# WS2815 not lighting up anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Issues\ **Created:** [December 31, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589 "2023-12-31T21:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/1 "2023-12-31T21:08:07Z")
So, this is my first time trying to do anything with WLED, and my first time really diving in to anything with LED strips, so I’m not sure what I did wrong, or whether I can recover from it. I flashed WLED on an ESP32-DevkitC, and attempted to get it working. Initially, no matter what setting I used in WLED, the string would only do multi-color ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/4/45dae9e6dc18089253ef40fe5a774367fc261db7.jpeg) Also, the first 10-15 LEDs we intermittent at wanting to light up. After doing some troubleshooting and trying different things, I decided to try connecting my grounds together since the ESP was being powered through my PC USB, and the strip was powered 12V through a bench power supply. When I did this, the strip went dark. Now, with or without WLED connected, applying 12V to the strip results in no lights turned on, but the strip is still pulling ~600mA of current. I’m really not sure of the next steps. Any ideas what to try next? Does it sound like my strip is ruined? ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/2 "2024-01-01T01:15:16Z")
Here’s the config: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/5/5b64ee27bdbcf781b4047951102bc27c67245f7d.png) ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/3 "2024-01-01T01:46:46Z")
What are the specs on your LEDs? Are they rated for 12V? What physical GPIO are you connected to on the ESP32? How do you know “the strip is still pulling ~600mA of current”? ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/4 "2024-01-01T02:00:12Z")
WS2815 LED Strip: Input voltage:…DC12V; Power: …60leds/m----18watt/meter LED resource:…WS2815 led(5050 SMD RGB LED with built-in improved version of ws2811 ic) LED: …Each LED is separately controlled IC Type: …Improved Version WS2815 IC(built inside the 5050 smd rgb led) of IC: …(1 IC drives 1 led chip); Pixels: …30/60/144/meter; Pitch: …16.6mm(1000/64); Grey scale: …256; Bits/color: …8-bits/color; FPC Width: …60leds/m----10mm FPC color: …White/Black PCB Protection rate …IP67 Colors: …Full color RGB, dream color changing; Cuttable:…every LED is cuttable; Working temperature…-40 ~ 70 °C Storage temperature…-50 ~ 80 °C Source life …50,000 hours ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/5 "2024-01-01T02:01:36Z")
> [@divsys](#): > > How do you know “the strip is still pulling ~600mA of current”? DC Bench Power supply has an Ammeter ![IMG_2979](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/wled/original/2X/8/8f1e2db48290cd8916aae43ee2edcc71745b43e3.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/6 "2024-01-01T02:16:59Z")
Ok, good stuff. What’s your total LED count, I’m guessing at least 300 (5m) or perhaps 600? That’s about bang on for the standby supply current of ~1mA/LED (when fully dark). Do you have a levelshifter on your data line? 12V LEDs are commonly finicky about the minimum level of their data supply. The ESP32 only puts out 3.3V at best, while all addressable LEDs need a 5V data line (regardless of their supply voltage 5V, 12V, 24V). ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/7 "2024-01-01T02:28:48Z")
> [@divsys](#): > > What’s your total LED count, I’m guessing at least 300 (5m) or perhaps 600? 1. 5m long > [@divsys](#): > > Do you have a levelshifter on your data line? No, it’s straight into GPIO 16 of the ESP32-DevkitC I don’t have a scope at the moment, but multimeter shows 0V on GPIO16 ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/8 "2024-01-01T02:39:37Z")
I honestly have no idea how these work. Is there a voltage that I can apply directly to the data line to test it? Or is it PWM? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/9 "2024-01-01T04:37:34Z")
What is your backup data connected to? It should be connected to ground. ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 4:41am UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/10 "2024-01-01T04:41:14Z")
It is. Backup data is connected to ground on the first LED, and the GND pin from the ESP32 is connected to the ground from the power supply as well. ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/11 "2024-01-01T17:06:46Z")
