Hooking up TLC5940 to 12V

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hi everyone!

Yes, another thread about the TLC5940 :stuck_out_tongue:
I've read numerous threads on several forums about the TLC5940, daisy chaining, power dissipation, and I'm slowly learning the inner workings of this awesome little chip :slight_smile:

My setup: My idea is to learn the TLC5940 using parts I've got lying around. I'm attempting to drive a 12 V RGB LED strip cut up to 16 short parts with an Arduino UNO. 16 RGB channels means 3 TLC5940s which I will daisy chain. The load won't be very high, since the strip is cut up, at max 15 mA per output pin on the TLC5940s.

My question: Of all the threads and guides I've read, few of them use anything other than the same 5 V for the LEDs and the TLC5940. See the attached image. Is this the correct way to hook up the LEDs to a 12 V rail?

Note that I have hidden the daisy chain wires for better visibility.

EDIT: It just hit me that the image is a bit misleading. There is no single LED on the outputs, but instead the short LED strips, with mounted resistors.

TLC5940 small.png
TLC5940 small.png1000×1006 223 KB

2

. Is this the correct way to hook up the LEDs to a 12 V rail?

Looks like it. The +12 is connected to the anodes of the LEDs and the -ve from the 12V is connected to the arduino ground.
The TLC5940 chip can stand about 16V so the 12V is fine.

3

Grumpy_Mike:
Looks like it. The +12 is connected to the anodes of the LEDs and the -ve from the 12V is connected to the arduino ground.
The TLC5940 chip can stand about 16V so the 12V is fine.

Thanks Mike :slight_smile: I'll try it out, just have to get hold of a few resistors and I can hook it all up :wink: