I have permanent lights fixed to my house run in three lines:
Channel 1: 5v 452 pixels - 10 feet dataline between controller and start line. I insert power every 50 LEDS.
Channel 2: 5V 260 pixes - 10 feet dataline between controller and start line. I insert power every 50 LEDS.
Channel 3: 5v 360 pixes - 10 feet dataline between controller and start line. I insert power every 50 LEDS.
Power supply 5v 40 amp
Before i used three seperated NodeMCU’s with a sacrificed pixel and had no problems. With the new setup with a digquad with meanwell 40 AMP i have random small flickers every minute . I already changed the resitor on the digquad to 33ohm but it did not fixed the problem. On WLED the power limiter is set to 25 AMP. I also already lowered the brighntess, it seems the flixering reduces a little.
Could it be a data issue or power injection problem? I am really wondering why i had no issues in the old setup.
NodeMCU data pins work at 3.3v and your lights work at 5v. If you add a 3.3v to 5v level shifter to the data pin, that should solve your flickering issues.
This NOT a suitable levelshifter for addressable LEDs.
These are I2C based shifters that end up being too slow to be reliable.
Please don’t recommend these style of devices.
The KB has good information on proper levelshifters
The OP has noted that they are using sacrificial pixels.
While they are not optimal, they at least meet the basic speed and voltage requirements for a levelshifter.
In the long run, the OP may indeed need a proper device.
i updated to the latest version but no effect. I did not change the pins, i just use the standard once already implemented in WLED for the DigQuad.
I used 22awg 3-lines for power and data and seperate 20awg powerlines. I think i have to upgrade these because the distances are large. But i just can not understand why in my previous setup everything was working without any issues.
Could it be a solution to implement a sacrificial pixel again?
Could very likely be a voltage issue. If you have a multi meter measure the voltage at different locations in the strips. You are asking a lot of that 22awg wire @ 10ft 5v and longer if you used it for your injections. I would look at using 18awg to the beginning of the strip and 16awg farther for your injections. A cheap option is to buy an outdoor extension cord and cut it to length.
Also if the 20awg is what you have running from your power supply to the dig you should increase that as well. 20awg is not rated to handle 40A of power (it is rated for 3.5a). You would need something like 12awg x2
I will test the voltages. The permanent lines across my house were one of the first WLED projects, lets say a learned a lott in the meantime . Back then i used a lott of internet guidelines who all worked with 20awg cables. Later when i discoverd the product of Quinled i also started to make use of 16 and 18 awg cables. Just to make clear, i use different 20 awg lines, not just one and i use 12awg cable between the digquad and the powersupply.
What do you mean by using a outdoor extension cord?
Cut the ends off and you have 16/3 wire or 14/3 or 12/3 depending on the size you buy. I generally use the hot and neutral (black & white) as positive and the green as negative ground for power injection wire. If you leave a few feet when you cut the plug off you can use it for the power cord of a power supply.
I used these 12c level shifters and they work fine for me. I also have some SN74AHCT125N that I used when using wled with esp32 + ws2812b or SK6812 and they work fine as well. Without using a level shifter with a 3.3v chip (esp32) I get flickering and the wrong colours due to the wrong voltage + voltage drop due to resistance in the cable + interference. Using a level shifter fixes all these issues.
Many people “make due” without a levelshifter at all.
Study the physics and you’ll realize quickly that’s LED roulette.
Feel free to handle your own projects however you wish, but the only consistent recommendation you’ll see here is to use a proper levelshifter as described in the KB.
That’s the resuilt of more than a few years and many more than a few LED projects worth of experience around the globe.
. Back then i used a lott of internet guidelines who all worked with 20awg cables. Later when i discoverd the product of Quinled i also started to make use of 16 and 18 awg cables. Just to make clear, i use different 20 awg lines, not just one and i use 12awg cable between the digquad and the powersupply.