QuinLED-Dig-Quad

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This is a DIY project, click here to go to the hardware guide | Pre-Assembled version is available now!

Specifications for v1 of the board, v2 changes coming soon!

This board is meant for individually addressable LEDs, if you are looking to control Analog LEDs, check out the QuinLED-Quad!

QuinLED-Dig-Quad is part of the QuinLED digital LED controller family and is an ESP8266/ESP32 powered WiFi connected addressable LED (strip) controller.

QuinLED-Dig-Quad is suited for Clocked (Data and Clock pin) and Clockless 5v or 12v Digital LED strips. Using clockless LED strip (such as WS2812b or SK6812) there are 4 independent level-shifted output channels. APA102 is known to work for one strip, but running 2 strips people have ran into issues with the current firmware versions. *Since WLED 0.12 I’ve had reports of users running 2x APA102 type strips without a problem!

Unique features of the QuinLED-Dig-Quad are 7 positive and negative output channels on the board running through 5 fuses (Channel 1&2 and 3&4 each share a fuse) making power injection much easier with all hardware and protection on the single board instead of having to use external components.

The QuinLED-Dig-Quad is compatible with WLED, ESPhome, EXPixelstick or custom code firmware. (Currently most don’t have support for running multiple output channels.)

QuinLED-Dig-Quad-AB_v3r1

QuinLED-Dig-Quad-ABE_v3r1

QuinLED-Dig-Quad

QuinLED-Dig-Quad-v2_back

top-shot

 

Features

• Choice of Microcontroller!
  • MH-ET D1 Mini 32 (ESP32)  <– Highly recommended! (Needed for multi-channel output)
    • Dual-Core CPU at 240Mhz
    • WiFi 2.4Ghz 802.11N connectivity
    • Wide software compatibility through Arduino IDE, Micropython or other distributions
    • Onboard Micro-USB port and Boot mode switch
• 4 channel 74AHCT125N Level Shifter
  • 3.3v –> 5v level shifter for driving longer wire and strip lengths without flickering or corruption issues
• 5v and 12v compatible
  • 12v compatibility using cheap LM7809 + LM7805 combination to reduce cost
  • Selectable 5v, 5vext or 12v design (input voltage = output voltage)
    • Before powering board, set power jumper to either 5v, 5vext or 12v
    • 5vext is an extra set of terminals on the board to enable a separate small 5v power supply for board electronics only and a big power supply for LED power
      • Ideal in a setup where a relay is used to trigger the Big Power supply on and off
      • Please see dedicated page here on how to use it!
• High current board design
  • Tested up to 50A of total power through the board
    • Continuous power officially listed at 30A
      • Maximum real power handling depends on several options detailed in power tables below
  • Plug Phoenix style or Cheap Screw terminals compatible
    • Please see power tables below for restrictions!
• Fuse protection
  • Automatic Polyfuse for onboard electronics
  • Onboard ATO style fuse holder for LED power outputs
    • Works in conjunction with “parallel diode” reverse polarity input and output protection
• 2x 20mm onboard capacitors and various onboard capacitors
  • Smooth out large power spikes for the power supply
  • Enhanced stability for power delivery to components
  • Limit power supply inrush to the LEDs
• Onboard DS18B20 temperature sensor
• 6 GPIO in/outputs available through pin headers (see pinout article)
  • Can be used for buttons (GPIO0), sensors, relay (Q3), etc.
  • Multiple 3.3v, 5v and GND pins available
  • I²C Bus pins available (for both ESP8266 and ESP32)
    • Example: optional OLED screen for use with WLED
  • A0 Audio pin header for audio reactive LEDs (Being tested)
  • Optional pull-high and pull-low pads for resistors available
• 4x Mounting holes
  • 4x M2.5
• Medium size
  • Fully assembled the size is about 10cm high by 5cm wide with a height of 2,5cm

Power handling

Power handling depends on two factors:

• Amount of copper on board (2OZ can handle more current then 1OZ)
• Terminals used on the board
  • Green Plug style Phoenix terminals are easy to use, but handle less power
    • Rated up to continuous power of ~20A
  • Screw terminals are a bit harder to work with, but handle more power
    • Rated up to continuous board power of 30A

Order the right type (1OZ/2OZ) and components (Phoenix/Screw terminal) for your project!

There are dedicated input terminals on one side of the board and there are dedicated output terminals on the other side of the board to the left and right from the clock and data output terminals.

5v/12v LED voltage

Input voltage = output voltage to the LEDs

Make sure to set the jumper into the correct position before you apply the new voltage

Putting 12v on the board with the jumper in the 5v position will fry the onboard components!

Addressable LED strip often comes with separate barrel plugs or cables to feed in more power into the strip directly and/or on both sides. The QuinLED-Dig-Quad has lots of power output terminals to easily hook these up. Each of those outputs if fused and the board is designed to handle a very high current throughput.

Maximum input/output power

Maximum power is a difficult subject. Listed power is continuous power through the board or port. Digital LEDs rarely use a constant amount of power because of effects being displayed. Generally the load of “Full RGB white” is the worst load imaginable and something that rarely or even happens in reality. General LED power is about 1/3rd for doing effects and such. So a 30A continuous rating doesn’t seem like much, but instead of “only” being able to handle 500 LEDs of 0,06Amps (which they generally don’t use, see my real world values) each, in reality using it up to 1000 to 1500+ LEDs displaying various patterns is going to be fine.

To calculate expected power usage, please use my real world tested chart here.

Maximum total sustained/continuous power input and output power through board

Using screw terminals, NOT Phoenix style plugs!

Maximum PEAK power input and output power through board

Maximum total sustained/continuous power per terminal and/or fuse