im about to get this 144 set i think ill get 5 meters to

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im about to get this 144 set i think ill get 5 meters to start with i have a big project coming any suggestions?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1m-5v-input-smd-5050-rgb-dream-color-individually-addressable-ws2811-ws2812b-144-led-pixel-strip/1417495812.html

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I would shop around. Also China Post will take a full month to deliver. The best price I found for the strips is from Ray Wu’s. The shipping is a bit higher but you should get it sooner. Also, Chinese New Year starts 1/31 and that will impact shipping - vacation time in China.

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as always you know best @Michael_Sharnet haha thanks again ill be working on a somewhat large project not car based but it will be fun i think haha

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another question what do you suggest for a bluetooth module for controlling the script? can i use a 4.0 module?

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Whoever you get it from, make sure you have enough Amps to run the thing. 144 RGB pixels at 60mA per, that’s 8.64Amps for just one meter (at 100% duty cycle, full white.)

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Yeah I know that’s something that’s worrying me a little

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If you shop around Aliexpress.com you can find WS2812b 144 LEDs/meter for about $30-35 including ePacket shipping. ePacket is similar to US Priority Mail (it takes about 10 days for delivery vs 30+)and that might be a lower cost - but you have to look at the total cost and always review the sellers feedback.

I haven’t gone beyond using a single device controller so I don’t have anything to go on for Bluetooth except that @Mark_Kriegsman posted about the Adafruit’s Bluefruit EZ-Link and that looked promising.

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Thanks @Michael_Sharnet

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I just bought five meters of 144 for $26 a meter. It only took about three weeks from ordering to delivery.

I’ll post the aliexpress page I bought them from in a little while.

I’m very happy with them, but I learned some hard lessons about power, as per my post a few days ago.

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Hi @Brett_Hansen after @Jon_Burroughs posted about using strips on different PINs, I went and read some of the Funkboxing stuff and that site has some details about Bluetooth connections that might be of interest to you.

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http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/5-X-1m-WS2812B-Chip-White-PCB-144-Pixels-M-WS2811-IC-Digital-RGB-DC5V-LED/1052405_1535615515.html

I was surprised that that come as 5 individual strips. I guess they don’t sell lengths longer than one meter.

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Go to http://alibaba.com for bulk purchases. Aliexpress is the consumer end. I’m sure you can find it there. Here’s a 10m minimum purchase one:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/1618553288/144_leds_ws2812b_strip.html

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oh wow thanks guys ill be sure to look into that when i need more thanks again