Hi, I would like to connect 5 WS2812B LED strips, each with 30 LEDs, to a single pin on the ESP32 so that they all display the same effect. Is that possible?
Thanks!
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It’s possible but generally not advised, adding more strips to a single data pin will have 2 effects:
- Each strips adds a load, a GPIO pin (or rather level-shifter which makes it 5v data-signal) only has a very limited output it can deliver, plenty for one strip but adding more it will run out of current it can generate. With the recommended level-shifters 2 strips can often work ok but starting from 3 it starts to get sketchy.
- If you are adding strips and the wires have various lengths, you will get all kinds of reflections on the data wire which will in the end ruin the data signal and nothing will work anymore.
I’d really recommend using a single data pin (level-shifter) per strip, this will make sure you get the correct results. There are various controller boards out there with multiple outputs and then you can make the strips do the same thing in software with segments.
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You can also just chain them all, set up a segment for each and give them the same effect.
thank you!