Betaflight Programmable LED How To

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Betaflight has the ability to control WS2812 programmable LEDs. It's called "ledstrip". These LEDs can change to any color you want. They can even respond to the quad's status, indicating battery level, RSSI, orientation, and many other effects.
In this video, I'll show you how to wire up WS2812 programmable LEDs, and how to configure them in Betaflight to do what you want. I'll also cover new Betaflight 4.0 features like ledstrip_profile and ledstrip_race_color.
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[@ddegn]

Only the data needs to be wired in series. Multiple strips of LEDs will be much easier to wire if you don't run the power lines in series. Bring the data line back from the end of the last LED in a strip but don't bother with wiring power lines from from the end of the strip.

[@JoshuaBardwell]

Good point.

[@RCinginSC]

Good tip

[@RickLaBanca]

Yes and if you used these in bigger non quad applications you have to do this or you lose voltage on long runs.

[@bigoilyguy]

Lumenieer makes a really awesome LED PDB if you wanted the "ultimate solution!" lol

[@tehllama42]

If you want them to receive the same signal (i.e. have the same response for a set of four on each arm), you can still run those in parallel too... The address sharing makes a ton of sense if you want all the arms to behave the same (e.g. run power to a strip on the TOP & Bottom of each arm) and let them share LED addresses, then tack one some different ones for a back panel or canopy backlighting setup.

[@decompyler]

Wow they still use the interface that I designed for programing the LEDs from cleanflight days! And they made great improvements. Neat!

[@tehllama42]

Why drastically change something that is already awesome? Just add bonus features.

[@DominicClifton]

hellz yeah :D

[@decompyler]

@@DominicClifton Much love Dominic! you are the man! Thank you for including that in the project :D

[@DominicClifton]

Wooo, LED's - the awesome Cleanflight feature I made still rockin' in it in 2019!

[@redbeardthepilot3168]

Perfect timing, I just added some to a quad I’m donating to my high school for their STEM program.

[@Dblackarialallstars]

Just wanted to thank you Joshua! Your vids have been crucial to me getting my copter off the ground! Keep up the good work!

[@thebluntandonly]

I do a lot of electrical engineering and I can say that I appreciate how you really go into detail. Very nice presentation. That is a subscribe

[@EnuffsEnuff318]

This was something I just fumbled through in the past. You cleared up MANY of the questions that came up during my fumbling. :)

[@ericwhite1232]

I love ur channel u helped me so much learn so many things from drones like different antennas batteries everything and I wouldn’t have go this far if it wasn’t ur help and I want to say thank you

[@fpweav7894]

i have been waiting for this specific video for 2 years now. Thanks again, JB.

[@hateeternalmaver]

Without a doubt one of the first things I *needed* to get working the way I wanted it *right away* as a beginner. I did a little LOS coming from CP-helis and liked my "harmless-purple-when-disarmed" and "deadly-red-when-armed" setup, but once I lost my LED strip in a crash I didn't bother replacing it b/c I usually don't regret not having it after flying you know… ,D Thanks for the updates on BF Integration.

[@opinionatedjam]

I was just thinking about this the other day! I was like "Man, I really wish Josh did a video on LEDs". BOOM here it is!! Thanks man!

[@davep1021]

Yeah that grid on BF really confused me when setting up LEDs. Thank you for this excellent video!

[@sirBumpyCase]

that series vs. parallel thing is so helpful! I really wanted to be able to use LEDs as a battery indicator, and nothing more, so now I can without having a mess of wires going back and forth on the arms! Thanks!

[@omfpv7495]

Thanks JB for the video. I've been waiting for something like this for awhile... I also ordered the LED's from your link :)

[@isbestlizard]

they look AMAZING when strobing really quick when you're swirling through the air with other swirly things!! :D

[@rolandogonzalez1374]

Sweet video, it answered my question about wiring them in parallel as I initially did. It will just mirror the same LED colors on each strip.

[@raymondwilliams6878]

Been flying for years...and this is one thing that I was too lazy to delve into myself. Now I can program my LED instead of just lighting them:) Thanks!

[@alfonsochan5622]

Been learning a lot from your videos, thanks a lot and I'll keep watching. Im new to quad and just started having my own ARRis 250B To practice on.

