"Multi" under-cabinet Led Strips (Alexa / music reactive)

Treppen

Ok here's the plan.

I was wondering what LED strips people would recommend as there are so many .

Few requirements:

• Various sizes (or can I cut a 5m length into pieces for separate power outlets?)
• Preferably from Amazon.
• Individually addressable for special effects.
• RGB.
• Have LEDs close together, so more seemless (I can get a diffuser later).
• Alexa controlled.
• Music reactive.

Thanks

WildCardDoW

I got a standard Govee strip myself and it doesn't diffuse as well as I would have liked anyway. It and most other strips on Amazon are referred to as 5050 LED strips due to the type of LED they use. They typically don't have enough LEDs per meter to avoid hot spots even with a good diffuser but it's definitely a "your mileage may vary". I think technically this wouldn't impact you since you won't ever look directly at the LEDs even through a diffuser.

They do a nice RGBIC that has great features in terms of using the app to set the strips, but I don't see it suiting all your other needs (you can cut them but the app will never know you did and what you cut off is useless).

These, below, seems to handle most of your asks and it is what I've lined up to replace Govee (although I also want something that supports Zigbee so need to look at different controllers to you), it should handle good diffusion with the LEDs per foot/meter, habe the ability to do the music stuff and other stuff with some research. Specifically research controllers, you will need to buy multiple unless you can run normal wires between the strips - this would mean buying a few extra connectors that are shown on the store.

WS2812B

WS2813

WS2815

One thing to consider in a kitchen, I guess, is waterproofness (especially without a diffuser) so look at IP67, 65 models specifically - not sure what I've linked.

I think the issue after selecting your strip / strips is there isn't a controller that allows full addressable and music and Alexa.... Etc.

The individual addressable honestly seems OTT. If you look at the controller for that, you need to load programs etc. - basically unless it's something you've seen done easily I haven't seen anything covering it.

This type of controller hits most of your use cases? You just need to find the mstching one for the strip type above you select.

WS2812B LED Strip WiFi Music Controller with Dual Signal Output Ports

Read the reviews. Maybe a bit of googling to research each strip type (and even voltage differences).

What I should say is getting these on Ali Express makes more sense, as you can see the 2815 is 1M strips only on Amazon (with a lot of LEDs though, 144 per meter!) but I can't see greater than 1M, which means buying two strips for the sections greater than 1M or working out how to join sections between cut offs.

Very quickly your costs are in the €100 range.

The 2812 would be cheaper and will do the job, it's just you will have issues if one LED dies.

So you need to weigh cost v benefits.

But on Ali Express, you can get a 5M strip of 2815 for €20ish excl shipping.

Treppen

Yes, i think synchronising is my main issue between 3 different power sources/separate steps

I have a small bit of knowledge of using the Ws2812b with Arduino and was fairly impressed with the FastLED libraries, which is kind of why I'm drawn to the individually addressable ones.

https://youtu.be/T7LOWIrUKwY

WildCardDoW

If you can run all the wires back to a common source point, or as I said bridge between them with wires and have the ability to design something smart but custom you can go that route. I made the mistake of assuming you wouldn't want to go overly customised, sorry!

I don't think there's a pre built consumer pack for all your needs right now. So Ardiuno plus Pi might be needed.

Here's a setup for adding Alexa:

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/bportaluri/animated-smart-light-with-alexa-and-arduino-101b4b

And here is a music response one, maybe you know enough to get both functions?

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/MaheshBHISHNOI/how-to-make-diy-music-reactive-rgb-led-strip-ws2812b-0dbaf4

Treppen

That's brilliant thanks, I think I might make it more of a long term project, rather than an off-the-shelf solution. I'll post up photos if I ever get it working !

WildCardDoW

Yeah.

Heck out /r/FastLED on reddit, the users their seem to have a lot of knowledge that might help you decide how to handle bridging the gaps between your counter tops.

If you have the option to conceal wire then you only need one power source, one Arduino etc.

Looking forward to updates.

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119862180#Comment_119862180

Ya I'll check it out, don't have one power source (only can work with 3 ...unless I'm drilling holes in the ceiling!).

I see those Arduino ESP32s are cheap enough and use Bluetooth so maybe I can sync the light mode between the 3 strips.

WildCardDoW

Yeah if you do a pulse effect or whatever and send it to each controller they will all pulse etc?

Just might not be easy to sync between them (as in treat then as a loop).