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- CONNECTION TO WS2811 LEDS
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CONNECTIONS TO FAST LEDS
LOOKING AT THE CAD FILE IMAGE, IT CAN BE SEEN THAT NO POWER IS PRESENT TO START WITH.
A USB SPLITTER CABLE CAN BE PLUGGED IN TO THE SOURCE SUPPLY, THEN LEDLABS AT THE USB PORT, THIS WOULD ALLOW POWER FOR THE LEDLABS PCB ITSELF AND ALSO THE BLUETOOTH CONTROLLER FOR THE LIGHTS
CONNECTING THE 3 PIN CABLE TO 5V DIN AND 0V AND COUPLING IT UP TO THE BLUETOOTH CONTROLLER, THE OTHER END OF THIS CONTROLLER IS USB AND CAN BE CONNECTED TO THE USB SPLITTER AS MENTIONED, THEN THE LIGHTS ARE POWERED.
IF NOT USING A CONTROLLER LIKE THIS THE LIGHTS STILL REQUIRE POWER.
BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, IT MAY BE CONTROLLED BY SAY THE ATMEGA MICRO, IN THAT CASE THE 5V AND 0V OF THE 3 INPUTS WOULD REQUIRE LINKING TO THE BELOW 5V AND 0V, TO SUPPLY POWER TO THEM. THEN JUST THE DATA IN FROM A MICRO ETC WOULD NEED CONNECTING TO DIN.
THE LEDS HAVE A FLAT SIDE, THIS IS USUALLY DENOTED BY THE CATHODE, HERE IT REPRESENTS DATA OUT AND SHOULD FOLLOW THE SILK SCREEN LEGEND.
AS THIS IS QUITE A DIFFICULT AREA TO COMPLETE DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF SOME OF THE SOLDER PADS, IT MAY BE WORTH SOLDERING 4-5 LEDS STARTING AT THE TOP LEFT AND CONNECTING THEM TO THE CONTROLLER AS WAY OF TESTING. AS THEY ARE A SERIAL CONNECTION, IF ONE IS INCORRECT IT WOULD STOP THE REST OF THE CHAIN.
OTHER USEFUL TIPS: CUTTING DOWN THE PINS OF THE LEDS FIRST BEFORE SOLDERING, SO JUST A LITTLE PROTRUDES THROUGH THE PCB.
A SMALL TIP AND 1MM SOLDER OR HALF 1 MM SOLDER.
THEY CAN BE SOLDERED WITH A STANDARD TIP, IF A SOLDER BRIDGE OCCURS, CLEAN THE TIP AND PULL THE IRON THROUGH THE BRIDGED PINS UNTIL CLEAR.
SOLDER BRAID AND FLUX WOULD BE USEFUL HERE AS AN AID.
LOOKING AT THE CAD FILE, THE 5 SILVER LARGE ROUND PADS UNDER THE LARGE LED SECTION HAVE NO CONNECTIONS, THEY JUST ACT AS EXTRA HEAT SINKS, ALTHOUGH AS THEY ARE UNDER POWERED (NOT SET FOR THEIR MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS) AS IN 350mA DETERMINED BY THE 22R RESISTORS ETC,THEY ARE SET TO AROUND 110mA AT BEST. AND STILL OFFER HIGH BRIGHTNESS.
USING THEUSB PORT AND THE FAST LED SECTION, TURNING DOWN THE BRIGHTNESS TO AROUND HALF WAY IS RECOMMENDED, AND STILL OFFER BRIGHT DISPLAYS AT THIS LOWER BRIGHTNESS LEVEL. THE DC POWER ADAPTOR OPTION SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED.