wled.deby LED-Emotion DE

WLED · open source · ESP32 · no cloud

Pixel-perfect light with WLED. Clearly explained.

What you need, how to connect and set it up, and what helps when something goes wrong. With verified facts, calculators and real products, from LED-Emotion in Lehrte, Germany.

Open the guidePlan a set
FX Wipe · Solid56 px

What do you want to build?

Kitchen & living

Task light that turns into ambience at night

Strip
Pixel strip warm white 24 V, 48 pixels/m
Pixel strip RGB 24 V, 10 pixels/m
Controller
4336-116-RF WLED pixel controller, 2 channels / relays / RF
4336-616 WLED pixel controller, 2 channels + relays + LAN
4336-211 WLED 5-in-1 PWM controller
Effect
Solid in warm white, “Wipe” from left to right when switching on

Example: 4 m × 16.8 W/m = 67 W → PSU 24 V from 81 W

See the full recipe →

    How WLED works

    Three parts, one network, no subscription

    A power supply delivers the energy, a controller running WLED generates the signal, the LED strip turns it into light. You control it in the browser or the free WLED app, locally on your network.

    For beginners
    No soldering needed if you order strips with a pre-fitted cable. The controller has screw terminals.
    For developers
    ESP32 firmware, JSON/HTTP API, WebSockets, MQTT, E1.31, Art-Net, DDP, ESP-NOW. Repository: wled/WLED.
    Read the basics →
    Wiring: power supply, controller and pixel strip with injection at the end PSU230 V → 24 V ControllerESP32 · WLED DIN →→ DO V+ GND DATA Extra injection at the end: V+ and GND only, never the data line
    Basic circuit: positive and ground from the PSU to controller and strip, data from the controller to DIN. The strip's datasheet states from which length to inject (1 to 10 m in the range).

    Explained for you

    Where are you right now?

    Every explanation on wled.de exists at four depths. All pages remember your choice.

    Explained for:
    Beginner

    I just want nice lighting

    What to buy, how to plug it in, how to be done in 15 minutes. No jargon.

    Continue →    DIY

    I build it myself

    Size PSU and injection, wire cleanly, segments and presets.

    Continue →    Business

    We're planning a project

    Retail, fairs, hospitality, furniture: continuous operation, LAN, relays, documentation, support.

    Continue →    Developer

    I integrate and develop

    JSON API, MQTT, DDP, Art-Net, pinouts and builds.

    Continue →

    Tools

    Calculate instead of guessing

    Set planner

    Pick strip and length: power, PSU, injection points, matching controller and shopping list.

    Controller finder

    Tick what you need. The finder highlights the matching models.

    Troubleshooting

    Pick the symptom, check step by step. The most common cause comes first.

    71 answers

    Every question at four levels of detail, with search that understands everyday words.

    From the range

    Controllers with WLED

    All with ESP32. Prices incl. VAT, as of 28.10.2026.

    pixel

    WLED pixel controller, 2 channels

    The entry point for pixel strips: two independent outputs, ESP32, Wi-Fi.

    €23.80    pixel

    WLED pixel controller, 2 channels, microphone

    Two pixel outputs plus a microphone for effects that follow the music. Very compact.

    €23.80    pixel

    WLED pixel controller, 2 channels + relays + LAN

    For continuous operation: Ethernet, relay and fuse per output, microphone, dry-contact input.

    €28.56    pwm

    WLED 5-in-1 PWM controller

    For classic strips without pixels: single colour, tunable white, RGB, RGBW and RGB+CCT.

    €23.80
    Compare all 9 controllersMatching LED strips

    Verified facts

    WLED in numbers

    16.0.1current version, 7 July 2026 (16.0.0: 3 May 2026)
    100+built-in effects, combinable with palettes
    0 €licence cost, open source under EUPL v1.2
    2 M+downloads according to the WLED team

    Sources: GitHub Releases · README · kno.wled.ge

    Specialist retailer from Lehrte near HanoverPhone adviceDatasheets, CE and RoHS documentsSources for every figure