Setting up an LED MATRIX in WLED!!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

DON'T HAVE A 3D PRINTER? I'm selling an upgraded version of this project on Etsy! www.etsy.com/listing/1757701302/wled-matrix-pixel-display-32x8-housing

[@miguelavello7493]

Hello !!!!!! Just caught your home automation video, and I've got to say, I'm blown away! Your work on that WLED MATRIX is seriously cool. You have a knack for explaining things in a way that's super easy to follow, which is awesome for anyone getting into these kinds of projects. Also, the 3D printed parts you're throwing into the mix? Absolutely brilliant. It's obvious you've got a real passion for this stuff, and it shines through in your work. That kind of enthusiasm is downright inspiring! As someone who's big into smart home tech and loves to tinker, I really appreciate you sharing your skills and creativity. Eagerly looking forward to your next project. Keep up the amazing work - you're inspiring a lot of us out here! Cheers, Miguel

[@manukalias]

Awesome 😍😍 12:40 No one ever mentioned this trick to change the Text on Matrix 👌👌👌👌 Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳🙏🙏

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Thanks! Yup, pretty awesome!

[@BeardedTinker]

Awesome video again Aaron!!! :)

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Thanks BT!!

[@btan4209]

Really great project. I am inspired. Currently printing the parts. Thank you for the very clear and detailed delivery. I have subscribed and can’t wait for more.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Awesome, glad it helps!

[@Walican132]

Any idea if you can load animations somehow into WLED, custom sequences?

[@josteir]

Appreciate another WLED video. love those too!! and thanks for the pixel creator V2. I had to do a lot of workaround to have those pixel arts and then shifting for Scrolling Text and vise versa. now it's way easier!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I'm working on 32x32 next! Should produce some amazing pixel art!

[@keepitdialed]

@@MakeItWorkTech how do you take what is created in your pixel creator and make it show up on the display. I'm assuming it's a copy and paste somewhere - hopefully with code rebuild?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

@@keepitdialed I made an earlier video about it, but it required home assistant. I'm working on part 2, making it simpler

[@keepitdialed]

@@MakeItWorkTech Got, I found it. Thanks!

[@swissfreek]

Real quick, if you’re using a 15A power supply with a barrel plug, the plug itself is only rated to 5A. Even at 5A you will feel it get very warm. Any higher than that, it will die (learned that from experience). I’d set the current limiter to no higher than 4000 (4A), it will run all day and stay cool, but then you paid a lot for a big power supply that you aren’t utilizing fully. That 16x16 matrix will run about half brightness (on the WLED slider) before it maxes out and doesn’t get any brighter. Another option would be to use an XT30, XT60, Wago, screw terminal, or other style of connector.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

The wire is 18 ga which should handle 15A, but I see they say 5A at 12V. I will do some tests running at 15A for an extended period of time and see what happens (in a controlled environment of course). Otherwise I'll look at other connection types. Consistently running it at 15A might be a problem, but I suspect short times at 15A won't pose an issue (it hasn't so far). Most effects don't require 15A all the time, but could for short durations. A guess the connector rated for 5A is rated for 5A at 12V or 5V, the different voltage doesn't matter. I have some Wagos on order for another project actually.

[@swissfreek]

@@MakeItWorkTech yeah the wire is fine but the connector not so much. I set the limit to 15A and turned the brightness up on my panel and the effect was immediate. The connector got soft and died within seconds and the power to the board went out. Replacing the connector everything worked again, but if I set the current limit to 5000 and then turned the brightness up to full (so the controller limited the current to 5A) the connector was very warm. With a limit of 4A it’ll run cool all day, but the brightness is maxed out about halfway up the slider.

[@jonmaddox]

@@swissfreek I had the same issue with a 15A power supply, the barrel connector got super hot and smelly. I had bought a bunch too, to make cleaner setups. Oops. I'm not even sure why these power supplies COME with that green barrel connetor. I just ended up cutting off the male barrel connector on the power supplies and wiring them directly.

[@swissfreek]

@@jonmaddox they’re convenient for sure, but they should have some sort of disclaimer that they are only rated for 5A…

[@swissfreek]

@@jonmaddox the metal panel mount ones are rated to 5A at 30V so it’s possible they’re a bit more robust.

[@josephconsuegra6420]

Outstanding tutorial.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Thanks!

