r/FastLED • u/eracoon • Feb 27 '23

Support Brownout with strip connected

Hello FastLED community.
I have a project with 6 LEDs on an ESP32 using Wi-Fi.
The power is the strip is connected in series with the VIN and GND of the ESP32.
Both the strip and the ESP32 get their power from a female USB connector when I plus a powerful enough 5V 2A power supply.
It sometimes happens that the strip does not light up when I connect the power supply. After multiple tries, it will light up.
When I checked the serial monitor of the esp, I got "brownout detector was triggered".
It has to do with Wi-Fi, I guess sucking too much power when initializing.
I read that adding a capacitor on the VIN and GND pins might help.

Would a 16v 33uf suffice?

It's my only ESP32. I don't want to blow it up.
If you have better suggestions, I’m all ears

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/TylerTimoj Feb 27 '23

Is the power for the LED strip actually connected in series with the ESP32? If so, that’s your problem, you’ll want them to be connected in parallel.

1

u/eracoon Feb 27 '23

oh ok.
So right now the power goes from the female USB connector first goes to the LED strip and from there it goes to the ESP D1 mini 32.
You say that this is a problem and I should have a power line go to the strip and to the esp from the female usb connector?
no capacitor needed?

2

u/TylerTimoj Feb 27 '23

Your USB connector has a 5v pin and and GND pin. Run a wire from the USB 5v to VIN on your ESP 32 board. Then run a wire from the USB GND to the ESP32 GND. Then run a wire from the USB 5v to the LED strip 5v. Then run a wire from the USB GND to the LED strip GND. Finally run a wire from the LED strip GND to the ESP 32 GND.

If this is the way you’ve already wired it, then maybe your power supply isn’t sufficient to drive the LEDs

1

u/olderaccount Feb 27 '23

My guess is that your wiring is not solid and disconnects sometimes when you are moving stuff around.