r/WLED

Hi all, I'm installing SK6812 LED strips from BTF-Lighting with WLED on a ESP32 controller and I'm wondering if the results I'm getting are as I can expect them to be or if there is some hardware or wiring problem here.

I'm using a 5V power supply that's running ~7 feet 16AWG / 2 meter 1.31mm2 wires to my ESP32 controller, which is then using short thin wires (don't know the exact dimensions, but I think 4 inches 22AWG / 10cm 0.5mm2) to go from the ESP32 controller to the LED strip.

I think some of the presets have strange behavior, and I'm noticing discrete steps in brightness changes. I've included a video where you can hopefully sort of see what I mean, but it's more noticeable in person than on the video unfortunately.

I'm starting with the Color Clouds preset, which seems off to me with the occasional short shut down of the light. The changes in color are very stepwise and discrete, and I don't know if this is on purpose in the way the preset is programmed or if it means that the LED don't respond quickly enough to the instructions. (Note that the yellowish white dropping out twice is because of me changing the brightness setting, but the shutting down of all the light is not the result of me doing anything).

I'm then switching to solids and increase and decreasing the brightness. I'm not sure it's visible in the video, but especially on the lower brightness settings, any changes in brightness are very noticeably happening in steps.

The video ends with Chunchun, which seems quite smooth, which is why I'm wondering if the "problem" is just that some presets deliberately don't use interpolation, and that brightness increases and decreases are simply noticeable when brightness is low due to the discrete lighting steps being bigger relatively (e.g. going from 1% to 2% brightness is a 100% increase, whereas 50% to 51% is a 2% increase, so the former is more noticeable).

Essentially my question here: is there a power or data transfer issue here, or are my expectations of smoothness unrealistic?

I realize I can solve interpolation between LEDs with a diffuser, but I'm not sure that does anything for brightness increase and decrease smoothness.

Any help is appreciated! I'm quite new to this whole WLED game, so if I didn't include enough info or included too much, let me know.

Got the idea and files from this post https://www.reddit.com/r/WLED/comments/1ve2ab2/luxplant_mini_update/ (All the praise belongs to u/PinkyDexterity)

Printing was absolutely seamless, assembly took a bit of time as the parts are small and the wiring was tough but I'm so happy with how it turned out and I can't wait for the larger version!

I added my own custom fluting detail to the outside of the pot and still have to cover the base with some fake moss to complete the look.

Ordered this from Ali, is that a standard wled matrix effect or something custom, reviews state lack of timezone setting so installing bare wled would be helpful.