Question . . .

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1

Question . . .
Currently I am using 5v waterproof (ip65) led strips for my project. The issues are

  1. voltage drop even when using 18 gauge
  2. adding 3a 5v step downs
  3. increased construction for power injections every 5ft.

I want to move to 12v and eliminate the power supply and feed with 12v lipos which can also feed the arduinos.

I don’t want to buy the wrong product. Not all leds are created equal.

Here is the link to my 5v product, which is excellent
( 5m 20 ip65) silicon covered 5v 2812b. I like this product / supplier a lot!

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC5V-1m-4m-5m-WS2812B-Smart-led-pixel-strip-Black-White-PCB-30-60-144-leds/32337440906.html

so. .
what product do I buy with these requirements

silicon covered IP65
individually addressable (not in groups of 3)
12v
aliexpress
bright
take a control signal from a teensy

please post a link

also, when I search on ws2812 all I get is 5v. Is 5050 the same as 2812 but with a 5v stepdown reg??

2

Why is there such a big price discrepency from ws2811 12v ($12 for 5m) to ws2812b ($20 for 5m)? The 12v strips have 5v stepdowns built in. Shouldn’t it be the other way around with the 12v costing more due to more electronics? I am clearly missing something.

3

have you seen these: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/5m-DC12V-30leds-m-10pcs-ws2811-ic-meter-10pixels-led-digital-strip-IP68-epoxy-resin-filled/701799_1480126091.html

they are resin filled.

4

thanks. looks good, but need ip65 version. Just wondering if the brightness is the same as 2812b which from reading I don’t think is the case.

5

@Gregg_Novosad “WS2811 12V” strips have a discrete WS2811 IC for every group of 3x 5050 LED modules. The 5050 modules on these strips are just LEDs with no driving circuit, and need the ICs to drive them. The 12V strips will use one controller for a group of three LEDs, and each group is controlled as one pixel.

“WS2812 5V” strips have a different 5050 module on them, one which contains the WS2811 IC built-in. They might have the same number of dots (eg 60 LED/m) as a 12V strip, but unlike the 12V strips, each dot has its own control circuit and therefore is its own pixel.

The 12V strips are cheaper because the “dumb” 5050 LED modules are much cheaper than the WS2811 integrated circuit. Even with the WS2811 in its own package separate from the 5050 module, it’s a lot cheaper to use a third of the circuitry.