Some questions about the blinkstick flex

I’m planning to purchase a blinkstick flex but had three questions first.

  1. If I purchase the flex controller without any LEDs, which LEDs do I need to purchase for per LED controll? 5050?

  2. With the stand alone controller, how do you attach LEDs. I assume soldering?

  3. If I purchase the flex with an LED strip, is it possible to cut it half, then reattach it with 30cm of wire? Do I just solder it or would I purchase some remade connectors

Links to products would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi @aidanalexander100,

Welcome to the forums! Here are answers to your questions:

  1. You need WS2812 LEDs, any will do

  2. Yes you need to solder LEDs to standalone controller

  3. Yes, you can cut the strip anywhere right in the middle of LED strip between any two LEDs and reattach it with soldered wires.

Thanks!

Does WS2812 refer to the ability to control individual LEDs?

And 5050 refer to the type of LED diode?

WS2812 are LEDs with serial interface, they have an ability to be controlled individually. 5050 is more package type for LEDs, just describes the size of the LED component. WS2812 are actually 5050, but they are different to standard RGB LEDs, because they have digital controller inside each of them and basic 5050 RGB LEDs just have pins for separate R, G and B LEDs inside of them.

Sounds good so far.

Is it as simple as cutting the WS2812 strip and then connecting 3 wires to the soldering points?

Is it difficult to remove the plastic to get to the connection points?

I have purchased a flex controller! Super excited

The connection points are exposed and it’s just a matter of using some solder and wire to reconnect everything. Really really easy :smile:

Thanks for your purchase! You order will be shipped on Tuesday, because it’s Easter bank holiday weekend and Royal Mail needs to rest… :mailbox_with_mail:

Thanks! I might be purchasing some more of your products for work. We build a CRM management system and use it ourselves to manage support. Might see if I can use it to notify me when I get an email

Email notifications are already part of BlinkStick Client application. You can download the latest RC release here in the forums.

BlinkStick Square with enclosure is great for notifications in the office :wink:

Hi,

Just wanted to check if my order had been despatched? I was unsure if I’d receive an email or not when it was despatched.

Thanks,

Aidan

It was bank holiday Friday and this Monday, so it’s being dispatched today. You should receive it tomorrow :smiley:

Great, we had spoke previously so I knew it wasn’t to be sent until today. I’m just very excited to begin playing with it, and wanted to double check!

Thanks again

You’ll get an email notification when it’s dispatched :smile:

Hi Arvy,

My blinkstick just arrived! Thank you for the free upgrade to 1st class delivery, much appreciated!

I’ll have hours of fun tinkering with it I’m sure! :slight_smile:

Hi again,

I am having an issue with

"Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

A request for the USB device descriptor failed."

I’ve tried the trouble shooting tips that someone posted here and on other websites but I can’t get it to function, i’m out of ideas.

Do you have LEDs connected?

Yeah, I do. I’ve managed to make my PC recognise the controller now. But I have a new issue that I cannot control the lights, they flash once when you plug the flex into power but cannot be controlled after then

I just undid all my soldering and the gnd solder contact on the flex is no longer present. Could that be causing this issue?

I cannot reconnect to the gnd solder point now, so I’m thinking it must of been that not allow me to control the LEDs? Not sure what to do now :’(

The solder point is not present anymore? What have you done with your device? This only happens if you do a too hot soldering… I´m sad to say but you need the GND. Maybe you could get luck with soldering it at the front nearby the components. But if the solder point is already gone then you could have destroyed the components, too :confused: