WS2814 Control Problem

Issues
1

Hi everyone, is there anyone here who can help me with a setup involving a WS2814, an ESP32-WROOM-32D (currently powered via USB-C),
a 12V power supply,
and WLED versions 16.0.1/15.0.3
Despite having done countless WLED projects, I can’t get this one to work. The LEDs aren’t responding to changes made in the WLED GUI.
JSON calls go through successfully (returning “OK”), but there is no change in the LEDs.

12V is reaching the LED strip (5m).
The 12V GND is connected to the ESP GND (I wasn’t entirely sure about this part).
D17 >> Strip DI (unfortunately, I don’t have an oscilloscope).

The wires connecting to the strip are 5 cm long.

I’ve already tried every possible configuration setting:
SK6812 / WS2814 RGBW
BRG
W & G
GPIO17 (tried 16 previously)
RMT 20

2

Do you use a levelshifter?
My experience is, SK6812rgbw works unstable with 3,3V level and WS2814 and WS2805 (12 & 24V Stripes) do nothing and needs 5V logic level mandantory.
I use SN74LVC1T45 levelshifter. Mc Gyver solutions, like I2C shifter with a simple MOSFET I don’t trust :wink: