I am having trouble when trying to test my 122 WS2812B leds strip. I used the fastled examples in order to check them but they won’t turn on. I must be wiring incorrectly, please let me know what is wrong, here are the pictures of my connections. I’m in doubt about the 5v- rail, shouldn’t I be using it?
I made sure that I’ve used the DIN pin not the DO. The GND is both connected to GND on the PSU and on the arduino, the 5V+ just to the PSU, and the DIN has a 100ohm resistor too that just goes to the arduino. I’ve tested the PSU and it’s working properly (5.2V output)
What are you using to power the arduino? You mention the ground, but no power supply (for the arduino).
It looks like you’ve connected the strip to the wrong earth. The negative/ground on the strip (and the negative/ground on the Arduino) should be connected to “V-”
The earth connector on the power supply is for the earth lead on the mains AC power.
Have you checked that the resistor isn’t faulty? Always check the resistance with a good quality multimeter.
The Arduino meanwhile is powered via USB, but I’m planning on using the same PSU to power it (is it a good idea or not?). Oh so I don’t need to use the earth, but rather the v- rial for the GND pins of the LED strip and the Arduino GND pinout? Right now I’m not at home but when I come back I’ll try it and let you know. Thanks! (Ps the resistor is good I’ve tested it)
@Carlos_Piasentini I imagine you have this shorted sorted out by now, but I’ll add the attached image here just in case.
Also, it’s perfectly fine to power the LEDs and the controller with the same power supply, or power the LEDs with the power supply and the controller with USB.
Two things to consider though:
a) If you power the controller with USB, make sure you have a ground connection between the controller and the other power supply.
b) If you wire the controller to be powered from a power supply and then latter you also plug in USB (to program for example) make sure you know how the controller will handle this. Some controllers don’t like to be powered from two different sources at the same time (Teensy for example), and some are fine and auto switch which power source is used (UNO for example).
Thanks so much, that was the problem. I’ve just added a fan to te PSU because I noticed that one huge capacitor was generating smoke. Apparently with this ventilation it isn’t heating any longer.
Cool, glad it’s working. Not sure about the smoking capacitor though… I’d talk to the supplier, it may be faulty
If the capacitor has already released it’s “magic smoke” it needs to be
replaced.
it hasn’t lasted anything! could this be a problem of too much heat or it might have been a faulty one? The PSU apparently is working fine though
Could have just been a bad capacitor. but if it smoked, it means the insides are cooked,