[@K9TPT]

Excellent video. I have been waiting to try to figure this out. Thank You

[@rajvanshsinghbhuee]

Thank you so much Great timing sir !!! Thanks a lot I was yesterday looking for some led videos but no one explained like you do Thanks

[@eric-janvandenbogaard9415]

basic skills and reading manuals/specs of the parts in question, Google is your friend.

[@leffler2]

The best tutorial of BF LED config! Thank You!

[@slavikarg]

One of the most useful videos in a long time!

[@tremorflow3614]

Awesome JB, I needed this a long time ago! sort of worked it out myself but I learnt a tonne more today. One of my quads when I bought It a few years back had turn LEDs(DalRC 215Plus) I lost the LED config for that when I updated the FC firmware(Yep, newbie mistake and didnt back up) I will be getting the turns flashing colours now :D. Thank You!!

[@JerryCalverley]

This will be very helpful information as I put LED on my new quad. Thanks!

[@JamesTaylor-vx3hf]

Just got some programmable led for the motors! I’m stoked! Love me some good ole LED action! Thanks J-Bizzle lol

[@diggy2107]

Just what I been waiting for ty Joshua Bardwell

[@zoltangremsperger5361]

this is the best vid that explains how to use LED. thx Josh! 👍

[@eric-janvandenbogaard9415]

there's lots more to know.... so it's not the best video about these WS2812b leds....

[@ZeroFPV]

Glen A. Larson produced Knight Rider and also Battlestar Galactica. So Watch a Cylon Helmet or the Intro of Knight Rider and you'll know why it's called Larson scanner... :D

[@licensetodrive9930]

I always loved the bit in the intro to the A-Team of Face pointing at the Cylon walking past him with a "hey don't I know you?" expression.

[@MCsCreations]

Knight Rider ❤ I loved even the Mustang version!

[@ZeroFPV]

@@licensetodrive9930 :D Starbuck from BSG and Faceman (Tempelton Peck) are one and the same person. It's like the Firefly references in Castle. :D

[@licensetodrive9930]

@MC's Creations Big love for Knight Rider here, too. 2008 version was disappointing, yet I was actually annoyed they cancelled it after 1 series, because it was finally one man and his car against crime. I have Hitari RC vehicles of BA's van, the General Lee and K.I.T.T on my shelves here, along side them an RC BTTF3 DeLorean and the Red Dwarf Starbug playset, plus too many 80s electronic handheld games... :)

[@licensetodrive9930]

@ZeroFPV I loved the intro when Castle dressed up as a 'space cowboy' for halloween :)

[@fpvflyriding]

Well, what do ya' know? I actually learned something today! Thx.

[@zlyussuf358]

Thanks Joshua...u help me a lot from all ur video

[@garytolhopf]

Always wondered how to use the led function in Betaflight. You made it sound easy thanks JB. I might throw some glow at my kwads now that I know this :)

[@ratititat-rcflyer5139]

thanks bro i know it 2 years old video but sure glad its here first time doing leds and this made it so easy

[@ryanbunnell7488]

This was very helpful. I had recently started playing with the LED's and was having a hard time really getting into it.

[@tehllama42]

What I've found most useful has been adding indicator to at least ONE led (enough that I can quickly check that I'm on the correct model with the radio by waggling the right stick). Sounds silly, but it is an easy way to check that (without having to use buzzer/beeper functionality to check the same thing) I just run mine on Arm State, with a common color for disarmed (Yellow or Red), and then it jumps to the matching color of the quad on ARM, and then I'm off.

[@bomberaustychunksbruv4119]

Awesome - I couldnt figure that lot out at all, very helpfull!.

[@KANAYFPV]

Super intéressant ce tuto ! Sachant que j'avais un bandeau de led d'1 mètre dont je ne savais pas quoi faire au top JB !

[@Terry12345]

I learned a lot today. Thanks!

[@sushia.f.1809]

Good God THANK YOU! So needed this!

