Flickering Lights with new Power Supply

schwoon · July 15, 2024 at 9:06 PM

Hi everyone,

I just finished installing my sk6812 LED Strip to my Raspberry Pi 3B and I run it over GPIO 10 with the sk6812spi controller. I modified the things everyone tells you to modify via ssh when using this controller. It works fine with my 5V/10A power supply, but when i switch to a 5V/15A power supply (which I need for the amount of LEDs), the lights start flickering in all different colours after a while. It seems completely random and doesnt stop until i either unplug the data cable (in which case the random lights freeze) or unplug power. I have the Ground cables connected and run both pi and LEDs in parallel. Does anyone know the source of this problem and how to fix it.

Ambient_theater77 · July 15, 2024 at 11:51 PM

measure voltage. Must not exceed 5.2 volts with load. Make sure you have a solid and soldered GND.

Power the strip from both sides with +5 volt and GND.

schwoon · July 16, 2024 at 11:42 AM

The ground is properly soldered and solid. Maybe i will just stick to the 50W Power Supply. With maximum load i would need around 55W (around 180 LEDs and the pi) but that is only necessary when all LEDs are white isn’t it? Why should powering from both sides prevent the flickering?

Ambient_theater77 · July 16, 2024 at 1:27 PM

it doesn't but colours is more vibrant.

For reference: I have 300 leds type HD107S and at full brightness they use a maximum of 14A included the Raspi.

And yes I powered from both sides because of fading and yellowing colours

it's actually 3 points, begin middle and end.

schwoon · July 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM

So you basically just connect the end of the strip with the beginning of the strip so that it forms a circle? And the flickering is most likely a result of an inconsistent power supply, so I have to install a limiter?

Ambient_theater77 · July 16, 2024 at 6:11 PM

yes because it's DC voltage it doesn't matter, and you won't have a potential difference/voltage drop at the end.

Mostly after 150 leds you have to power in 2 or threefold points on the strip.

I don't know what the problem is with the flickering, it only happens with switch the PSU?

I suspect 🤨 the CPU, I only use Meanwell.

A led strip is really sensitive for faulty DC, measure AC must be 0 !! If you measure AC then rectifier isn't good...

Goodluck

schwoon · July 16, 2024 at 10:20 PM

Sadly i dont have a way of measuring AC but I just figured out something interesting. As soon as i touch the insulation of the power supply cable or any other cable before the input to the LED, the flickering suddenly stops! How can that be, is the ground of the power supply faulty?

pclin · July 17, 2024 at 11:28 AM Official Post

Probably a connection, ground problem or cold solder joint.

regards pclin

schwoon · July 17, 2024 at 1:41 PM

But if i am not mistaken the issue can only be caused by the power supply, since a different one is working properly?

Ambient_theater77 · July 17, 2024 at 10:55 PM

Quote from schwoon

But if i am not mistaken the issue can only be caused by the power supply, since a different one is working properly?

PSU needs to have earth connection on the power socket. So L + N and earth.

Seems that PSU isn't grounded correct like pclin said, I think the same

Flickering Lights with new Power Supply

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