element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
DIY Test Equipment
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Project14
  • DIY Test Equipment
  • More
  • Cancel
DIY Test Equipment
Blog Portable addressable led strip tester
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Events
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join DIY Test Equipment to participate - click to join for free!
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Group Actions
  • Group RSS
  • More
  • Cancel
Engagement
  • Author Author: den_olli
  • Date Created: 8 Sep 2017 12:19 PM Date Created
  • Views 2144 views
  • Likes 2 likes
  • Comments 15 comments
  • diytestequipch
Related
Recommended

Portable addressable led strip tester

den_olli
den_olli
8 Sep 2017

in the office building I work we have DIY addressable led strips surrounding every floor of the building to make it glow at night. It's a part of my job to maintain this setup and unfortunately the setup breaks down a lot.

 

We we got a defect then I have to open up the sealing and get the 3m long led bar out and take it to the warehouse to test the led strip. I have already bought a wireless soldering iron so I can do small repairs without taking the led strip out of the sealing, but I still need to get it out if I want to connect it to the test unit.

 

It would really be great if I would have sort of a portable addressable led strip tester, that can run the following tests

- put all led's to red

- put all led's to green

- put all led's to blue

- put all led's to white

- slow nightrider mode 1 led at a time

- put all led's to black (off)

 

this would save me a lot of time and I guess it would be a great tool for everyone that uses addressable led strips in there projects

I'm trying to figure out a way to make such tester, but the main problem I have is how to deliver enough power for the 3 meter long led strip?

  • Sign in to reply

Top Comments

  • dougw
    dougw over 7 years ago +3
    You can buy low cost commercial controllers for ws2812 or whatever led type you have or make your own... https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/arduino-library
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 7 years ago in reply to den_olli +3
    Hi Olivier, How frequently is there a failure? And how long could it take to fix the failure, if you had a test tool? Even if it takes just 30 minutes to fix, this is very expensive, considering the aliexpress…
  • gadget.iom
    gadget.iom over 7 years ago +2
    Do you know what make/model the LED strips are? How may LED's need testing by the unit?
  • guillaume9433
    guillaume9433 over 7 years ago in reply to den_olli

    Hi oliver , can you post your fix instalation schematic and one for what you imagine for testing ?

    (are you frensh?)

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • mcb1
    mcb1 over 7 years ago in reply to den_olli

    but then I need to be able to proof first that it isn't safe

    In that vein then, are you able to take detailed photos of the connections (ie not the actual controller details).

     

    We can offer some advice, and points for futher testing that would allow you to put together a report to your management.

     

    I have no actual issue with the LED's but I do think the way they manage the DC load could be improved to make it safer, reliable and much easier to manage.

     

     

     

    Mark

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • den_olli
    den_olli over 7 years ago in reply to mcb1

    I don't know a lot about the custom controller, but I know that the power of the strips is via 1,5mm wires instead of the default wires an that it's connected to a few places on the strip.

    And to be honest, I'm also not convinced that there design is save. I want to make it better and safer, but then I need to be able to proof first that it isn't safe

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • mcb1
    mcb1 over 7 years ago in reply to shabaz

    It appears the power supply is here.

    RS-150-MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply Manufacturer

     

    It has a hiccup type overload system, but that doesn't help the wiring issues.

    I also struggle with the connectors that are shown in the photo.

    26A is a lot to expect form the style used, unless they feed the DC from both ends.

     

    As we know breaking the sections up into smaller size is a better option, esecially when the LED concentration is so high.

     

     

    Mark

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 7 years ago in reply to mcb1

    mcb1 wrote:

     

    It sounds very much that the system was not designed to be easily serviced (sadly a common problem)

     

    It is probably a fire hazard too. From the photo, I can't believe those wires are anything other than low-temperature flammable hobby grade stuff, with a 26A-capable supply connected. Probably unfused too, so prossibility of flames when (I won't even say 'if') a short occurs. It is extreme incompetence to fit such a huge amount of aliexpress sourced lighting into a building.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
>
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube