Which Green Wire is Positive - WS2811 String

[mpageler]

Got a string of ws2811 to practice with a new pixel controller.  All wires are green  so putting a magnifying glass to the pcb.  I  can see that data wire is the middle wire.

 But can't tell which is  +V and GRND.   Both ends of string have flying leads for power injection with one wire having a white strip which I believe it position?  Aligning the 3 and 2 wires together I have a guess which is the +V wire.  

But if I'm wrong and wire the power backwares, can/will it damage the string? Manual for my sandevices controller raised this issue. If there's a damage potential, could always cut off a few pixels to test with.

On a side note, I hooked a power supply to the flying lead, thinking entire string might go on, whicht it didn't.  So data" wire must be active?

 

Thanks
 

[k6ccc]

Yes, you must have data for the lights to light.

Look at the printed circuit board. There should be marking of which wire is what. Never seen one that didn't. The only lights I've seen that were all green and not marked were the GE Color Effects bulbs. Those I found what wire was what via the Internet, but I could have stripped the three wires and used a voltmeter to determine which was which (does not help in your case).

Yes, wiring backwards can (likely) damage a Pixel, so if any doubt, wire up only one for your initial test. That way you only risk destroying one. Once you have it confirmed, wire up the string.

[wmilkie]

don't know how many bulbs you have, but if you have one extra, you could remove it from the string and use it as a test bulb to figure out which is correct

 

another option might be to place a small resister in series with the power supply to limit the current

 

if they're 5v pixels, a 100 ohm might work, 12 volt, use a  240 ohm; but still remove it from the string first; then re-wire it back in when you figure it out

[Jeff Messer]

The GECE positive side does have small white writing.. Very small.   The ground will always have the rib lines on the side three of them. Data has always been in the center. 

[k6ccc]

Yea, I know that now (about the GECE lights), but since you can't look at the PCB to determine that, a quick qoogle search found that info.

[wbaker4]

Here are the wiring instructions for a set of WS2811's from Ray Wu's site...

 

wiring instruction:

input:the side without IC of the pcb

the first wire from left: DC12V+

middle wire: DAT

the  left wire from the left : GND

 

Don't get the 2 left wires confused!  

[mpageler]

Both me and wife have looked on the pcb and only see 12v the the midle di/do.  Hard to see throught the foggy lengs if other labeling is there.  Since it's a test string, will just cut a few off and use them to figure it out.  Might disassemble one pixel to see if were are actually missing some of the pcb labeleing.

Thanks

[jerry72]

Here are the wiring instructions for a set of WS2811's from Ray Wu's site...

 

wiring instruction:

input:the side without IC of the pcb

the first wire from left: DC12V+

middle wire: DAT

the  left wire from the left : GND

 

Don't get the 2 left wires confused!  

That is how mine are wired, i think it is a standard in the industry.

[EmmienLightFan]

I have all white wires on my wreath pixels. They were from Ray Wu and are wired like above, I just checked.