# Syncing Multiple ESP32s for Synchronized Effects on 2000 WS2811 LEDs

**URL:** <https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601 "2023-06-26T17:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@WLD](https://wled.discourse.group/u/WLD)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601/1 "2023-06-26T17:35:10Z")

</div>

Hello WLED Universe,

Hope you’ll are doing well.

I’ve a question regarding my holiday project, I want to use 20 ws2811 Led strings of 100 led per string (20x100 = 2000 Leds), planning to use 2 ESP32s modules to handle 10 + 10 stings (10 strings per ESP for best effects visualization). I want all 20 strings to work in sync, I don’t want to use AP or external router as it may fail something to synchronize when ESPs restart after power outage/cut.

is there any method/way to connect two ESP32 to communicate/Sync as server/client or master/slave using fixed wired (TX/RX or GPIO) connection between two WLED controllers so that all WLED effects/patterns is visible across 20x100 Leds as whole, please note both ESPs are at same place/board.

Let me know if you require any details here or not able to understand my point.

Thanks in Advance,  
WLD

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gbd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5ac83/32.png) [@gbd](https://wled.discourse.group/u/gbd)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601/2 "2023-06-26T21:43:19Z")

</div>

Hello WLD,

I’m assuming that you intend to sync standard WLED presets (via JSON API) – i.e. in contrast to some other “exotic” holiday lighting setup like, say, xLights/WLED. In this case, you probably could introduce a third (non-WLED) ESP to your board to serve as a “master”, and borrow from the [_WLED JSON API over serial_](https://github.com/miwied/wled-json-api-over-serial) example:

- cross-wire the UARTs: master ESP RX and TX to each slave ESP TX and RX, resp (… sharing the UART grounds of course)
- (non-WLED) master ESP implements a simple loop over your set of WLED preset JSON (e.g. copy-pasted from a WLED slave ESP’s web UI into a table of _C++_ strings or _C_ char arrays on the master ESP).

Also check this [_discussion_](https://github.com/Aircoookie/WLED/issues/2557) out for more on Arduino-core serial communications issues – particularly Hardware vs. Software serial.

Hope this helps!  
Gbd

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@WLD](https://wled.discourse.group/u/WLD)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601/3 "2023-06-27T00:22:20Z")

</div>

Thanks @gbd for response, I’m not sure if this will solve my problem.  
I just want to connect 20 parallel ws2812 Led strings of 100 leds per string & play effects with WLED, problem is I can’t connect all 20 strings to single ESP so I would need multiple ESPs but the concern is how to sync all ESPs together (without using WiFi/AP i.e need hardware sync) to play all patterns/effects on 20x100 Leds seamlessly.

Please let me know if this can be solved.

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gbd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5ac83/32.png) [@gbd](https://wled.discourse.group/u/gbd)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601/4 "2023-06-27T03:51:33Z")

</div>

This is what I mean:

 ![wled-json-api-over-serial-sync](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/7/70f8aadd45e6d8c028b76160f9848dc643bbc6d4.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gbd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5ac83/32.png) [@gbd](https://wled.discourse.group/u/gbd)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/syncing-multiple-esp32s-for-synchronized-effects-on-2000-ws2811-leds/8601/5 "2023-06-27T04:48:51Z")

</div>

BTW, have you also considered other non-IP based WLED interfaces such as [_infrared_](https://kno.wled.ge/interfaces/infrared/) or GPIO button press via [_macros_](https://kno.wled.ge/features/macros/)?