RGB Icicles

[Andy2000]

I have theses icicles from Ray:


http://www.aliexpress.com/item/individually-LED-full-color-Icicles-string-DC12V-WS2811-controlled-all-white-wire-IP68-60nodes-set/32310871722.html


I would like to join 2 sets together but to limit current draw on the controller was going to power them from both ends. Is this ok or do i need to cut the positive between the 2 sets?


Thanks

 

[ShellNZ]

Powering from both ends is fine, you dont need to cut the +ve wire unless you are injecting the end with a different power supply than the first one, if that makes sense

 

[Andy2000]

Yep makes total sense, exactly what i thought

 

[Andy2000]

If I inject with a different power supply do I just connect the negatives between the power supplies or cut the positive between both sets?

 

[ShellNZ]

If using 2 diff power supplies then yes you continue to run the ground and data from one strip to the next but yes cut the +ve wire. So one strip will have +ve/-ve/data at the start, only the -ve/data will go to next strip and at the end? of that you add the +ve and -ve wires. That way all grounds are connected.

 

[Andy2000]

Thanks. I have read somewhere to also connect the negatives of the 2 power supplies. Is this needed?

 

[ShellNZ]

You can also do that but they are already essentially connected together by both of them connecting via the strip.

 

[i13]

With two power supplies it is just the same as with one power supply except that you have to cut the positive line half way between them. Don't cut the negative. That way the negative is connected between the power supplies as this is required if they're powering the same run of pixels.

 

[Andy2000]

Done as suggested, powered up and tested. All good!


Thanks for the help