# New to WLED, want to make sure my set up won't fry my LEDs **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/new-to-wled-want-to-make-sure-my-set-up-wont-fry-my-leds/15546 "2026-10-12T20:36:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duncan85mt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/duncan85mt/32/10680_2.png) [@duncan85mt](https://wled.discourse.group/u/duncan85mt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/new-to-wled-want-to-make-sure-my-set-up-wont-fry-my-leds/15546/1 "2026-10-12T20:36:03Z")
So I’m totally new to WLED and I’m trying to wire up some outdoor lights for my front porch for the holidays/permanent set up. So far all the components I have are the following: ESP32 CP2102 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/c/cd7588817ed6975689cbd71b923df5d4421fc574.jpeg) 8-Channel Bidirectional SPI/I2C 5V/3.3V Logic Level Converter ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/6/6ee3dfab19512ed77f8c9cf633d59de421444bc1.jpeg) 3 in line 5A fuses 16AWG Low Voltage Landscape Wire 12v 30A Power Supply ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/6/65558f879737fd5a473e8afeb841c53e6d9d661d.jpeg) 3x BTF-LIGHTING WS2811 Addressable RGB LED Strip 16.4FT 300LED DC12V IP65 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/9/9e277727260079b770b476df8e7efb071dc838e7.jpeg) Female to Male Multicolored Dupont Wire Breadboard Jumper Ribbon Cables * * * The way I have it set up is the following: Power Supply +12V to wago connector split to 5A fuse to 12v LED for each strip Power Supply -12V to wago to all three strips, the Esp board and the Level Converter for the common ground. ESP32 Board Level Converter VIN (5v) - HV 3V3 (3.3v) - LV Rx2 - LV1 - 330Ohm resistor - DIN on strip 1 I plan on having the last two strips do to mirror each other, I have the last two strips going down the banisters on each side of the stairs. I know I can split the data line coming from the end of Strip 1 to Strip 2 and 3, and to run a separate power line for each strip. I just want to make sure my set up won’t fry anything before I turn it on. I’d appreciate any help with my set up, suggestions to improve it. Admittedly I used ChatGPT to come up with the layout but I know it can get things wrong so I’d love to get feedback. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![ArnaudTD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@ArnaudTD](https://wled.discourse.group/u/ArnaudTD)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/new-to-wled-want-to-make-sure-my-set-up-wont-fry-my-leds/15546/2 "2026-10-13T13:57:23Z")
Hi, hardware seems good but you should use an other level shifter. from [Other Hardware - WLED Project](https://kno.wled.ge/basics/compatible-hardware/#levelshifters) “I2C shifters are generally too slow for addressable LEDs, so don’t use them.” Greetings ---
**Author:** ![phoenixx](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/phoenixx/32/10691_2.png) [@phoenixx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/phoenixx)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/new-to-wled-want-to-make-sure-my-set-up-wont-fry-my-leds/15546/3 "2026-10-16T20:56:54Z")
You could use a gledopto ultra [https://a.aliexpress.com/\_EujTwxg](https://a.aliexpress.com/_EujTwxg). You can power it directly from you 12v psu, it has 2 power outputs and a fuse and when you use WLED to power off the strip it has a relay that cuts power to the strip so your psu is just powering the controller when your lights are off. It also boosts the data signal. I have one and my data wire from controller to start of led strip is 2.6m long and it works fine.