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I recently started looking for something really close to this, and found this project.... but what I really want is a PoE controller, because my LEDs need power

I recently started looking for something really close to this, and found this project.... but what I really want is a PoE controller, because my LEDs need power anyway, so why not control them with the same cable? Unfortunately I haven't found a WLED compatible PoE controller. Anyone know of such a thing?

sowbug 4y ago
I use PoE adapters that have micro USB power-out plugs. The thing being powered uses either Ethernet or WiFi, depending on what it is.
brk 4y ago
There are a relatively limited number of PoE ESP32 options. The Olimax unit seems to be workable with WS2812 style strips, possibly with a little bit of hacking.
MegaDeKay 4y ago
In case you weren't aware, a long LED strip with a high density of LEDs/m starts chewing up a lot of amps in a hurry depending on the effect. So much so that a lot of people will inject power into either end of the strip or even at multiple points along a length of interconnected strips. Otherwise the current draw causes a voltage drop that dims the LEDs and / or affects their color at the far end. Lots of WLED people (myself included) run with pretty beefy dedicated 5V supplies and use decently heavy gauge wire to connect to the strips. I'd recommend going the other way around. Connect to the ESP wirelessly and use a beefy dedicated supply to power both it and the LEDs.
- ensignavenger 4y ago
  Thank you, I was aware of this for longer strips. My first project I want to do is my kitchen cabinets, using shorter length led strips. I have 8 cat6 cables running to my kitchen cabinets now for this project, which should be plenty of power for the short runs of LED strips I will be using. A larger under the roof eaves display would be pretty cool though- will have to carefully look at the power for that if I ever do it.
- dekhn 4y ago
  To give an idea of what's possible, I built a "4K" display with addressable LEDs. It was 64 strips of 64 pixels each. There was no need to do any power injection (uniform intensity across the whole board). I did the same as you: beefy dedicated 5V supplies. Even then, I was a bit worried because lighting up the entire display at full power pulled over a kilowatt. The person I gave the LEDs to then reconnecting them into 1 long strip and had to do power injection,.
- jes5199 4y ago
  can you recommend some specific power supplies? I’ve got a project that’s been stalled out for long time because I don’t know the right way to power it
  - MegaDeKay 4y ago
    For sure. You don't want to get some dicey supply that might burn your house down. I got a Mean Well LRS-200-5 Switching Power Supply from Mouser (200W at 5V = 40A !!!). Mean Well makes quality supplies at reasonable prices and are a popular brand with the WLED crowd. Be sure to buy the 25cent piece of plastic that snaps over top of the AC terminals so you don't electrocute yourself. And get some inline fuses while you are at it to be on the safe side (unless you are getting something like a QuinLED board that builds that in). You'll also want some terminal to barrel connectors to. If you want some solid information, Quindor has you covered: https://quinled.info/2018/10/01/tools-and-equipment/ https://quinled.info/2018/10/01/tools-and-equipment/
  - ThrowawayTestr 4y ago
    Each WS2812 draws 60mA at full brightness. I have a 32*32 array for 60A, but I only intend to run them at half brightness so I got a 40A supply.
jsjohnst 4y ago
The most you can pull off a PoE switch is usually under 30W. Given you’ll also lose efficiency stepping down the voltage, you might get say a single 5 meter strip powered at best off that PoE connection.

sowbug 4y ago

I use PoE adapters that have micro USB power-out plugs. The thing being powered uses either Ethernet or WiFi, depending on what it is.

brk 4y ago

There are a relatively limited number of PoE ESP32 options. The Olimax unit seems to be workable with WS2812 style strips, possibly with a little bit of hacking.

MegaDeKay 4y ago

In case you weren't aware, a long LED strip with a high density of LEDs/m starts chewing up a lot of amps in a hurry depending on the effect. So much so that a lot of people will inject power into either end of the strip or even at multiple points along a length of interconnected strips. Otherwise the current draw causes a voltage drop that dims the LEDs and / or affects their color at the far end. Lots of WLED people (myself included) run with pretty beefy dedicated 5V supplies and use decently heavy gauge wire to connect to the strips. I'd recommend going the other way around. Connect to the ESP wirelessly and use a beefy dedicated supply to power both it and the LEDs.

ensignavenger 4y ago
Thank you, I was aware of this for longer strips. My first project I want to do is my kitchen cabinets, using shorter length led strips. I have 8 cat6 cables running to my kitchen cabinets now for this project, which should be plenty of power for the short runs of LED strips I will be using. A larger under the roof eaves display would be pretty cool though- will have to carefully look at the power for that if I ever do it.
dekhn 4y ago
To give an idea of what's possible, I built a "4K" display with addressable LEDs. It was 64 strips of 64 pixels each. There was no need to do any power injection (uniform intensity across the whole board). I did the same as you: beefy dedicated 5V supplies. Even then, I was a bit worried because lighting up the entire display at full power pulled over a kilowatt. The person I gave the LEDs to then reconnecting them into 1 long strip and had to do power injection,.
jes5199 4y ago
can you recommend some specific power supplies? I’ve got a project that’s been stalled out for long time because I don’t know the right way to power it
- MegaDeKay 4y ago
  For sure. You don't want to get some dicey supply that might burn your house down. I got a Mean Well LRS-200-5 Switching Power Supply from Mouser (200W at 5V = 40A !!!). Mean Well makes quality supplies at reasonable prices and are a popular brand with the WLED crowd. Be sure to buy the 25cent piece of plastic that snaps over top of the AC terminals so you don't electrocute yourself. And get some inline fuses while you are at it to be on the safe side (unless you are getting something like a QuinLED board that builds that in). You'll also want some terminal to barrel connectors to. If you want some solid information, Quindor has you covered: https://quinled.info/2018/10/01/tools-and-equipment/ https://quinled.info/2018/10/01/tools-and-equipment/
- ThrowawayTestr 4y ago
  Each WS2812 draws 60mA at full brightness. I have a 32*32 array for 60A, but I only intend to run them at half brightness so I got a 40A supply.

jsjohnst 4y ago

The most you can pull off a PoE switch is usually under 30W. Given you’ll also lose efficiency stepping down the voltage, you might get say a single 5 meter strip powered at best off that PoE connection.