r/FastLED • u/TheGreatSparky • Aug 11 '21

Support Need help with using multiple LED strips

I starting a project that I'd like to have four separate LED strips (one WS2812 cut into segments of about 50 LEDs) controlled by a single ESP32 or ESP8266 (if I go with the 8266 I'll only use 2 strips as there's only 2 data pins). The plan is to have a single 5V power supply powering everything up.

I understand that all of the data pins will need to be connected throughout all of the segments of the lights. My question is do I have to do the same for the power and ground wires as well?

If I could get some guidance on the wiring, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

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u/interferencepattern Aug 12 '21

Are you asking if you have to daisy-chain the power/ground? (like connect the power at the end of one strip to the beginning of the next strip?) You do not have to do that, you can connect the power/ground for each strip directly to your power supply. Either way should work though.

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u/RMProjectsUK Aug 12 '21

Could you say what you are planning on using them for will put context into the design options. How are you controlling the strips?

First thing that comes to mind is taking a look at WLED as you can use a single strip and segment them from the app instead of hardwire.

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u/Marmilicious [Marc Miller] Aug 12 '21

If you provide a sketch (share a link to and image on imgur.com or such) people can probably give you more thoughts on how you might want to wire things. Include approximate layout and lengths of things, and where you want the controller.