How to control lots of Neopixel

[osc]

Hey guys, I hope someone help me~

Currently, I bought M5stack Gray and just started programming with UIflow.
I want to control five led strip which has 144 leds-WS2822B each.
I found out that M5stack doesn't have enough amps like 500mA. I hope you could answer which I should connect to M5stack.

Thank you!

[ajb2k3]

@osc said in How to control lots of Neopixel:

Hey guys, I hope someone help me~

Currently, I bought M5stack Gray and just started programming with UIflow.
I want to control five led strip which has 144 leds-WS2822B each.
I found out that M5stack doesn't have enough amps like 500mA. I hope you could answer which I should connect to M5stack.

Thank you!

For higher power loads you need to supply additional power to the Strips.
See this video on how i made a cable to provide the extra power
https://youtu.be/7MP_eG3U2So

[Thrasher]

You need external power supply and connected grounds with stack device. Count drain of single led as 30 mA

[osc]

@ajb2k3
Thank you for your reply and movie url!
I understand supply additional power from port of usb-c.
I would like to know your device between your made cable and mobile battery.
And I will supply that from AC[single phase] 100V 15A. So should I need a AC-DC converter like above url?
https://amzn.to/2Swk7s4

[osc]

@thrasher

Thank you for your reply~
So I need more than 21A !!
I wonder if M5Stack can do with huge amp...

[ajb2k3]

@osc you will need a slightly different cable to use the PSU and you would connect like this.

[Thrasher]

You can actually power up arduino/m5stack from USB or any other source, just make sure all grounds are connected (black wire)

[osc]

@ajb2k3

Thank you for nice tips!
I understand how PSU and then, I'm researching how connect multiple LED strips.
I think I just need a hub for controlling each strips.
Maybe like above unit?
https://m5stack.com/products/pahub-unit?_pos=2&_sid=469853686&_ss=r

[osc]

@thrasher
I hope I can make it with supplying from USB Power like Apple USB adaptor!
Could you tell me more detail about that?

[ajb2k3]

@osc all each strip needs is data and gnd from the M5Stack. My lead can be used on any USB adapter that can provide enough power. The power supply you linked to only needs the 5V and gnd connected to the strip but both the supply and the M5Stack must have the gnd connected together.

In addition if you have a pattered you want duplicated on a second strip you can connect strips together in parallel

[Thrasher]

@osc Considering strip will drain >10 A current you can compare it with apple adaptor output. Strips usually come with power source unit which provide heavy load

[osc]

@ajb2k3
Thank you for your kind explanation!
So I almost can't M5Stack's unit cable which I bought haha.
I just wonder which pins of M5Stack could I connect to?
I know M5Stack has only two DAC pins.
Could you tell me which good extension device??
thank you so much!

[osc]

@thrasher
Thank you for you good tips!
So I should two adaptor like below.
https://amzn.to/3bN7tfR
or this? That's too expensive..
https://www.sanwa.co.jp/product/syohin.asp?code=ACA-IP64

[Thrasher]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000385799147.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.398a3026DnIolq&algo_pvid=018f702f-143e-4ac7-b710-40149cfef11f&algo_expid=018f702f-143e-4ac7-b710-40149cfef11f-1&btsid=0b8b035c15819462182664106ee8a3&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

16$ for 20A one

[osc]

@thrasher
Thank you for your fast reply!
I would check my schedule!~

[ajb2k3]

@osc Port A is ok for RGB LEDS, all you need to do is provide additional pins to the black and red wires.
Black, white and yellow remain connected between the M5Stack snd the leds
I need to make a picture :(
@Thrasher not all LED strips come with power supplies, Most RGB/neopixel/WS2812/SK6812 come without power supplies.

[osc]

@ajb2k3
Thank you for your precise explanation!
So I can still use M5Stack's unit cable and PaHub!

I checked PaHub code above example here and tried to use UIflow.
https://docs.m5stack.com/#/en/unit/pahub

But I can't click the number and can't expect how programming..
Maybe I have to ask other question thread~
Thank you so much!

V14.3

[osc]


[ajb2k3]

@osc Looks like you have discovered a bug however you don't need the hub to control the LEDS
Also you dont need the i2c block

[osc]

@ajb2k3
So how could I add more pin for controlling five strips each from portA??