# WS2811 COB 24V, 2023 strip works but 2024 strips wont **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276 "2024-07-21T12:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 12:20pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/1 "2024-07-21T12:20:22Z")
Hi all, I’m in the proces of figuring out what led strips to place in my ceiling. Running some tests before ordering the 10 roll’s which will fit nicely into the grooves of my Rockfon drop ceiling. I came across the FCOB RGB IC LED Strip WS2811 Addressable 720 LEDs on 24V Went ahead and bought one strip end of '23 Fast forward, bought an 620 strip in 2024, but couldn’t manage to get it working. I thought must be the change in leds/m. Bought an 720 LED in may '24, and same issue’s as the 620. My digital wires are short, and I even added a level shifter. (not the prefferd 125 one, those arrive tomorrow) But now it comes: Change to old '23 strip; all works fine without level shifter controlling from my ESP32 board. Change to '24 strip, and all is off, there is no way I can get it to work, first LED is always different and much static and flashes and wrong colors. Anyway; looking closely at the strips I see that there are differences in IC’s on the LED strip. There has been a hardeware change, which makes these strips much harder (if not impossible) to control with ESP32. BTF lightning has also added a warning on their product site that it won’t work with ESP32/WLED. Did they make changes to only work with their own controllers? Do these hardware changes explain the difference in results i’m reading, although thinking we use the same strip? ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/2 "2024-07-21T14:33:18Z")
Couple of things come to mind: Stabilize your playing field first - working without a **proper** levelshifter in your scenario is probably going to waste a huge amount of your time. The fact that the _same_ LED strips are showing big signs of compatibility issues from last year to this year usually means there’s a basic manufacturing issue. The warning about not working with WLED doesn’t bode well either. The basic code in WLED is based on the Neopixelbus library which has a long history of being one the most stable driver for all kinds of addressable LEDs. My instincts would say they’re trying to sell a run of goods that aren’t up to snuff. I’d personally call their BS, stay away and/or find another supplier. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/3 "2024-07-21T14:43:53Z")
Correct Levelshifter is due tomorrow, hoping for the best! But still, why does the white '23 strip works flawelessly, and in exact the same setup the black '24 strip is not even able to show a solid single color without erros. While I visually see difference in SMD… One strip was from Amazon BTF store (the working one) Other one was from BTF on aliexpress, came in the known “bag” so i never thought of it could be fake? ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/4 "2024-07-21T14:50:20Z")
As I said: > [@divsys](#): > > My instincts would say they’re trying to sell a run of goods that aren’t up to snuff. I’d personally call their BS, stay away and/or find another supplier. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/5 "2024-07-21T16:29:16Z")
Just ordered a 720 COB RGB 24V White as well as black PCB. Let me check if the difference is due tue time beteween orders, or they have a different build for different PCB color. I will also try to use one pice of white PCB as level shifter for the black strip while awaiting my level shifters to arive, just to see what that does. I read a lot of people are having issue’s on these WS2811 COB strips, and a change in hardware resulting in huge difference in compatibility would explain the different experiences people are having. ---
**Author:** ![kilrah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/kilrah/32/5927_2.png) [@kilrah](https://wled.discourse.group/u/kilrah)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/6 "2024-07-21T17:33:45Z")
I’d expect the difference to be more due to the 620/720 led variants rather than batch/defect, the series/parallel layout is likely different which has different tolerance on the signal, just like 5V 5050 strips usually work without levelshifter but the 12/24V ones don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/7 "2024-07-21T17:42:56Z")
Time of events: white PCB 720 2023, works great no need for level shifters and tested up to 80 FPS black PCB 620 2024, no way of getting it to work, bust be the 620 vs 720 i thought. black PCB 720 2024, can’t get it to work not even slightly So i am comparing 720 to 720, and the acceptence difference for data is huge. just placed a 2 led piece of the 2023 in front of the 2024 and it works great now with no level shifter whatsoever. advised level shifters will be tested when received. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 10:53am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/8 "2024-07-22T10:53:40Z")
Received a reply from BTF themself: "Regarding your questions, what we have known from the tech and production departments, the process is currently upgraded, so there will be some impact on this. For now, we do not recommend you to use WLED to work with FCOB RGB IC 720 LED Strip." ---
**Author:** ![kilrah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/kilrah/32/5927_2.png) [@kilrah](https://wled.discourse.group/u/kilrah)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/9 "2024-07-22T18:51:19Z")
I have 2 rolls of it coming that I ordered a week ago, so I’ll see… ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/10 "2024-07-22T21:00:17Z")
