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Why can you connect LED strips at both ends simultaneously?

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TASan
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I don't quite understand how you can connect DC power to both sides of an LED strip and get power flowing towards the middle, making the middle the least bright instead of the ends.

I guess I would be able to understand it somewhat if it were AC power, or perhaps not. Won't the two currents "collide" seeing as DC runs in one direction? Where does the power... go?

🤔

Interested in learning about electrical engineering!


   
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robotBuilder
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@tasan

Maybe something like this:

FLOW

To enlarge an image, right click image and select Open link in new window.

Remember what ever flows out of a pump must also flow back in (assuming a closed system).

Pressure (volts)
Current (like gallons per minute) (amps)
Resistance (ohms)
Power (watts) (Energy released like heat or motion or light)


   
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Ron
 Ron
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Posted by: @tasan

I don't quite understand how you can connect DC power to both sides of an LED strip and get power flowing towards the middle, making the middle the least bright instead of the ends.

I guess I would be able to understand it somewhat if it were AC power, or perhaps not. Won't the two currents "collide" seeing as DC runs in one direction? Where does the power... go?

🤔

In most sketches you specify the number of LEDS to control. If a strip has 42 and one end is connected to a sketch that says 20 and the other end to another 20 then the 2 in the middle will be unlit. I also don't get it, but accept it and use it. I will be working with a large NeoPixel strip today and might try lighting from both ends.

 

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
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Will
 Will
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Posted by: @tasan

I don't quite understand how you can connect DC power to both sides of an LED strip and get power flowing towards the middle, making the middle the least bright instead of the ends.🤔

Remember that you're using the SAME DC power source on both ends, not two separate ones. So the electrons leaving from GND return to the anode regardless of their path,

 

Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.


   
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robotBuilder
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@will

Remember that you're using the SAME DC power source on both ends, not two separate ones.

That makes no difference. My example the power supplies were in parallel making it "one" power supply using two batteries.

The question was how you can have electricity flowing in opposing directions. The answer is the same way you can have water flowing in opposing directions. They divert down different pathways.

Won't the two currents "collide" seeing as DC runs in one direction? Where does the power... go?

I think @tasan is confusing electrical concepts that is why I wrote them out. I also think the water analogy is a good one providing you remember it is just an analogy.

In this example one flow is colored orange and the other flow is colored purple using ONE power supply.

splitCurrent

To enlarge image, right click image and select Open link in new window.

I don't know why you would power it from both sides I assume it has something to do with resistance along the bus lines? I have not used these lights myself.

 


   
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Will
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Posted by: @robotbuilder

@will

Remember that you're using the SAME DC power source on both ends, not two separate ones.

That makes no difference. My example the power supplies were in parallel making it "one" power supply using two batteries.

We'll have to disagree then. I feel that powering an LED strip from both ends with 2 different power sources is a Bad Idea and should not be done.

 

Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.


   
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Ron
 Ron
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@robotbuilder At least in the case of Neopixels yes each one 'consumes' a certain amount of power that is why the sketches specify the number of leds. if you specify 20 and the strip is longer than 20 the leds do not light after 20. I have them setup on my workbench right now and have seen this with my own 2 eyes. If you specify 40 and there is only 20 leds, the power goes ???? the video I saw about this simply said it just magically goes away. As a person somewhat educated in this subject matter I don't get it but if it works and is safe I don't lose sleep over it either.,

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
Sure you can learn to be a programmer, it will take the same amount of time for me to learn to be a Doctor.


   
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Will
 Will
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@zander 

The sketch needs the count to know how many data to send. If you specify more than the actual LED count, it keeps sending until your count is reached, but the phantom 20 LEDs aren't there so nothing appears to happen.

Similarly, if you send colours for 20 LEDS when you have 40LEDs on the chain, then the last 20 LEDs are not initialized. If they started off they'll remain off. Not sure what'd happen if they started some other colour, I'd guess thay'd stay that colour.

Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.


   
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robotBuilder
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@will 

Bad idea or not the impression from what was asked that it was recommended way of solving some light brightness issue. I was addressing the question about "where does the power go" and "colliding currents". I haven't really read about these strips but a quick look shows they are not all the same. There is one for example where each led module has a chip to create a constant current led strip.


   
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robotBuilder
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@will 

The sketch needs the count to know how many data to send. If you specify more than the actual LED count, it keeps sending until your count is reached, but the phantom 20 LEDs aren't there so nothing appears to happen.

Ok so these strips are complicated connections of modules? Are they addressed as individual modules? Any links to explain all this?

 


   
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Will
 Will
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Posted by: @robotbuilder

@will 

The sketch needs the count to know how many data to send. If you specify more than the actual LED count, it keeps sending until your count is reached, but the phantom 20 LEDs aren't there so nothing appears to happen.

Ok so these strips are complicated connections of modules? Are they addressed as individual modules? Any links to explain all this?

 

Google is your friend ...

https://howtomechatronics.com/tutorials/arduino/how-to-control-ws2812b-individually-addressable-leds-using-arduino/

 

Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.


   
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Ron
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@robotbuilder YES, neopixels or individually addressable RGB leds have a chip on each light.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
Sure you can learn to be a programmer, it will take the same amount of time for me to learn to be a Doctor.


   
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robotBuilder
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The last time I remember these led strips was this thread.

https://forum.dronebotworkshop.com/arduino/theatre-chase-in-opposite-directions/

All the secrets are hidden in the fastLED library.

 


   
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Will
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Posted by: @robotbuilder

All the secrets are hidden in the fastLED library.

 

That's what libraries are for 🙂

 

Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're talking about.


   
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robotBuilder
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@will 

Noooo!!  I am old school. I like to know how things work at the bottom level even if I end up using a library. In this case I do know how addressable modules work and how to build one out of discrete digital chips.

 


   
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