Selecting LED strip (new config)

[fedor-1987]

Good afternoon, dear @awawa-dev, I started assembling my system.
What has already been purchased:

• Raspberry Pi 4 2GB
• MeanWell LRS-150F-5 PSU
• RP2040-zero + SN74AHCT125
• EZ-SP12H21 splitter
• MS2130s grabber

All that remains is to purchase the LED strip.
If look at the wiki, it is recommended now.

• SK6812 | RGBW Cold White version, 5V

I saw your comments about the BTF manufacturer.

Personally I have rather a bad experience with BTF led strips.

• New SK6812 with 3.3V MCU support #726 (reply in thread)

There are others with a higher sales volume (Xnbada, Xunata, Tnalant).
Maybe you can recommend something from yourself?

[awawa-dev]

Hey, maybe I just had bad luck, but the only LEDs that ever broke on me (and I've had quite a few) were from them - and they failed in catastrophic way. You can't rule out that they all just churn them out in a few factories anyway, and maybe the LED chips themselves are supplied to the consumer market by just one factory, although the further assembly is obviously hugely important too. I cant remember the other brands I used, some were no-names but there was nothing wrong with them.

[fedor-1987]

Thanks for the quick response.

I looked at the reviews from other customers on the product page;
BTF really doesn't have the best support in case of defective product disputes.
They either don't respond or refuse a replacement or compensation.
Also, judging by the reviews, sometimes they send a cheaper version of the "Eco" tape (lower power, worse copper tracks), although they buy the regular version.

I'll order from - Xnbada.

[awawa-dev]

Every time I come across the term 'Eco', given my experiences in EU so far, a red flag goes up that I’m dealing with something flawed but camouflaged by greenwashing - for instance, being way less durable than traditional solutions. And in that model, they probably just capped the power (so they shine dimmer) and eureka: we have 'eco'.

P.S.: Now I need to figure out how to solder the RP2040 board and the level shifter chip

You can buy Pico board with built-in level shifter. Also support for newer rp2350 is almost done (check PR in the HyperSerialPico)

[fedor-1987]

And in that model, they probably just capped the power (so they shine dimmer) and eureka: we have 'eco'.

If study the product description, you will see that some strips have a power of 18 W/m with 60 diodes/m, while others have a power of 12 W/m.

You can buy Pico board with built-in level shifter.

I saw that such boards exist, but ordering them isn't cost-effective for me.
I can only order them through a third-party intermediary service, and in that case, the shipping costs will be high.
The cost of the board + 40% commission for the purchase by the intermediary and a minimum delivery cost of $20.

Also support for newer rp2350 is almost done (check PR in the HyperSerialPico)

I've already ordered the 2040 version.
I don't think the 2350 will be an advantage in this project. But I could be wrong.

[AstaRom]

P.S.: Now I need to figure out how to solder the RP2040 board and the level shifter chip 😄

RP2040-zero + SN74AHCT125

---

HyperSerialPico

HyperSerialPico + Multi-Segment

HyperSPI

HyperSPI + Multi-Segment

---

On this page contains two examples of wiring diagrams (standard and simplified).

[fedor-1987]

This is exactly what I needed. It's just right for me, it shows exactly what to connect and where.
Considering that I don't know much about electronics 😄

[awawa-dev]

I don't think the 2350 will be an advantage in this project. But I could be wrong.

Currently, that adds one more board with a built-in level shifter and a fairly low price tag (compared to other RP2350s): https://botland.store/led-strips-panels-drivers/25395-plasma-2350-driver-for-addressable-rgb-leds-pimoroni-pim723-0769894025857.html Otherwise, the RP2350 is complete overkill for HyperSerialPico compared to the RP2040.