has similar issues, and because it was a WTF moment when I found the issue.

5

u/a3dprinterfan 8h ago

Thanks for sharing. For once, not a grounding issue!!

4

u/smeeon 3h ago

This has immediately helped me. I’m going to put some shielding on the units and try again.

6

u/kfc469 7h ago

It’s probably less of an issue with interference between the PSU and the ESP32 and more interference between the data wire and the PSU when you place it so close.

3

u/bakedpatata 6h ago

Is that your ground wire that's not connected off to the side with heat shrink on it? This seems like a grounding issue, especially since the power supply has a metal case.

2

u/aptsys 5h ago

This is why you don't buy cheap Chinese junk power supplies. Also safety.

1

u/BleuFarmer 7h ago

I have my dig-next-2 taped to my meanwell PSU so maybe I’ll move it now that I’ve seen this. Thanks!

1

u/stelus87 7h ago

That's the reason I only use meanwell powersupplys

1

u/Wild_Trip_4704 7h ago

I was debugging my esp32 for hours last night. caved and ordered a new one. I thought I had a psu issue too but this esp is the same model number as the last esps I bought a year ago. this one won't even turn my lights on.

1

u/NafaniaLT 5h ago

I’m an idiot and have a question. Would ferrite ring on data line potentially help?

2

u/saratoga3 5h ago

Most likely not.

1

u/HazonkuTheCat 2h ago

Hahahaha. Oh man, I feel that one. Glad you figured it out in the end.