Hello,
I have a problem with my WS2812 LED strip (3 Pin: 12V, Din, GND), and nowhere have I found a solution or similar problems.
I use it with an arduino, a 12V power supply, a 100 µF capacitor between the +12V and the GND, a 330 Ohm resistor between the arduino and the Din.
So far, it was working very well and completely.
I then cut it in half at the copper pads to add an L-connector.
After that, only the first 30 LEDs were working normally, the next 3 were constantly lit in green, and then everything else stayed off until the L-connector and after. I tried with other connections, soldering the 2 parts of the strip and then connecting the second part of the strip directly to my power supply and to the input signal (removing the first half of LEDs). In all cases, the LEDs beyond the first 30 remain off.
I've tried several programs using the "FastLED" library, including those provided as examples, and the problem is the same.
After some testings: the power supply runs along the entire ribbon after making my L connection, even though the LEDs are off.
When I connect the Din directly to one of the copper connectors in the faulty area, only the next 3 LEDs come on correctly, the rest are still off.
Do you have any ideas as to the cause of this problem and possible solutions ?
If this L connector is translucent plastic with snap-closed metal "teeth"... I have had trouble with the teeth not mating with the three pads of the WS2812 strip. Nothing more fun than taking down the 3m high, lighted sign for the third time to repair the connection... Examine the mating closely and correct the connections (also examine if a pad still exists after a few tries... a friend told me this). OR... get three short 28 gauge wire segments and one-by-one, apply flux, "tin" the pads and wires, then solder wires to pads. If a pad has been torn off, look for its electrical path, scratch out a spot to solder on the trace and solder wires for continuity. Be sure to secure any soldered wires. Pads and traces might lift under stress.
If only one connection is a little bad, the following pixels will not work as programmed.
The solder pads may have lifted off the copper traces, breaking continuity. Find the good sections and make them work. Examine and repair the bad sections.