[@thatpspguy]

Any chance you would do a video of 2 8x32 matrix's used as a 16x32? I'm at this a few months and getting nowhere and my hiphotic and distortion effects have bars in them.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I do plan to do that at some point, but make sure you have a serpentine box checked and the vertical/horizontal orientation set correctly

[@ThisOldManOfTheSea]

I can’t see the ‘thingyverse’ link you referred to?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Sorry, just added them!

[@mx2004mx]

Is there a way to make it show the current time?

[@AshleyHitchcock]

Great video! I have set the LEDs to 256 but only 26 light up the next led seems to be get 5v on a multi meter. Anyone got any ideas?

[@FVA1505]

Hello. I really want to make room lighting. Can I stop the effect? ​​I want to turn on the light and see the effect of rushing fire and play of colors and then I want the whole strip to turn on in one color and light up my room. Maybe you can help me with something, I will be very grateful! Thank you!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I don't understand what you're asking - You want the light to start with some effect, and then switch to solid color after a certain amount of time?

[@FVA1505]

@@MakeItWorkTech yes)

[@marshallmann7620]

just needed to find out the 2D settings for this matrix instead of trying to brute force it lol! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

No problem! You can run around in circles sometimes haha

[@swissfreek]

I’ve been messing around with this a bunch over the last few weeks. I can’t tell you how many NodeMCUs and D1 minis I’ve gotten and returned because they either wouldn’t connect on WiFi or rebooted constantly once I got them set up. I think it’s a QC issue with these low-cost packs off Amazon. I’ve had better luck using the much more expensive controllers from some other places. Bear in mind WLED doesn’t work on every ESP controller. ESP32 S2, S3, and C3 are not supported. ESP32 (regular), Lite, and Pico are. Ask me how I know 😂

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Hahah, I've had success with every single one of mine, that's a bummer that you're having issues. I like buying from a place that allows free returns though

[@jeriellopez4927]

Try to check your power supply. I used a USB power supply and I was getting crashes every 24 hours. Issue fixed after using a different USB adapter.

[@ConChairman]

What material did you use for the translucent diffuser part?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

White PLA

[@lakomichlakom112]

Tell me please. How add Cyrillic scrolling text? And up speed scrolling

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Hi, not sure what that is? Scrolling text can be found in the latest version of WLED

[@quadcom]

PIXEL ART CREATOR V2 seems to be all a mess when opened in Google Sheets. Can't get it to work right. Any alternative options?

[@mbalik79]

Great video! Have it working with the curl command to display the home assistant logo, but having trouble with the generatorV2 sheet, it's not updating the code. I am using libreoffice with the macro's on. Could that be the problemen? Is er some page where i can download some curl commands to paste in my home assistant?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yeah, libreoffice is the problem. You need Excel in order for that one to work. I'll try to set up a library of curl commands on my github at some point soon

[@alexross4062]

So the diffuser is 3D printed white PLA as well?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yup!

[@garysteo3398]

Great info. Can the 32 x 8 panel be turned portrait and have the text scroll up or down. Or is it only right to left

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I believe so! You define how it should look in the matrix setup

[@odoncm]

Hello, is it possible to interact from home assistant to show, for example, the temperature of a sensor, any examples? Thanks

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I believe it is possible, but a bit complicated. If I figure it out, I will make a video on it!

[@odoncm]

@@MakeItWorkTech thanks

[@cyberneticwarmachine]

Hey i had a question about wled. Is it possible to use individual leds wired to the esp. for example to use to light up a modelkit car head lights or model house.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I imagine so, but I've never tried. That would be a fun project

[@panonesia]

awesome work, is it possible to make diffuser separately, we can just glue the case but diffuser in one piece may be make this more cleaner, we can use paper or plastic for diffuser right?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yeah, that can be done! I've used white PVC photography backdrop as diffuser material - works very well!

[@TECHHAMARA]

Hi How can setup wled digital clock to rtc module.

[@dtmimpresiones]

hi , is there a way to make irrehgular shapes matrix on wled??

[@MakeItWorkTech]

What do you mean by irregular?

[@dtmimpresiones]

@@MakeItWorkTech i need to led lights irregular shapes of led matrix,letters signs or curved forms,i will like to make acrylic letter signs for advertising

[@MadMiXx]

Nice Trick input power at the end of the matrix and pass it trough to the wemos. Unfortunately my wemos doenst work when the data-line (from wemos to strip) is connected. Do you have any Idea why? It's an wemos d1 esp8266 - ws2812b strip Greetings!

