# Controlling WS2811 (I think!) strips

**URL:** <https://wled.discourse.group/t/controlling-ws2811-i-think-strips/2126>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [January 21, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/controlling-ws2811-i-think-strips/2126 "2021-01-21T12:01:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mattltm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/mattltm/32/1056_2.png) [@Mattltm](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Mattltm)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/controlling-ws2811-i-think-strips/2126/1 "2021-01-21T12:01:18Z")

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Hi all.

\*\* EDIT \*\*  
Looks like it’s using an SC6803 IC so I guess they are not WS2811! Can these work with WLED?  
\*\*

I have some old strips that were purchased with a basic controller a few years back and would like to integrate them into my WLED setup. I think that are WS2811 strips as they are 12v, have 3 LED per segment and each segment has a controller chip.

I’ve read that the 3.3v level from my ESP 8266 needs to level shifted to 5v so I used an older level shifter from Proto-Pic that I had in the junk box. I’ve put 3.3v + from the ESP into the low side with ground and the data signal and used the Vin pin on the ESP to supply 5v+ to the high side. From the high side, I take the TX to the Din pin on the strip and Ground to the pin on the strip. I also power the strip with 12v.

The strip lights up but does not respond to anything sent by WLED. What am I missing here?

My strip also has a Cin (Clock I guess?) so do I need to do anything with that?

Thanks,

Matt

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**Author:** ![Thedannymullen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/thedannymullen/32/297_2.png) [@Thedannymullen](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Thedannymullen)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/controlling-ws2811-i-think-strips/2126/2 "2021-01-21T14:25:40Z")

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If your strip has a clock pin they are not 2811/12. The clock will need to be used to clock data into the strip. I believe wled supports this but I don’t know how to instruct you to turn it on.

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**Author:** ![srg74](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/srg74/32/3018_2.png) [@srg74](https://wled.discourse.group/u/srg74)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/controlling-ws2811-i-think-strips/2126/3 "2021-01-21T23:16:25Z")

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Look at supported LED types. I think yours is not there.