I just received my string of ws2811 12v rgb leds. One question: at one end there are 3 wires with no connector..Red, white, and dark blue. This is the input end according to the arrow on the back of the led...Red labeled 12v, dark blue labeled gnd, so I assume the white one is data in. At the other end on the string, there are 4 wires exiting....Red, dark blue, white; and light blue. The white and light blue are attached to a connector. What's the light blue wire's purpose?
Can you see which connector on the strip that the light blue wire is soldered to?
The light blue wire only appears on the last led on the strip, and is connected to the data wire by a male connector. I assume it's made this way so that multiple strings could be attached with the data wire, I just don't understand what the purpose of the extra wire is..
Would it make sense if the light blue one was another ground? It kinda looks like it and the ground wire are soldered to the same place inside the led?
Buzz it out with a meter, see if it is shorted to power or Gnd.
Sorry dude...I have no idea what you just said!!! I'm new to a lot of this...
Have you got a multimeter? If not, buy a multimeter! You can't do electronics as a hobby without one. Use one of the resistance ranges, e.g. 20K ohms. Use it to check if the light blue line is connected directly to 5V or ground. Connect the multimeter between the light blue wire and the red. If the meter reads zero, the two wires are connected. If not, try the light blue and dark blue.
Ok...yes, I do have multimeter. I selected 20k ohm. When putting probes on light blue and red I get a reading of 3.93, and when connected between light blue and dark blue I get reading of 0
No one has asked for a picture yet???
bigsammy:
when connected between light blue and dark blue I get reading of 0
Sounds like another ground then. Its probably must for convenience, you don't have to use it.