I have 3-5M strips of the Digital RGB LED Weatherproof Strip (#306). Is there a video or tutorial that shows how to connect them and how to wire for power for each string?
Thanks.
China Blue
Connecting multiple 5M LED Strings
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88153
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Connecting multiple 5M LED Strings
We have a few tutorials on that strip. Check the "Tutorials" tab on the product description page: http://www.adafruit.com/products/306#Learn
- chinablue
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:01 pm
Re: Connecting multiple 5M LED Strings
Thanks for the response but non of the tutorials show how to wire each 5M of LEDs to power and how to deal with the prior LED strips' wires. Are the power and ground not connected any more and does the C1 and D1 get connected with the following strip? And in wiring the Subsequent LEDs to power every 5 Meters is the best way to do that through a bus that is connected to the power? In this case what happens to the ground on the subsequent LEDs, are they also connected to the bus?
Thanks a lot.
China Blue
Thanks a lot.
China Blue
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88153
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Connecting multiple 5M LED Strings
The ground line and the two signal lines should be connected all the way through. Just connect the end of one to the beginning of the other.
Connections to the 5v line depend on whether you are using one power supply or several:
if you are using one supply, connect the 5v lines together and run power and ground wires to each section of strip as well as the end. (the tutorial recommends every meter)
If you are using multiple supplies, only connect the 5v lines on strips powered by the same supply. Leave a break in the 5v line to isolate different supplies.
http://learn.adafruit.com/digital-led-strip/powering
Connections to the 5v line depend on whether you are using one power supply or several:
if you are using one supply, connect the 5v lines together and run power and ground wires to each section of strip as well as the end. (the tutorial recommends every meter)
If you are using multiple supplies, only connect the 5v lines on strips powered by the same supply. Leave a break in the 5v line to isolate different supplies.
http://learn.adafruit.com/digital-led-strip/powering
Tips for powering LED strips:
When creating longer runs, power should be split and applied every meter. If you try to power too many LEDs from just one end of the strip, they’ll start to “brown out” the further they are from the power supply.
Strands can be powered from either end — “input” and “output” doesn’t apply to power, only the data signals from the microcontroller.
If the 10 Amp power supply isn’t large enough for your project, a slightly modified ATX computer power supply can provide 30 Amps to power upwards of 500 pixels!
Generally speaking, you should not try to power an LED strip from the Arduino’s 5V line. This is okay if just a few pixels are lit, but is not adequate for driving a full strand.
For a standalone application (not USB connected to a computer), you can power the Arduino from the same regulated 5V supply as the LEDs — connect to the 5V pin on the Arduino, not Vin, and don’t use the DC jack on the Arduino.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.