[@MadMiXx]

Update: I think I got it... had to do Something with the connection plug wires on the Output ...

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Glad you got it figured!

[@nagamanihegde9609]

hello .. im trying to run pride animation on attiny85.... but i cant make it its possible to run 'pride' animation on ws2812b..? maybe using external crystal..? can you help plz

[@MakeItWorkTech]

HI, what is attiny85?

[@dreaderlock]

can I connect four 8x8 panels and is the difference between esp32 wroom and d1 mini

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yeah you could I'm sure. ESP32 wroom is the chip, D1 mini is the entire controller. D1 Minis and Node MCUs can come with ESP8266 or ESP32s

[@dreaderlock]

@@MakeItWorkTechthank you man.I hope to make a tutorial for the best custom colors .

[@yanik007]

How did you get the real time clock?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Set the scrolling text effect, but don't type a name for the segment. Default is time and date

[@jameshendry3571]

Thanks for the video. With the scrolling text WLED theme, can you put a sensor value in as text via the WLED API?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I think you could if you're using Home Assistant! I've done it with custom text, but I believe you could use a sensor value.

[@xyntaxxian7615]

im using esp32 with a led matrix, i want to use audio reactivity but the setting is missing inside usermods. Im using the latest version 0.14.0-b1, can you help me resolve this?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Use the SR fork maybe? So flash the Sound Reactive version rather than base WLED

[@timzak3349]

So I have a question. Can you run WLED off a Crome book?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

You can access the device page yes, but I'm not sure about flashing an ESP

[@otisrhw]

How cna i mod the 16x16 case to a 16x32 like you did with the 16x8?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

You need to have a 3d modeling program

[@otisrhw]

@@MakeItWorkTech I do fusion

[@jeffro.]

I'm planning to just use an ESP32 to run WLED. Not sure why I need that other controller you mentioned!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

That's if you don't know how or don't like to flash WLED on an ESP32

[@narimanrezaiee3246]

hello dude . can u answer my question . in my country i cannot buy matrix led panel like this . can i make this with ws2812 LED STRIP AND use 5 line led strip ?

[@patomahony9747]

Have seen videos in the past where creators used sticky back led strip to create various sized led2d panels. Can’t remember if they were addressable. However wiring the end of each strip should to next should create a panel. Just found this video that may help you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hprEhGuwm9p1ftEsi=vILMpKdE3p8xWlM7

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yeah dude, should be possible!

[@dartfrogdk]

nice, what happend to the pixelart software

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Good call - just linked it in the description!

[@miguelavello7493]

Hello Aaron, can you share some comments about your 3D printing diffuser ? It seems that you build it all in 1 piece. What did you used for the White PLA ??? At least it appear to be all 3D print in 1 piece. Can you make any comments ? Thanks

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yes, I actually use white pla for the first five or so layers, and as soon as it starts printing the grid I pause it and I switch to Black for the rest of it

[@jstmag]

What is the limit to number of led’s on this controller?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

It depends on the type of LED. I think their website will tell you that info

[@Tngwj]

my wled doesn't have the 2d configuration. i'm using the release 0.13.3

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yeah, you need the latest beta version

[@uStepProductions]

Thank you for sharing this video with us. In the effect mode can you create multiple presets for the custom scrolling text? I.e. a preset that says “hello…” A second that says “goodbye…” and so on? Then just click to cycle through?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

No problem! Yes you can! Then you can call those presets via Home Assistant if that's what you use for Home Automation

[@Code_Is_Poetry]

Thanks for the tutorial ! I just bought the 11x44 LED Matrix version. Do you have a 11x44 version of your diffuser ? If yes can you add to thing to thingiverse ?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I'll work on that! I don't have one yet

[@JanK001]

Hey, my name is Jan, I'm from Germany and I can't do it. I have 4x 16x16 matrix panels, all are connected and also light up, but I can't figure out the settings in the 2D configurations. I don't know how to adjust the 4 panels so that they light up correctly in sync. I don't know what the serpentine stands for either, it would be great of you to please make a short video about it again, I would be very grateful. Regards Jan

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Jan, if you are having issues, join my discord and post there - we can take a look at it!

