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Re: Building a Custom RGB Lighting Rig

Hey everyone,

Following up on my previous post about building a custom RGB setup. I've been experimenting with some new addressable LED strips and wanted to share my progress and some tips. I found that the WS2812B strips offer fantastic control and vibrant colors, but they can be a bit tricky to wire correctly. Make sure you have a stable power supply – undervolting will cause flickering!

Here's a basic schematic of how I connected my microcontroller (an Arduino Nano) to the strips:

// Basic Arduino sketch snippet for WS2812B control
#include <FastLED.h>

#define NUM_LEDS 60
#define DATA_PIN 6

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

void loop() {
  // Example: Set all LEDs to red
  fill_solid(leds, NUM_LEDS, CRGB::Red);
  FastLED.show();
  delay(1000);

  // Example: Set all LEDs to blue
  fill_solid(leds, NUM_LEDS, CRGB::Blue);
  FastLED.show();
  delay(1000);
}
                    

I'm also working on a custom mounting solution using 3D printed brackets and diffused channels to get a really smooth, even glow. Will share photos of that soon!

Re: Building a Custom RGB Lighting Rig

This is awesome, TechGuru! I've been struggling with the power delivery. What kind of power supply are you using for your setup? Mine keeps cutting out when I try to run more than 30 LEDs at full white.

TechGuru: ...Make sure you have a stable power supply – undervolting will cause flickering!

Any recommendations on specific PSUs or power connectors?

Re: Building a Custom RGB Lighting Rig

Great post, TechGuru! For power, I highly recommend using a dedicated 5V power supply unit (PSU). Aim for at least 4A per meter of WS2812B LEDs, and always add a capacitor (1000uF is usually good) across the power lines near the strip to smooth out voltage spikes.

Also, for longer runs, consider injecting power at multiple points along the strip to prevent voltage drop over distance. This makes a huge difference!