Arduino, it's simple
- Arduino with USB (for example an Arduino Nano for 2.5$ or Arduino UNO for more flexibility)
- Led strip with WS2812b (for example 1m, 60 leds for 5$
- Power Supply 5V 2A (you find them from 2 to 3$)
Now you need to connect the strip and the Arduino:
It is simple:
- connect the power directly to the led strip (red = 5V, black or white = GROUND).
- connect the power also to the Arduino (5V to 5V and GROUND to GND).
- connect the Data wire from Arduino PIN (choose between 0 to 13) to the LED strip.
If you connect the Arduino to a USB, you don't need to power it also with your power supply, but you need to connect the 2 grounds together.
If you have different LED strips, power each led strip with your power supply and connect each led strip (data wire) to another Arduino pin
Current Each LED on the ledstrip can use up to 0.05A if you want it as white led with maximal brightness. This means that you have to choose the right power supply. Example for a 1m led strip with 60leds: 0.05A * 60 leds = 3.0A -> This is a lot! The online generator will give you an approximative value of the current used for your led strip.
Protection Even if you can connect the led strip directly, it is better if you protect the modules a little bit.
Since the led strip could have another power supply, it is possible that the Arduino pin will drain the current instead of give it. To save the led strip, it is a good idea to put a resistor of 100Ω just to prevent a high current between led strip and Arduino.
If the led strip is powered off and you want to light up every led with a white color, the power supply could be too slow to give the entire current. This will stress your power supply. To save it a little bit, you should put an electrolitic capacitor between 5V and GND, something between 47μF and 100μF - 16V (16V or 25V are the cheapest one normally).
