Finished logo sign on the wall

My backlit logo stopped working. I'm still not sure why, but connecting a 12V supply to its 5V strip while troubleshooting definitely finished it off.

My sister and brother-in-law made the sign. To get it working again, I used some 12V RGBW COB strip left over from my rack build and a QuinLED Dig-Next-2.

Parts

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I considered a Gledopto Elite, but couldn't confidently pick a model from the listings. QuinLED's documentation was clearer, and I'd already had good results with their Dig-Quad. The smaller Dig-Next-2 has fused outputs, level shifters, and WLED preinstalled.

Wiring and mounting

The supply connects to the controller's power input. The strip connects to 12V, ground, and data on the output.

Check the arrows on the strip: data travels away from the controller. I had the wrong end and had to unroll the entire reel.

Controller power and LED wiring
Direction arrows on the strip

This was the wrong end: the arrows point towards the loose connector. I needed the other end for the controller.

Inside the box, I kept the controller clear of the translucent cut-outs and taped the strip down in S-shaped loops. Cutting and soldering shorter lengths would look tidier, but the box is deep enough to hide the loops. I left them.

I also wired a white extension cable directly into the controller so the power brick could sit out of sight.

LED strip and controller mounted inside the sign

The strip layout before connecting the extension cable.

WLED settings

Connect to the controller's WiFi network and open 4.3.2.1 to enter your WiFi details. Once it joins your network, find it in the WLED app or use its new IP address from your router.

The end of my strip stayed dark until I increased the LED count. This strip has 16 addressable groups per metre. I could have counted them; instead, I raised the number until everything lit up.

These settings worked for my sign:

Setting

Value

LED count

50 — adjust for your strip length

LED type

SK6812/WS2814 RGBW

Colour order

GRB

Swap

W & G

WLED LED count set to 50

The sign is back on the wall. Meteor Smooth is my favourite effect so far.

The same strip also lights my rack, driven by a Dig-Quad. That build is covered in my rack lighting post.