Arduino Nano ESP32 - Duinotech 24 RGB Led Circular Strip issues

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi guys, I'm having issues getting my Duinotech 24 RGB Led Circular Strip XC4380 and Arduino Nano ESP32 to communicate properly. I've troubleshooted a number of ways including alternate IDE libraries (Neopixelbus, FastLED) and bitbang. I've also measured and the ring is getting around 5.07v between gnd and power. I've tried breadboarding with a 470uf capacitor across 5v and GND and a 220ohm resistor on the data line. I am new to electronics and relying heavily on AI for code but have confirmed that data transfer to the Nano is fine because I can blink the onboard LED at varying rates fine. The issue could also be code because I'm relying heavily on AI to generate the code, I have also tested the default codes though but no luck. In all my tests both the ring and nano have shared a common ground.

Does anyone have any ideas or can help me? It'd be a huge help.

2

uses 3.3 volt logic. Are you level translating to drive the strip?

You can use the 74AHCT125 chip to do it, there are a few other ways.

Some level translators don't work well with neopixels.

a7

3

Something does not sound proper, please post an annotated schematic showing exactly how you wired it and your code using code tags.

4

No I havent been. I used USB power and tried to drive it from various GPIO pins without a level shifter. Does this mean the data line is pumping 5V and the WS2812b cant read it?

5

The data line is 3.3 volt logic level. If you power the strip with 5 volts, it will not read anything 3.3-ish as true or 1 or HIGH or whatever.

You might find strips that sorta kinda or maybe even really work.

You can drive the strip with a lower voltage in hope it is low enough so the data comes through.

Or you can use any number of level shifting techniques or ICs or modules. The AHCT family straddles the 3.3 and 5 vote worlds. I repeat that not all level translation modules work well with neopixels.

a7