The LED strip I used is a WS2805 RGB CCT 24V, 5 meters long, with 60 LEDs per meter, and has IP67 protection. I powered it with a 230V AC to 24V DC transformer and also used a 24V DC to 5V DC converter for the ESP-WROOM-32.
I installed WLED 0.15.0-b6 (build 2410140) on the ESP32.
Connections and Performance
Initially, during testing, I powered the ESP32 using a phone charger and connected the LED strip to the 24V transformer. The strip would light up but showed a lot of flickering, and it didn’t respond to color changes through the WLED app.
After trying various configurations in WLED and adjusting settings, I decided to connect the GND of the ESP32 to the negative terminal of the 24V power supply for the LED strip. This resolved the flickering issue.
When I tried powering the ESP32 using the 5V converter connected to the 24V transformer, I assumed that since it shared the same circuit as the LED strip, connecting the GND wouldn’t be necessary. However, this caused the LED strip to work correctly except for the first 5 or 6 LEDs, which still had issues.
Finally, I reconnected the GND of the ESP32 to the negative terminal of the LED strip, and everything started working properly again.
WLED Configuration
In WLED, I selected the WS2805 RGBCW configuration. I set the current limiter to 7000 mA to ensure the strip operated at full power, considering it could draw up to 6.25A with 150W.
Physical Installation
I installed the strip in the bathroom, using an aluminum profile with a diffuser: Surface-mount aluminum LED strip profile, low, 17x7mm, 2 meters long.
I used three 2-meter bars of the profile for the installation.
Conclusion
- Pros: After resolving the GND connection issue, the LED strip works without flickering and responds well to commands from the WLED app. The power configuration is flexible, and the aluminum profile helps to diffuse the light evenly.
- Cons: Initial testing was challenging due to issues with the GND connection. Additionally, some LEDs malfunctioned until the power supply setup was corrected.
Overall, I am satisfied with the outcome after making the necessary adjustments.
Acknowledgment
Special thanks to Tsunami for their guidance and support, which helped me troubleshoot and resolve the issues with my setup.