White or Black PCB? Would love to know how it works out for you, and what setup. If you get them to work they are great and so bright. ---
**Author:** ![kilrah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/kilrah/32/5927_2.png) [@kilrah](https://wled.discourse.group/u/kilrah)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/11 "2024-07-22T21:21:07Z")
I have some 12V 720 black PCB I bought last November, this will be 24V 720 white PCB ---
**Author:** ![kilrah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/kilrah/32/5927_2.png) [@kilrah](https://wled.discourse.group/u/kilrah)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/12 "2024-07-30T21:16:21Z")
Working fine ![IMG_20240727_104232](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/f/f1c1bcf2ffcd8dd4fc3a99af8d560f16fd967b07.jpeg) ![IMG_20240728_114037](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/6/672dc5ab0c064ee085dd8768b9360aee53e776a6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/13 "2024-08-01T19:21:34Z")
Good to hear it’s working for you! In the meanwhile I have received 1 meter black and 1 meter white of the WS2811 I wired up the levelshifter on a board but it just doesn’t work. Now it might be the cables on the board so soldering is next step. But the thing is, when i connect the old white PCB, it works perfectly. So this tells me that my wiring is fine. The non working strips don’t even come close to do one second what they are supposed to do. random flickering allover. Starting to think i might invest in some digiquad’s, but i do wonder if even they work with this updated WS2811. tbc. ---
**Author:** ![kilrah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/kilrah/32/5927_2.png) [@kilrah](https://wled.discourse.group/u/kilrah)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/14 "2024-08-01T21:58:49Z")
What shifter? In the photo with the roll what i have is an i2c shifter with 1k resistor mod. On the lamp the RGB strip is actually chained to the SPI CCT white strip, white-\>rgb-\>white-\>rgb chain, with the first white strip supplied by a C3 with no shifter. Haven’t tried the RGB without shifter yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/15 "2024-08-02T14:13:30Z")
First try was with these, but failed (also for old WS2811 strip) > **[Level Converter, Level Shifter, 15 Stücke 4-Kanal Pegelwandler, Bi Directional...](https://www.amazon.de/Converter-Shifter-Pegelwandler-Directional-Konverter/dp/B0CJ6PD2GR)** > > Der Stromeingang ist mit einem Verpolungsschutz ausgestattet, integriertem 3.3VLDO und kann einen externen Strom von nicht mehr als 150 mA liefern. Es kann die bidirektionale Umwandlung des 3V-5V-Pegels von UART-, IIC-, 1-Draht-, SPI- und anderen... Now ordered the 74AHCT125 and works with old WS2811 but not with the current. BTF has made a change in SMD’s (visible different) and since then they have become very hard if not impossible to control. Only way I can get the current WS2811 to work is by adding a piece of old WS2811. I will make some pics of the difference in PCB so you guys can check if you have “old” or “new” type. ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/16 "2024-08-02T18:21:48Z")
Please also post pics of your general wiring, especially for the new 74AHCT125. It’s very important that chip be wired and connected properly in order for everything to be stable. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/17 "2024-08-02T18:35:29Z")
You could try sticking a [Falcon F-Amp](https://pixelcontroller.com/store/accessories/53-famp.html) in front of the strip to see if it works. ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/18 "2024-08-02T20:29:58Z")
> [@Jackel](#): > > r Falcon F-amp is 5-12V not for 24V unfortunately, but thanks for your input! I will be using the connection scheme from the Wled knowledge: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/b/bccdcf21e150f5507d11dfaccff369673634ddb3.jpeg) 100nF will receive tomorrow. I shall upload pictures of my setup and the difference in PCB strips as soon as i’m done soldering. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/19 "2024-08-02T20:46:19Z")
> [@Jackel](#): > > Falcon F-amp is 5-12V not for 24V Ah yea. Sorry I forgot you were using 24v. If all else fails you could make the F-Amp work if you powered it from your Esp’s 5v pin & ground and only used the Amp’s Data out and not it’s power out to connect to your LEDs (assuming the amp would actually fix your problem) ---
**Author:** ![Jackel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jackel](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jackel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276/20 "2024-08-07T17:12:29Z")
Update: starting soldering from scratch. Still a lot of flicker and error but seems to be better when i touched the ESP32 touching usb casing on the ESP32 seems to make things more stable, so grounding issue. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/5/5b95a32ab9ac81570e24ddcfe12618b328a22e7b.png) ESP32 is connected like this. Can I use the open GND on the top right for grounding? Assuming all grounds on ESP32 are connected. I would like different ground points; The negative on the 24 to 5 convertor which powers all except the strip The negative on the 230V to 24V transformer which powers strip and convertor (thus closing the whole circuit?) Still need to install a resistor on data chanel too, but first let me figure out this grounding issue. [Next page](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2811-cob-24v-2023-strip-works-but-2024-strips-wont/12276.md?page=2)