[@brokemechanicfpv1420]

wow those strips are pretty cool

[@ronin886969]

Good morning! JB! Have a great day

[@martins.6951]

thank you :) . some time ago i wanted to wire a larson scanner that goes from the center to the ends, should work if i wire them with a Y-layout

[@ppeoin433]

Always clear Joshua

[@jonnyphenomenon]

Good advice to check the current draw Josh. I tried running 32 of these directly from the bff3 board and smoked the regulator. I had them set up to change color based on the analog signal from the s2 knob. I cold go through the whole gammut. But scrapped the idea when the regulator smoked. Lol

[@American_media1]

Most helpful channel

[@RAYGUNN1978]

Thank you.. much needed info... thanks bro

[@theronin48]

Great vid! Wanted to pick your brain on some LED wiring. I have LEDs that are just pos / neg (no RGB signal). Can I still be able to turn them on and off with just the pos / neg soldered to the LED pads? If not, can I tap the neg to the buzzer GND and use the buzzer to turn them on and off? Thanks for any advice.

[@SubiSkank]

Thanks for all your time and effort with the much needed and very helpful info for the FPV Quad world!! You've definitely helped me in my adventure! With the LED Strip in BF, Is there a way so set different colors on a switch? For instance on my TX16S, Say I use SC+ for green and SC for off and maybe SC- for blue? I've been trying to find info on how to if you can. Hope you have the insight I'm looking for!!

[@grad8tions]

Hello, excellent tutorial. For some reason I cannot independently control them. I’m thinking it is my FC or maybe it is the firmware installed (Betaflight). Any thoughts or other things I should try?

[@matuzalem4771]

@joshua bardwell hi, i just got into fpv . Ive been watching your videos and tutorials .they have been very helpful. I was able to fly and get the hang of it . I did purchase a beebrain bl . The issue that I'm having is that it came with preloaded settings for the LEDs and they will react to stick movement. I had it connected to betaflight and all of a sudden lights were not working. Somehow the led strip tab was turned off. So I turned it on and the default settings were there ,(blue, magenta,pink ) but no matter what color a set ,now it's only solid yellow (no more reacting to sticks ) I've been trying to fix it and nothing works .any idea what could be the problem? I appreciate any info .thanks

[@xternalcreations3032]

Help! I did everything you sed to do. They were working on my last matek f411 with a separate 5v reg.. On my new mayteck f411 it's not even pwereing up. I checked the voltage and signal to the leds and that seems to be working. Is there somthing in the CLI that I might be missing?

[@jlarson42]

Now i understand, thanks Joshua

[@montypeak8417]

The mamba mk2 stack has an led pad in every corner! I havent tested yet but maybe already in parallel??

[@jeff4992]

After setting up the LEDs they work just fine for me but when I reboot the flight controller they stop working entirely and just display random colors. Any advise? Betaflight 4.0 on matek f405 aio

[@propZone-DE]

TOP as usual !!! :)

[@hateeternalmaver]

Joshua, when you're ready to make the FrSky Access video, can you consider a more detailed explanation than the Wiki offers on how Betaflight's RF-Interpolation settings relate to different radio setups, gimbals etc. please …? 😬

[@davidspencer7071]

This was a great tutorial for betaflight. I can't find one for inav. I can configure them but no lights. Is there a video for inav somewhere.

[@ericwhite1232]

Now i need ur help is their a setting to program the leds to change every color while flying like rainbow

[@TiagoTiagoT]

Can you make them blink in proportion to the motor speeds to make the props look like they're spinning slower in the air with the strobe effect? What about make them blink slowly like on airplanes?

[@4kdemoscene]

Are there daylight visible LED sets? Eye sight is getting poor. Got a suggestion? 7” prop kawd.

[@adammez8123]

Hi, I have a problem with my quad. I have the Eachine Wizard x220s which comes with an LED strip on the back but now the LED strip wont power on. I recently flashed my FC to BF V4.2.8 for the OMNIBUSF4 (Target: AIRB/OMNIBUSF4SD(STM32F405)). Any help would be much appreciated

[@Disc_gD]

Hey jb random dumb question but can you use any type of led while fpv specific leds work can you literally use any led as long as it has a power, grnd, sig.

[@melbournesubtropicfruits9474]

How do you fit the LED Strip that came with the Flywoo Explorer?

