# Random white flashing wled esp32 dev3

**URL:** <https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [December 10, 2025, 9:20am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052 "2025-12-10T09:20:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yvosound](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/yvosound/32/10146_2.png) [@yvosound](https://wled.discourse.group/u/yvosound)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:20am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052/1 "2025-12-10T09:20:57Z")

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hi all,

i’v got a lot of wled installs in my home. esp32’s and esp8266. so far working great.

thnx wled for the cool software!!

i got one setup dat recently random flashes white.

it worked good for about a year, just swaped out a new power brick and stil this issue.

checked wifi, no drop outs (got unifi enterprise setup, so can monitor it)

the install contains a esp32 dev 3 board, 2x WS2812B string. each 133 pixels.

length between esp32 and strings is less than 40 cm.

the strings got on both sides power injection.

Wled fw : 15.3

as i told earlier it worked flawless until recently…..

edit\* : i saw the other topics and there are solutions mentioned as a level shifter… , but this setup worked flawles

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**Author:** ![dedehai](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/dedehai/32/7265_2.png) [@dedehai](https://wled.discourse.group/u/dedehai)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:20am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052/2 "2025-12-10T10:20:28Z")

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perfect example for why we recommend to always use a levelshifter.

> **The mystery of the data level**
> 
> **Datasheet WS2812B**
> 
> [https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812B.pdf](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812B.pdf "https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812B.pdf")
> 
> **Needed data level of LED**
> 
> Looking at the datasheet page 3 we see that the minimal voltage for a high level input is `0.7*Vdd`.  
> `Vdd` is the supply voltage of the LED, so 5V in this case. `0.7 * 5V = 3.5V`
> 
> **Data level output of ESP**
> 
> The ESP can only output 3.3V.
> 
> **Conclusion**
> 
> The output of the ESP is in theory not high enough to drive the WS2812B LEDs.  
> A levelshifter does fix that issue by changing the datalevel from 3.3V to 5V.
> 
> **But it works without one in Video XY**
> 
> As said above: " …in theory…". Values from the Datasheet and the reality are two different things.  
> The values in the datasheet mean that it can garantee a good read of a HIGH level at 3.5V or more. It can work below 3.5V, but there is a chance does not get a good read.
> 
> **And now?**
> 
> If you want a reliable setup, then integrate a recommended levelshifter. Check the /shifter command for those.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yvosound](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/yvosound/32/10146_2.png) [@yvosound](https://wled.discourse.group/u/yvosound)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 11:39am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052/3 "2025-12-10T11:39:31Z")

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Hi thnx for your answer,

But i don’t reverence to the XY video.

And i mentioned al the other installs work fine.

And this one until not long ago.

So whats’s the catch? Latest update made the data signal less “strong” doubt that.

As i mentioned the line is shorter than 40 cm.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dedehai](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/dedehai/32/7265_2.png) [@dedehai](https://wled.discourse.group/u/dedehai)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052/4 "2025-12-10T14:09:01Z")

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that is a standard text, contents applies exactly to your case: run it out of specification, expect random things.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/random-white-flashing-wled-esp32-dev3/15052/5 "2025-12-10T21:10:10Z")

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This is also a good video from VCS from years ago. They only really talk about 5v data (levelshifted), but it is still a good breakdown of what happens to data signals. [https://www.youtube.com/live/9ttEAyiyTAI](https://www.youtube.com/live/9ttEAyiyTAI)