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QuinLED-Dig-Quad
DIY v3
Specifications

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This is a DIY project, click here to go to the hardware guide | Pre-Assembled version is available now!
If you are looking for the specifications of the QuinLED-Dig-Quad DIY v1 please go here

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 ESP32 (ESP8266 support dropped in v3!) powered WiFi or Ethernet connected addressable LED (strip) controller.

QuinLED-Dig-Quad is suited for Clocked (Data and Clock pin) and Clockless 5v, 12v or 24v 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.)

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QuinLED-Dig-Quad-ABE_v3r1
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Features

  • Uses Espressif ESP32 Micro-controller
    • Recommended to use QuinLED-ESP32 !
      • Compatible with all variants including Ethernet
    • Also compatible with generic MH-ET D1 Mini 32 (ESP32)
  • 4 channel 74AHCT125N Level Shifter
    • 3.3v –> 5v level shifter for driving longer wire and strip lengths without flickering or corruption issues
  • 5v-24v voltage input and strip/pixel compatible
    • Input terminals for getting maximum input power through the board
    • Selectable 5v or 12v/24v design (input voltage = output voltage)
      • Jumper to set either 5v or 12v/24v
        • If only 5v is desired you can save on component cost and not add the 12v components!
  • vEXT feature
    • Allows running the board with 2 power supplies
      • Enables running off standby power (5v phone charger for instance) while main high-power LED power supply is switches off with a relay
  • High current board design
    • Tested up to 50A of total power through the board
    • Extra large high current input and output screw terminals
  • Multiple Fuse protection
    • Automatic Polyfuse for onboard electronics
    • Onboard ATO style fuse holder for LED power outputs
      • Allows to fuse multiple power injection wires safely
      • Works in conjunction with “parallel diode” reverse polarity input and output protection
  • 1x 1500uF 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
  • Optional onboard DS18B20 temperature sensor
  • 6 GPIO in/outputs available through pin headers (see pinout article)
    • Can be used for buttons, sensors, etc.
      • Dedicated button pin broken out with pull-up resistor
      • Analog audio input broken out (A0 pin)
    • Multiple 3.3v, 5v and GND pins available
    • I²C Bus pins available
    • 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 the amount of copper that is applied to the PCB. Generally these values are 1OZ by default or 2OZ if you pay extra. Depending on your needs you need to select the right amount of copper you need in your boards.

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 LED data output terminals.

Input voltage = output voltage to the LEDs. If you build a 5v/12v-24v switchable board, make sure to set the jumper into the correct position before you apply the new voltage.

Putting 12v/24v on the board with the jumper in the 5v position will fry the onboard components!

Addressable LED strip often comes with separate Red (Positive) and White (Negative) wires to feed in more power into the strip directly and/or on both sides. I’ve designed the QuinLED-Dig series to handle as much amperage as possible through the board but there are limits. If more power is needed, please feed the strip directly next to doing so through the board, make sure to do so from the same power supply and properly individually fused!

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

Maximum PEAK power input and output power through board

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