wled.deby LED-Emotion DE

Guide

Setting up WLED, step by step

Plan, size the PSU, wire, set up, back up. In the order you actually do it.

STEP 1

Plan: three questions before buying

Which effect? Chasers and animation need a pixel strip; single-colour or white light a PWM strip.

How long? Measure the total length. Power, PSU and feed points follow from it.

Which voltage? Long runs 24 V, short fine effects 5 V. All three parts with the same voltage.

For beginners
Starter shopping list: a controller (e.g. 4336-015), a matching strip, a PSU with 20 % headroom, an aluminium profile. Tool: a screwdriver. The set planner puts it all together.
For business
For projects additionally: mounting and injection plan, network plan (IP, VLAN), documentation and maintenance concept.
STEP 2

Size the power supply

Calculate with the watt rating from the strip datasheet. For strips from the range the set planner does it for you.

–LED power
–Current at full white
–Minimum PSU
–Current limit (ABL) at most

Example values: 24 V WS2811 pixel strip, 13 W/m. The current limiter only estimates and does not replace a fuse.

For DIYers
P = W/m × m, I = P ÷ U, PSU ≥ P × 1.2. With several PSUs connect GND, never parallel the positive outputs.
For developers
ABL: estimate from mA/LED × channel share × brightness, default 850 mA. Live value in /json/info → leds.pwr.

Sources: Adafruit: 850 mA · WLED-Forum: ABL misst nicht

STEP 3

Wiring

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).

  1. Everything de-energised

    Disconnect the PSU from 230 V. Mains-side connections only by a qualified electrician.

  2. PSU to controller

    Positive (V+) and negative (GND) to the input terminals. Check polarity.

  3. Controller to strip

    V+, data and GND to the DIN end (arrows point away from the controller). Keep the data line short.

  4. Inject if needed

    Beyond the maximum feed length, feed V+ and GND additionally at the end or at intervals from the PSU. Never inject the data line.

  5. Fuse and cool

    One fuse per output; cross-section by current. Mount strips on aluminium profiles.

Safety
High currents on the low-voltage side heat cables and terminals. Fuses and suitable cross-sections are mandatory, even at 5 V.
For developers
ESP32 data level 3.3 V; WS2812B expects ≥ 0.7 × VDD. Long data lines: level shifter or booster, series resistor 220–470 Ω close to the output.
STEP 4

Set up in five steps

  1. Power on, pick the hotspot

    On phone or laptop choose the Wi-Fi WLED-AP, password wled1234. A page opens; otherwise enter 4.3.2.1 in the browser.

  2. Enter home Wi-Fi

    Config → WiFi Setup: network name and password (2.4 GHz only). Set a device name (mDNS), e.g. wled-kitchen, and change the hotspot password. “Save & Connect”.

  3. Find the controller again

    Back to your home Wi-Fi, then open http://wled-kitchen.local or let the WLED app search. 4.3.2.1 no longer works now.

  4. Configure LEDs

    Config → LED Preferences: LED type, colour order, pixel count, data pin (datasheet) and current limit to match the PSU. On relay controllers set the relay pin.

  5. Test and back up

    Test white at full brightness: does the end stay white? Then save scenes as presets and back up configuration and presets under Security & Updates.

For beginners
Stuck? The WLED app finds controllers on your home network automatically. Or look for “WLED” in your router’s device list.
For business
For installations: DHCP reservation, settings PIN and update protection, set hotspot behaviour, archive the configuration.

Sources: kno.wled.ge Quick Start

STEP 5

LED Preferences: the key fields

The most important hardware menu in WLED. Explained in detail in the LED Preferences guide by LED-Emotion (German).

FieldWhat to enter
Total LEDsSum of all pixels. Determines memory, load and current estimate.
Max current (ABL)PSU rated current. The 850 mA default is usually too low.
LED voltageVoltage/type for the consumption model, e.g. “5V default (55mA)”.
LED typeProtocol, usually WS281x; RGBW strips as RGBW type.
Color orderUsually GRB for WS2812B. Wrong colours? Change it here.
Start / LengthStart address and pixel count per output. Output 2 starts after output 1.
GPIOData pin per datasheet, e.g. 4336-116-RF: IO2 and IO16.
ReversedReverses direction in software. Handy if the strip is mounted the other way round.
Skip first LEDsSkips pixels at the start, e.g. hidden pixels behind a corner.
Off RefreshKeeps sending data while off. Helps against glowing and flashing.
Relay GPIORelay pin; “Invert” for inverted logic (4336-116-RF: IO21, IO19).
Button GPIOPush button, switch, motion sensor (PIR) or touch.
Turn LEDs on after power upLEDs come back on after a power cut. With “Apply preset at boot” in a defined state.
Gamma correctionMatched to the eye; keep it on for colour.
TransitionsCrossfade and transition time, e.g. 700 ms.
Timed LightNight light timer with duration and fade.
STEP 6

Segments, effects, presets

Segments split a strip into zones with their own effect. Effect plus palette, speed and intensity make the look. What you like becomes a preset; several presets in sequence a playlist.

Under Time & Macros you start presets by time of day, e.g. warm white from 6 pm. The time comes via NTP; set time zone and DST.

For DIYers
Create presets first, then assign them to remote or buttons. Saves a lot of clicking later.
Safety
Note from the WLED project: people with photosensitive epilepsy should avoid strobe, lightning and noise effects and very high speeds.
STEP 7

Updates & backup

Before each update back up configuration and presets under Config → Security & Updates. Then upload the matching .bin for your chip from the GitHub releases, or via USB with the web installer install.wled.me.

For business
Test updates on one device first. Don’t blindly overwrite controllers with a vendor build (custom pinout) with generic images.
STEP 8

Home Assistant, Alexa, remote

Home Assistant discovers WLED automatically. Each segment becomes its own light, presets and playlists are selectable, updates run directly from Home Assistant. Requirement: WLED 0.14 or newer.

Alexa: enable in the sync settings, then search for devices in the Alexa app. Remote 4336-001: uses ESP-NOW without a router; pair it per the manual (PDF, German).

For developers
The integration uses WebSocket push and checks releases every three hours. It does not control usermods like AudioReactive; use MQTT or the JSON API.

Sources: home-assistant.io: WLED