Thank you for the video! I've been a bit hesitant with WLED because I have 0 experience soldering/electric/coding or whatever. I found your channel and I just ordered some stuff to try my first WLED strip to upgrade my desk/pc setup. I appreciate the way you explain things! Definitely going to watch more of your videos about WLED!
You are very welcome! I'm glad my video could inspire you to try to build a WLED controller. Once you get started and get over a little bit of that initial nervousness, you'll see how easy it really can be. Not that you won't run into some frustrations or a make a few mistakes now and then, but the end result of making your own device is well worth it (at least in my opinion). Good luck with your WLED project. Let me know how it goes!
Another great tutorial! Excellent ideas for the inexpensive tools that really help get the job done. I enjoyed the detail explanation on every step. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Thanks! This video may be a little _too_ basic for some of my normal viewers, but I made it in response to all the comments I've received from folks that say they'd like to try building their own devices but.... (substitute a reason). Hopefully I can encourage at least a few of those folks to try a few basic devices and then grow their skills from there.
Good stuff! Great thing about these projects is they're almost all low voltage/amperage, and low risk. I've been soldering for a very long time but just a few years back started using flux, game changer in terms of speed and quality. Something I do with new projects is use a battery brick instead of plugging it in to the wall "just in case" when using an ESP with a usb port.
Thanks! While I neglected to mention it here, in a number of my other videos when it comes to soldering I say "flux is your friend"! Just a little flux can help substantially... especially when starting out. I have only done a few battery powered projects... but it is a pretty good idea to have a little battery pack on hand for initial prototypes. (I've occasionally used a USB power bank as well... I should have thrown that in as an option as well). To be honest, 90% of the time I just use my benchtop power supply (which is fused). But for this video, I was trying to target those folks that might have never build any sort of electronic device, so I wanted to keep it as simple as possible with as few parts or tools as possible. But I do like the idea of a little battery pack or 5V power bank as a quick temporary power source for initial prototypes. Thanks for the tip. And thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
Well, being a DIY guy, I actually built my own from an old PC power supply: th-cam.com/video/B_mpa0T-9MU/w-d-xo.html It was a great learning project for me, and I was able to create something targeted towards most of my projects, with fixed 3.3V, 5V and 12V outputs, but also with a variable output between 1-12V. I like it because I can output up to three different voltages simultaneously. I will often use 3.3V and 5V at the same time, which eliminates the need for any sort of buck/boost converter while I'm doing my initial prototyping. But it is a little bulky, and you can certainly buy ones that are much smaller. For me, this was one of my most enjoyable projects (I love to try to build DIY versions of retail products)... and also ended up being something that I routinely use for other projects.
You are very welcome! I hope that I might be able to inspire a few folks to give creating a DIY device a shot. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.
Thanks! I made that shirt for myself after working on a project where I fried about a half dozen potentiometers in a row. Speaking with someone about the issue, they said "Uh... did you forget about Ohm's law?". So yeah, I have to remind myself from time to time that Ohm's law isn't just a suggestion... it's a law! Thanks for the comment. I do appreciate it!
You are very welcome! I do try to target a range of experiences in my videos, but this one was specifically targeted at those people that have said that they'd love to try one of my projects, but either had trepidations or felt like things were too complicated. I really wanted to show that you can get started (safely) with very few items, then slowly add some basic tools and components as you gain experience. Thanks for watching... and thanks so much for the kind comment!
About the wider ESP32 on breadboard, I usually pull away one of the "powerstrips" then combine two breadboards, that way the ESP32 can be placed across two breadboards and give you plenty of holes on both sides of the ESP32 🙂
I have a larger prototype breadboard (similar to this amzn.to/3zFho7A ) where I can do the same thing with the wider ESP32s. But I was trying to keep the starter parts list as simple and low cost as possible for someone just starting out, and I've had a lot of comments from folks that bought and ESP32 and that it wouldn't fit on a standard breadboard (or more commonly the ElectroCookie solderable breadboard), so I wanted to mention that you could buy the narrower ESP32s when using a breadboard or an ElectroCookie. But I appreciate the tip, as it could definitely help others just starting out. And thanks for watching!
I actually have quite a few other videos where I'm working with mains power. And a number of my LED videos (especially the larger LED projects) use those bigger "transformer" style power supplies with the screw terminals you are referring to. You might check out a couple of those. This one in particular has a whole segment on selecting the proper power supply for your project: th-cam.com/video/GZv5Ztj6i6I/w-d-xo.html While it is specifically about LED projects, the concepts apply to any electronics project and I show the various options, including the ones with screw terminals.
There are a lot of great projects out there that can be done by someone with little-to-no experience. For some (myself included at the start), you just have to get over the fear that you might fry an occasional component now and then and that with just a little bit of learning, these types of projects can be built by most anyone without a workshop full of tools and equipment.
Coding is my issue….. I’d be a lot further along without it lol Being hands on doesn’t help watching videos as most go too fast don’t speak very good english and I can’t ask questions as needed.
Well, for most of my project videos where I'm building something or that include code, I do try to include a companion written guide so that you can refer to it as needed without trying to find a particular point in the video and 'freeze frame' it to use something like one of the wiring diagrams. But I here ya! I felt much the same way when I first started and was trying to follow along with a video. But I find that watching the video to get a general understanding, then referring to a written guide or version (if there is one) for actually building the project has worked well for me.
Thank you for the video! I've been a bit hesitant with WLED because I have 0 experience soldering/electric/coding or whatever. I found your channel and I just ordered some stuff to try my first WLED strip to upgrade my desk/pc setup. I appreciate the way you explain things! Definitely going to watch more of your videos about WLED!