[@proz71ful19]

I am in the process of adding leds to my drone, long story short, instead of a heatsink for the leds, what would happen if I used the carbon fiber arm of the drone as the heatsink? 2.5 watts max

[@marizatiablae]

Is there a way to turn it on\off using a switcher on the radio?

[@ernie5229]

Hi Joshua. I recently bought a Jumper T16. I see amazing potential. However, though I've been flying for 20 years I have NO experience with OpenTX or FrSky. Virtually all instruction for the T16 assumes you know OpenTX and/or FrSky. I'm a Spektrum guy. I would to do the legwork to help you create a video series for the Jumper T16 for the complete noob. I don't edit video, but I'd learn just about anything to learn this radio and help others to learn as well. Please respond if you are interested. Like I said, I'd do all the leg work I can. I am disabled and this type of hobby is so helpful to my life!

[@nathanielharter1643]

I still can't believe this guys on has 115k subs... just saying Joshua is awesome!

[@NeoFrontierTechnologies]

Hello. Is there a way to turn off the onboard indicator LED's on a flight controller ? It is loaded with BTFL 3.5.1 Target: MATEKF411 Firmware ? A Tinywhawk 1s.

[@avrahamcohen2134]

Hi Joshua, is there a good and reliable programmable LED light for the Pixhawk 4. And how do I use it on the Pixhawk 4? Thanks

[@JoshuaBardwell]

I'm sorry I don't know anything about Pixhawk

[@wilgarcia1]

thanks again

[@braydenzhang3612]

Can we change the LED blinking frequency in Betaflight?

[@airgunningcolorado78]

I'm curious if you only need the signal wire running all over the quad 🤔

[@Gosuminer]

I understand all Betflight LED function individually but the way they combine is very non-intuitive. I would love to see an in-depth explanation. Oh, and if you have a F3 FC and wonder why you cannot get LEDs to work, the LED code was thrown out of many F3 targets. However, if you happen to have a linux computer and know how to edit a Makefile it is very easy to build your own version of betaflight with LEDs enabled (you will have to remove unneeded functions like Spektrum telemetry to make it fit).

[@tommyfpv5476]

so I have leds on my rtf and the lights did work but I flashed it and now I can't get them back on and I followed your video

[@ruftime]

Nice Josh! Yes, LED are diodes:-) Check out Livyu’s last repair video!

[@witblitsfpv1265]

Hopefully thr status, race and beacon profiles will be in the configurator soon. ;o)

[@ATF2099]

bardwell help. i fried ESC and FC and my LED strip has just 1 green and 1 blue light on the left side, i tried to adjust and still the same. its a wizard x220s 10 led panel with buzzer. i fixed the esc and fc and camera lol but even the LED is fried??

[@JoshuaBardwell]

Sounds like it's fried. You know what you have to do.

[@bobedibob3084]

does the tinyhawk support this from factory?

[@davoodghandaly2152]

Is it possible to assign a switch to turn it on and of? If so how?

[@FilipRadelic]

Location of LEDs on the configurator grid does matter for some modes like "Indicator".

[@eric-janvandenbogaard9415]

you should number the leds on the grid

[@Lukasstemmler007]

Can I turn them on/off with an AUX Channel as well ? Thanks for the help !

[@Victor-gn2id]

I wonder the same question

[@vladz1177]

Glen A. Larson is a producer of "Knight rider" TV series at 80's. There was a super car with AI with a "scanner" at the top of bumper.

[@SkyPilotFPV]

Cheers mate. U know way too much for my little brain to comprehend! ✔🏍🌟🙋🖑🎖🍻🍷🏃👍

[@mayberrywj]

Excellent....thanks....:)

[@nodent]

Lay out on the grid does matter if you are using the blinker indicator option.

[@eric-janvandenbogaard9415]

only the numbers count :)

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, Joshua! Thanks a lot! 😃 BTW, on iNav it should be pretty similar... Right?

[@tehllama42]

This functionality goes back pretty far - I don't see why not.

