LED strips

I

ipodmusicman

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Hi folks,

My 2021 project is going to be all about LED strips. I have an outside thatched braai area whereby I want to put down LED strips around the border under the thatch. I plan to use WLED on an ESP8266 and LEDFx to do sound-to-light. I can imagine that it is going to be awesome.

So, the LED strips that I want to install are the SK6812 RGBWW variety. Reason is that I can turn on the warm white and switch to the flashing disco light mode to get the party started. LOL.

I was hoping to source all the components locally due to avoiding waiting 10 years for delivery from China, but it seems that NONE of the local guys are selling SK6812 LED strips, not to mention WS2812B either! And I cannot find 3 pin snap connectors, corners and jumper leads/connectors either. The LED strips that are sold here are those cheap and nasty ones they sell on Takealot. Yes, if you want a solid colour or some odd colour combining individual big LEDs, then that is fine, but the really cool stuff can be done with SK6812 or WS2812B.

The only component that I can source here are the aluminium channels with defuser covers into which I'll place the strips into, the power supply, an ESP8266 Node MCU (which I have already), etc.

Has anybody found any local suppliers of such LED strips and accessories? I think I know the answer to this one, but this forum sometimes does surprise me. :)

Personal experiences would be awesome.
 
ACDC has a fairy extensive range of LED ships in stock in country. Download the catalogue and have a look

Anything else you can use banggood and select "tax free" shipping and it is by your door in 2 weeks (they have an "arrangement" with customs to get it to you quickly with that shipping method)
 
I've got to say that AC/DC is impressive! I've never been to one, but it is a sight to behold. I might just walk out with stuff I don't need if I go. lol

But checking their catalogue, they mostly sell 5050 or 3528 based LED strips which are not individually addressable, not to mention not compatible with WLED. I'll go there and speak to them in person and see what comes out of it.

Checked Banggood .. interestingly though, they don't specifically list SK6812, but found WS2812B in RGBW variety which I've never seen. Posted to the WLED forum to confirm.

Regarding the tax free option, does it arrive via SAPO? Surely if this is the case, I risk loosing my package considering the Post Office's rather shoddy reputation.
 
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ipodmusicman said:
I've got to say that AC/DC is impressive! I've never been to one, but it is a sight to behold. I might just walk out with stuff I don't need if I go. lol

But checking their catalogue, they mostly sell 5050 or 3528 based LED strips which are not individually addressable, not to mention not compatible with WLED. I'll go there and speak to them in person and see what comes out of it.

Checked Banggood .. interestingly though, they don't specifically list SK6812, but found WS2812B in RGBW variety which I've never seen. Posted to the WLED forum to confirm.

Regarding the tax free option, does it arrive via SAPO? Surely if this is the case, I risk loosing my package considering the Post Office's rather shoddy reputation.
Click to expand...
Tax free option arrives via Buffalo courier to SA. Then same if in Gauteng. If in Cape Town like me, last mile is either fast way or pargo. Only happened to receive via pargo once luckily. Not the worst but clicks is annoyingly slow.
 
Hi folks, I thought I'd continue this thread. So, I have 5 roles of SK6812 LED strips just waiting to be installed. I have the PSU, a Geewiss box to mount the PSU and controller into. Now just waiting for the DigQuad to be in stock.

I just say, trying to source the aluminum channels that I could physically touch and see was a mission and a half. I had to go to Future Light themselves to see them as ACDC does not have channels in their Cape Town store. The one I like from Future Light is what they call "LED Profile Dynamic Slim. At R299 per 2m is a bit more than what I was hoping to pay, but got a 2m length to try out and they fit very well - even comes with end-caps and clips too. I find that SA retailers really don't put much effort in the description of items ... finding these channels on Amazon included the fact that they fit 12mm strips and so forth.

So, if anybody can point me in the direction of the same type of channel that can take 12mm strips, U-shaped, about 10-11m in height, but at a better price, let me know - and please comment based on personal experience? Must be sourced locally.

All I can say is that WLED is awesome! Add LEDfx for sound-to-light is even cooler and don't get me started on xLights! I cannot wait to get all this installed.

And then the big question, what wire should I use from the PSU to the strip - about 2-3m between them. Based on what I read online, 0.6amps per 30 LEDs/m and I plan to do about 20m, so 12amps, so looking for 3 core wire (red, white, green) as I like to match things up properly.
 
ipodmusicman said:
Hi folks, I thought I'd continue this thread. So, I have 5 roles of SK6812 LED strips just waiting to be installed. I have the PSU, a Geewiss box to mount the PSU and controller into. Now just waiting for the DigQuad to be in stock.

I just say, trying to source the aluminum channels that I could physically touch and see was a mission and a half. I had to go to Future Light themselves to see them as ACDC does not have channels in their Cape Town store. The one I like from Future Light is what they call "LED Profile Dynamic Slim. At R299 per 2m is a bit more than what I was hoping to pay, but got a 2m length to try out and they fit very well - even comes with end-caps and clips too. I find that SA retailers really don't put much effort in the description of items ... finding these channels on Amazon included the fact that they fit 12mm strips and so forth.

So, if anybody can point me in the direction of the same type of channel that can take 12mm strips, U-shaped, about 10-11m in height, but at a better price, let me know - and please comment based on personal experience? Must be sourced locally.

All I can say is that WLED is awesome! Add LEDfx for sound-to-light is even cooler and don't get me started on xLights! I cannot wait to get all this installed.

And then the big question, what wire should I use from the PSU to the strip - about 2-3m between them. Based on what I read online, 0.6amps per 30 LEDs/m and I plan to do about 20m, so 12amps, so looking for 3 core wire (red, white, green) as I like to match things up properly.
Click to expand...

12amps is quite a bit. I think 2.5mm2 wire won't be enough by a small margin so probably 4mm2 or you need to split the LEDs and wire separately. You can have a look at some solar cabling otherwise you will get automotive wire at most hardware/car spares shops. It being a lapa I'm sure you need to take extra precautions with fusing and trunking etc.
 
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MrMaheu1983 said:
I've had some problems with those stripes in the past. I tried to put them under the ceiling in the bedroom, but I couldn't get them to stick. All that worked for me was the double scotch tape.
It's still a weird fit, but it looks nice :)
Click to expand...
If it works, it works :)
 
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