Help with Adalight Tutorial? LEDs not flashing after arduino sketch upload

[yippykayyay]

Hello all!
I am a complete newbie.

I am trying to recreate this ambilight guide. Cheap DIY Arduino Ambilight 2.0 (Revisited) RGB WS2812b LED Full Build & How-To - YouTube
Thus on my computer I have downloaded Arduino IDE, Prismatik, and Adalight. I have 116 LEDs being run from an adequately powered power supply.

Following per Boris's instructions, I can upload the Adalight sketch to my arduino nano (AT168P) but the LEDs do not flash RGB as they should to indicate a successful flash. I am stuck at that step and looking for assistance.

I am using this arduino clone https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32341832857.html?spm=a2g0o.store_home.0.0.76d134c2hW8lJN and for breadboard cables I am using leftover 22AWG wires I had from my 3d printer (could that be a problem?) Using FASTLED 3.2.6 per video instructions

I have already:

1. Checked the voltage of the plug with a multimeter (it is outputting 5V).
2. Checked the continuity of the LED strip's positive and negative pads and each of the corners. The ground pads do not display any sort of continuity, so I am a bit confused by that?
3. Ruled out a "bad" arduino, I uploaded a blinking Arduino LED sketch to it and it uploaded and performed that successfully.

Here is a picture of my wiring setup along with a screenshot of what Boris recommends doing.

Any and all help is appreciated as I have no idea what to do from here

[yippykayyay]

here is my personal wiring!

[gilshultz]

It appears you have several problems. Can you post a schematic, not a frizzy thing. I am assuming the code is good.

[LarryD]

Are those pin headers soldered to the PCB ?

If not why not ?

BTW, this is the the ‘Tutorial’ forum.

[yippykayyay]

Yessir, I am unfamiliar with professional schematic designing so I used this online editor. I hope its clear and I can provide any updates if needed

[yippykayyay]

I did not solder the pin headers... should I do that now? (sorry completely new to arduino and didn't know I was supposed to solder them right now lol)

oops, I didn't know what the appropriate forum would be since I was new.

[TomGeorge]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.

You definitely need to solder the headers, the connection you have will not be reliable.

Are your headers plugged into a header socket?
I would not solder the header into the board, just the controller.

Solder header sockets to the board so you can remove the controller.

Tom...