You are very welcome! I'm glad my video could inspire you to try to build a WLED controller. Once you get started and get over a little bit of that initial nervousness, you'll see how easy it really can be. Not that you won't run into some frustrations or a make a few mistakes now and then, but the end result of making your own device is well worth it (at least in my opinion).
Good luck with your WLED project. Let me know how it goes!
Another great tutorial! Excellent ideas for the inexpensive tools that really help get the job done. I enjoyed the detail explanation on every step. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Thanks! This video may be a little _too_ basic for some of my normal viewers, but I made it in response to all the comments I've received from folks that say they'd like to try building their own devices but.... (substitute a reason).
Hopefully I can encourage at least a few of those folks to try a few basic devices and then grow their skills from there.
Good stuff! Great thing about these projects is they're almost all low voltage/amperage, and low risk.
I've been soldering for a very long time but just a few years back started using flux, game changer in terms of speed and quality.
Something I do with new projects is use a battery brick instead of plugging it in to the wall "just in case" when using an ESP with a usb port.
Thanks! While I neglected to mention it here, in a number of my other videos when it comes to soldering I say "flux is your friend"! Just a little flux can help substantially... especially when starting out.
I have only done a few battery powered projects... but it is a pretty good idea to have a little battery pack on hand for initial prototypes. (I've occasionally used a USB power bank as well... I should have thrown that in as an option as well).
To be honest, 90% of the time I just use my benchtop power supply (which is fused). But for this video, I was trying to target those folks that might have never build any sort of electronic device, so I wanted to keep it as simple as possible with as few parts or tools as possible. But I do like the idea of a little battery pack or 5V power bank as a quick temporary power source for initial prototypes. Thanks for the tip. And thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
No problem!
Do you have a benchtop power supply you can recommend? Been meaning to get one (and a bench :P ) but haven't yet.
Well, being a DIY guy, I actually built my own from an old PC power supply: th-cam.com/video/B_mpa0T-9MU/w-d-xo.html
It was a great learning project for me, and I was able to create something targeted towards most of my projects, with fixed 3.3V, 5V and 12V outputs, but also with a variable output between 1-12V. I like it because I can output up to three different voltages simultaneously. I will often use 3.3V and 5V at the same time, which eliminates the need for any sort of buck/boost converter while I'm doing my initial prototyping. But it is a little bulky, and you can certainly buy ones that are much smaller. For me, this was one of my most enjoyable projects (I love to try to build DIY versions of retail products)... and also ended up being something that I routinely use for other projects.
Awesome, thanks. Will dig in to that next. 🙂
Thanks for all the info shared, much appreciated!!
You are very welcome! I hope that I might be able to inspire a few folks to give creating a DIY device a shot. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.
Great startup video, with tons of detail and great explanations, but my favorite part is the shirt, I love it!
Thanks! I made that shirt for myself after working on a project where I fried about a half dozen potentiometers in a row. Speaking with someone about the issue, they said "Uh... did you forget about Ohm's law?".
So yeah, I have to remind myself from time to time that Ohm's law isn't just a suggestion... it's a law! Thanks for the comment. I do appreciate it!
Great video. Thank you for putting out content like this.
You are very welcome! I do try to target a range of experiences in my videos, but this one was specifically targeted at those people that have said that they'd love to try one of my projects, but either had trepidations or felt like things were too complicated. I really wanted to show that you can get started (safely) with very few items, then slowly add some basic tools and components as you gain experience.
Thanks for watching... and thanks so much for the kind comment!
About the wider ESP32 on breadboard, I usually pull away one of the "powerstrips" then combine two breadboards, that way the ESP32 can be placed across two breadboards and give you plenty of holes on both sides of the ESP32 🙂
I have a larger prototype breadboard (similar to this amzn.to/3zFho7A ) where I can do the same thing with the wider ESP32s. But I was trying to keep the starter parts list as simple and low cost as possible for someone just starting out, and I've had a lot of comments from folks that bought and ESP32 and that it wouldn't fit on a standard breadboard (or more commonly the ElectroCookie solderable breadboard), so I wanted to mention that you could buy the narrower ESP32s when using a breadboard or an ElectroCookie.
But I appreciate the tip, as it could definitely help others just starting out. And thanks for watching!
4:48
Will you make a video regarding AC mains? Most power supplies I've come across have those screw in types.
I actually have quite a few other videos where I'm working with mains power. And a number of my LED videos (especially the larger LED projects) use those bigger "transformer" style power supplies with the screw terminals you are referring to. You might check out a couple of those. This one in particular has a whole segment on selecting the proper power supply for your project: th-cam.com/video/GZv5Ztj6i6I/w-d-xo.html While it is specifically about LED projects, the concepts apply to any electronics project and I show the various options, including the ones with screw terminals.
My first project was the 2$ doorbell by Franck.
There are a lot of great projects out there that can be done by someone with little-to-no experience. For some (myself included at the start), you just have to get over the fear that you might fry an occasional component now and then and that with just a little bit of learning, these types of projects can be built by most anyone without a workshop full of tools and equipment.
Coding is my issue….. I’d be a lot further along without it lol
Being hands on doesn’t help watching videos as most go too fast don’t speak very good english and I can’t ask questions as needed.
Well, for most of my project videos where I'm building something or that include code, I do try to include a companion written guide so that you can refer to it as needed without trying to find a particular point in the video and 'freeze frame' it to use something like one of the wiring diagrams.
But I here ya! I felt much the same way when I first started and was trying to follow along with a video. But I find that watching the video to get a general understanding, then referring to a written guide or version (if there is one) for actually building the project has worked well for me.