First draft of the LED BOX blog post

First draft

content/blog/2024/ledboxwled/index.md

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+---
+title: "LED Box WLED"
+subtitle: "Building a control box for WS2812Bs"
+date: 2024-10-02T00:00:00Z
+toc: false
+tags:
+  - 2812b
+  - led
+  - cost effective
+  - WLED
+  - esp32
+draft: true
+author: Andrew K
+author_email: leighhack@shamrock.org.uk
+listing_image: images/IMG_3606.jpg
+---
+I wanted to build a control box for 2 LED strips of WS2812s. This is for a display in a bedroom, but I also wanted it to be controllable from mobile/desktop, along with multiple colours and brightness controls!
+
+# How to break it down into components
+
+First I needed to work out the different components I needed and how they would be put together, to make sure they fit in the location I wanted but also portable enough if I ever wanted to take them away.
+
+- ESP32 - Simple and effectively using [WLED](https://kno.wled.ge/)
+- Two LED strips to be used 
+- Two LED diffusers. They are aluminium with a diffusing cover. They are readily available on Amazon/Ebay/Other locations.
+- An enclosure for the ESP32 and allow the LED strips to plug in
+- 2 x 3 Pin sockets and plugs 
+- 1 x PSU socket for a 5v power supply
+- A PSU that can plug into the enclosure.
+
+# Components 
+
+Enclosure
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/blankenclosure.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Male/Female 3 pin DIN connectors and 2.1mm PSU connector
+
+These were placed in the honeycomb to create a simpler picture
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3607.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+The 3 pin connectors were chosen to connect the LEDs so each one had a +v, -v and data line.
+
+# ESP32 Terminal adaptor for the enclosure
+
+To keep things as simple as possible I used a ESP32 terminal adaptor and stuck this to the inside of the enclosure.
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3614.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3603.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Drilled some holes for the connectors
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3580.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Created a cable to plug into the enclosure and to WS2812B LED strip
+
+I got hold of 2 x 3 pin JST extension cable and by using one half created a cable to connect to the LED strip and enclosure
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3585.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+Then attached to the LED strip
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3600.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+To tidy things up I then used some heat shrink around the new cable.
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3601.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Some soldering
+
+As the terminal adaptor could take two ESP32 sizes, and I had the smaller of the two, I can use breadboard cables to solder all the positions and then just plug into the terminals I needed.
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3581.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3604.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Install WLED
+
+If you following the installation procedure found [here](https://kno.wled.ge/basics/install-binary/) it sets up all the elements you need and then you can configure to use the GPIO pins you need.
+
+# All set up and working
+
+You can use the WLED interface to change colours and enable patterns
+
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3605.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3606.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}
+
+# Finally Installed and Working
+  
+All installed for the location. The LEDs and diffuser has been cut to the correct length.
+  
+{{< bgallery width="90" >}}
+{{< fimage src="images/IMG_3663.jpg" width="300" height="200" float="inline-block">}}
+{{< /bgallery >}}