[@JanK001]

Thanks, where can I find the discord? Kind regards

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Link in description at the bottom

[@HrishikeshTendulkar-ym5oy]

Can you make a video using 10 diffrent Matrix led with esp32 on each Matrix board and by meshing them wirelessly. And sync to each other ???

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I'll look into it!

[@jarneen]

nogmaals bedankt voor die zeer handige video en ik ben benieuwd naar de 4 16x16 pixel wat je ermee gaat doen dit is ook mijn idee

[@wadegreenway4043]

cool stuff...i used to go to Dr.Zzs for tutorials but not much anymore.For the life of me i have 2 exact panels 8 by 32 and and cannot get them to work as one sooo frustrating.Scrolling text top one is upside down and bottom one is upright kinda gave up on configuration.

[@SufiShahHamidJalali]

Hi, this is great. How about 3D matrix LEDs? Is it possible to make it work as well? :)

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Thanks! I really want to try that at some point. I think there's 3d Cube option, but that's the only 3d thing I've seen. If you look on the WLED discord people have some pretty crazy projects - you might see something there :-D

[@SufiShahHamidJalali]

@@MakeItWorkTech A technical question out of curiosity. How big can you make an LED wall (WxH)? or how big is it possible technically with today's technology?

[@vimvigour3327]

I never knew about the new install method. Good stuff. What should be the software current limit if you're powering the LED's via the esp32/8266 itself?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

I think 2 A is the max you want going through the esp, but I forget. I think WLED gives a recommendation right under the brightness limiter in settings

[@emon112007]

thanks

[@MakeItWorkTech]

You're welcome!

[@trmscc1]

Would wled and your Pixel art creator work with an 11x44 matrix? What differences would there be in the setup? I was hoping more LEDs means more elaborate patterns/designs/pixel art.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Yes, you could do an 11x44, but the pixel art creator would have to be modified

[@trmscc1]

@@MakeItWorkTech thank you!

[@ladaloutevans]

Hello, could you do a guide on modifying your spreadsheet to account for different Matrix sizes? I have tried but alas not clever enough. Thank you.

[@hufforguk]

That install process will only work with Chrome/chromium based browsers, from what I understand, Mozilla refuse to add the USB serial features for security reasons.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Thanks, good catch! I'll have to include that in future videos

[@fomingera65]

This video be like: soder deez nuts, bro sodered his led stip to the wall

[@johnglagola9870]

I’d like see scrolling Pac-Man or DK characters. Can I use the WLED software to program it? Is this something your going to go over in the future?

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Characters as still images? Yes, I've covered how to do Pixel art in a previous video

[@johnglielmi6428]

I'm not giving some random website access to my network because I have to supply them with passwords and such! I want stand alone software control for my RGB LED Matrixes

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Manually flash it then!

[@sergejjost]

Cool

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Tanks

[@robp9129]

Hi Aaron, thanks for another very good video. I bought an Athom controller as per your earlier video and got it working perfectly with a 5m/60 led strip! Can you easily update the Athom Wled firmware without too much hassle Bud? Regards from Rob in the UK 👍

[@MakeItWorkTech]

You can update the firmware fairly easily, but if you use Home Assistant it's even easier!

[@robp9129]

Thanks Aaron. Great channel 👍👍

[@markxexar9386]

I bricked one Athom controller doing the WLED OTA update. Now I don’t dare try again. Has anyone confirmed an upgrade of the Athom controller to WLED 0.14?

[@jaym5938]

15 amps?!

[@MakeItWorkTech]

You bet! LEDs are efficient, but there are a lot of them there!

[@andvokslife9596]

Здорово!

[@pherja]

Have to thank you once again for these super clear tutorials. I haven’t done one yet but now I know I definitely can do it. ❤ As a totally OC artist and designer 😅, I’m trying to figure out how to get rid of the gap in your matrix case. Those little details really get me. 0It seems just a tiny adjustment in the model will eliminate the gap. Or maybe cementing the two diffuser panels. One thing I wish was available is a LARGER led panel, still 16 x 16, but just more spread out so the physical dimensions are bigger.

[@MakeItWorkTech]

Haha thanks! Yeah, the gap bothers me too. I may try some gorilla glue to see if that works. I'm also looking at different materials for diffusers that can be purchased separately and integrated into the design.