The data line for addressable LEDs is a 0-5V stream of pulses with a very particular timing. It must match the manufacturer’s specs for your type of LEDs (WS281x) in this case. WLED handles the timings in software, and outputs the data on the GPIO you choose (16 currently). The pulses are much too fast for a typical multimeter to read as a voltage. I have a been able to read something on the GPIO output with a frequency setting on a few meters. You can at least see the frequency change when you turn a solid colour display on and off in WLED. As mentioned, scope is the real way to see the output. You could try a different GPIO, but the more likely (and basic) issue is that the ESP32 can only output a signal up to it’s internal supply voltage of 3.3V. The LEDs need at least 3.5V to reliably recognize a Hi level on their input. The level shifter is a small IC you put in series with the data line to raise the GPIO output up to the 5V range you need. There’s a number of examples with wiring diagrams in the KB: [Other hardware and levelshifters](https://kno.wled.ge/basics/compatible-hardware/). Don’t worry about the output resistor in those diagrams, it’s not an issue for very short data runs and you’ll get good results without one. ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/12 "2024-01-01T17:12:41Z")
Ok. I’ll have a look. Strange though that it was originally lighting up, and then just stopped. I’ll try first powering the board directly rather than through the PC USB and see if that changes anything. If that doesn’t work, I’ll look into stepping up the voltage and report back. Thanks. Edit: I will have access to a scope at the end of the week, so I will be able to get more info then as well. ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/13 "2024-01-01T17:31:52Z")
The reason you were getting “something” originally, was that the ESP supply ground was not connected to the LED’s supply ground. That means the data input to the LED’s was floating at some level above LED ground. From the LED’s POV that signal was “noise”, enough to trigger some kind of display but not reliable for actual control. ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/14 "2024-01-01T17:34:35Z")
The scope will at least prove the ESP32 is actually outputting data, but you’re going to need a levelshifter for proper operation in the end. This is a very common issue with addressable LEDs and ESP type MCU’s. ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/15 "2024-01-01T17:48:27Z")
Yep, definitely going to order some of those, but for my own understanding I want to look at what’s going on so I understand it. Thanks for the help. Will let you know the results ---
**Author:** ![cynfi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/wled.discourse.group/cynfi/32/7354_2.png) [@cynfi](https://wled.discourse.group/u/cynfi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/16 "2024-03-15T20:26:52Z")
Hi MikeM, did u figure it out? ---
**Author:** ![MikeM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://wled.discourse.group/u/MikeM)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/17 "2024-03-15T21:19:02Z")
Hi, Sorry, but unfortunately I did not. It my level shifters in and was able to verify that 5V was being sent. Hooked it up to a scope and verified the signal looked correct as well no lights. I can only guess that somehow my string of lights got messed up, but I never got around to ordering a new one. I was able to get other WS2812B strings working using all the same level shifters and test equipment, but that 2815 string still sits in the same state. it draws current, but won’t light up. ---
**Author:** ![divsys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@divsys](https://wled.discourse.group/u/divsys)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/18 "2024-03-16T13:02:27Z")
You could try moving a few LEDs past the 1st and try to apply known good data. It’s possible the 1st (few) LEDs died. You’ll have to cut (disconnect) the previous LED output to try this. ---
**Author:** ![Magig\_Wled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/db5fbb/32.png) [@Magig\_Wled](https://wled.discourse.group/u/Magig_Wled)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://wled.discourse.group/t/ws2815-not-lighting-up-anymore/10589/19 "2024-03-16T15:27:55Z")
Damm Question First you did Bridge the GROUND from 12V Source LED toLED stripe and to the ESP Main Ground there are 2 Individuall GND on the Chip DATA port Related What levelshifter do you use some are way to slow for the transmission to the Strip Ws2815 the WS2812 and 11 arem ore Timetolerandt as the WS2815 is Failsafe and do other timings REDUCE the WLED LED Count to 50 or so and see if there are lightning IMPORTENT the WS2815 are RGB nit GRB so change this