[@MCsCreations]

@@tehllama42 Thanks! 😊

[@niklasstrannhage3791]

Hi JB. I have watched this video like 5 times and followed the steps you do. Nothing works. No lights, nothing. I have connected them to my HobbyWing F4 gen 2 FC (Fw 4.1.1) using the LED pin. I have checked to see if the LED are broken by connecting them to my friends quad and they light up as planned. But not on my quad. Please help.

[@JoshuaBardwell]

Type "resource show" in the command line and make sure the LEDSTRIP resource has a pin assigned.

[@noby5711]

Can a bad tune make your battery hot and puffy?? Im running a 100c 4 cell and I never had problems with it before but for some reason my batteries are coming down hot? Can anyone help me please!! thanks

[@maddercat]

my led controller only has + -, then tiny vg tr pads. doesnt look like this? Any help?

[@Woodyyes--]

thanks so much "!

[@ultra09hd]

please continue a more in depth video explaining the other functions and how to set them up...ie indicators and direction,

[@phamhuuluuthuy7700]

When you arm the quad while still connecting to betaflight, the motors wont spin. I suppose.

[@Willy_Tepes]

Can I use lasers instead?

[@flywithtb5005]

The LEDs I select are just blinking white when I hit save. What sort of error is that?

[@SanneBerkhuizen]

13:20 if I'm testing I always make sure I'm in turle mode, so the Motors don't start when arming.

[@shaiss1]

@Joshua, can this in any way override the blheli32 LED settings?

[@JoshuaBardwell]

No, blheli LEDs are not programmable by the FC. You can change them to a fixed color in blhelisuite but that's it.

[@shaiss1]

@@JoshuaBardwell that's what I thought. My blheli32 tello32s don't retain the choose color after a power cycle.

[@jyunte]

Shai Perednik Neither do mine (Tekko32).

[@pavvZed]

Glen Larson is a Knight Rider Tv show creator :D and car in that series had this funky red strip of lights on the front going back an forth. Nice easter egg from Betaflight :D

[@HatfieldCW]

Yeah, back when he was building props for Knight Rider and Battlestar Galactica, getting that effect was a real mad science project of components. Even today, building a Larson scanner using the tech that was available back then is a rite of passage for aspiring electronic engineers, because it requires some serious alchemical hoodoo with the way the pieces interact with one another. Iconic stuff. It's trivially easy with a modern microprocessor, by comparison, and even replicating the original can be done with a step-by-step guide and a parts kit that can be had online for cheap, but it's like solving a Rubik's cube: Even if you're just following the directions in the cheater's guide, you can't help but gain a lot of appreciation for the depth of understanding that must have been required to do it unaided.

[@pavvZed]

@@HatfieldCW I can imagine :D Now: few clicks, 2 wires and you're done

[@Lucky32Luke]

@Joshua: Theoretical Q: Im thinking on this if I mount two LEDs (not RGB but single color) on the motor bell would the electromagnetic induction power the LEDs or would the LEDs need their own coil, right?

[@JoshuaBardwell]

To be honest, I have no idea what would happen. Getting the motor balanced with the LEDs mounted on it would be the first challenge. My gut feeling is the magnetic field produced by the coil would not light the LED. But I can't be sure.

[@Lucky32Luke]

@@JoshuaBardwell thanks for the fast reply. I am simply just curious. I thought to install two for balancing reasons and using epoxy to make sure im not building a weapon. Taking the RPM it would surely build up some velocity even if the led is less then a few grams. Still not sure if I will try it but if someone else reading this would give a try I would encourage to do so (but safety first please!) LOL

[@kennethcartman473]

Leds on a motor bell is a NO, there is little to no flux on the outside if the bell if the motor is designed and built well.

[@TheLazyRocket]

I have some old leds that change color with pwm input but couldn't address them in BF

[@JoshuaBardwell]

These aren't addressable ESC's

[@jurikristjouw]

The "Larson scanner" was the lightstrip on KITT from Knightrider. I thought it was also the name of the producer or something like that. It was a inside joke.

[@MrPnew1]

Yes Glen Larson was the Executive Producer on the Knightrider TV show so you get 10 points 😎 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_A._Larson

[@JimPriest]

Glen Larson - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_A._Larson

[@matancohen8193]

What is voltage regulator ?