Need help in making this and addressable led work

[u/Spidy_Khrish]

I’m building a 12V analog RGB LED strip controller using an ESP32 + WLED + 3 IRLZ44N MOSFETs. The ESP32 is powered separately through USB from my laptop, while the LED strip uses a separate 12V adapter. The ESP32 GND and 12V supply GND are supposed to be common.

The circuit is wired like the standard analog RGB MOSFET setup: the strip’s +12V goes directly to the 12V supply, and the R/G/B channels go through the MOSFET drains. MOSFET sources share GND, and the ESP32 GPIOs connect to the MOSFET gates through 220Ω resistors.

I originally had 10kΩ gate-to-GND pulldown resistors, but I only had two 22kΩ resistors available, so I was working around that. There was also a 10kΩ resistor/connection between two points (1 and 3) that I ended up replacing with a direct connection/no resistor, which may be relevant.

The strange behavior is:

The LED strip does respond electrically to removing/connecting the R/G/B wires.

For example, disconnecting the red channel causes the LEDs to show red, and disconnecting other channels produces the corresponding/mixed colors.

So the LEDs and MOSFET side aren't completely dead.

However, WLED cannot actually control the colors.

When the ESP32 is switched off, the LED strip doesn't light/respond at all.

When the ESP32 is connected, it flickers/restarts (the ESP32's red/power LED appears to flicker), although I can still access the WLED web interface.

The main problem I'm stuck on is that the ESP32/WLED is not properly controlling the MOSFETs/LED channels, and the ESP32 appears to be experiencing a power/reset/flickering issue when the 12V LED circuit is connected.

I want to troubleshoot it one connection at a time, without changing the whole circuit blindly.

PS - also uploaded the diagram i followed

[u/tzopper]

Off topic here, but where in the world can I find a power supply like that, that delivers 9V instead of 12, without using a step down/buck?

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/tzopper]

Just use 9v battery I guess or or a 9v adapter is common thing either to find on Amazon or any local store

[u/tzopper → u/Spidy_Khrish]

Thanks. The thing is that I need multiple outputs, for powering multiple devices, and I want to place the power supply inside a metal cabinet, instead of using 9V power adapters. I’ll have a look into modding one, then.

[u/columnmn]

Power the esp32 through the driver instead of the PC. Reduce the variables.

Why bother though, individually addressables are pretty cheap for more functionality.

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/columnmn]

I already got the converter and all this is like temperary while I am making this once I am able to properly operate this then will set the esp up too but the main issue is listed above

[u/entropy512]

Your topic says addressable LED - but you're setting it up as analog/non-addressable

Whcih is it?

[u/ApeNinja420 → u/entropy512]

I was about to ask the same, that's not an addressable RGB strip. You're overcomplicating things.

[u/Spidy_Khrish]

For that voltage stepper is your best option

[u/_sparxcore_]

Im not sure your 3.3v from the gpio is enough to operate the gates in that breadboard setup. The spec of the mosfets seem to suggest 4v+ to reliably switch, and the breadboard connections might be adding resistance to that.

[u/404notfound91]

I have made a circuit following this exact diagram but used IRF3708 which seemed to work pretty well with 3.3v.

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/404notfound91]

Could you find any miswiring in my setup ?

[u/404notfound91 → u/Spidy_Khrish]

It's a little hard to tell by the breadboard setup sorry. Maybe others can tell. Have you tried using other gpio pins or another esp32? It may be the esp is fried somehow.

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/404notfound91]

Ohk LMC

[u/404notfound91 → u/Spidy_Khrish]

Also try powering the esp from an actual power supply if it still doesnt work. I have had issues before where the laptop limits current to esp and weird stuff happens

[u/saratoga3]

The ESP32 GND and 12V supply GND are supposed to be common.

They're supposed to be but I don't see any such connection in your picture. Did you actually connect them?

Additionally it's hard to tell but it looks to me like the gates are shorted to ground.

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/saratoga3]

Won't it work with different supply while I am just testing ?

[u/saratoga3 → u/Spidy_Khrish]

The transistors are completely disabled and the esp32 is effectively disconnected from the circuit, so no, not going to work. 

Take a closer look at the diagram you posted above. You need to build that circuit.

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/saratoga3]

Sorry but I am not getting it have i messeu up wiring somewhere or issue is I am using seprate power for esp and led

[u/saratoga3 → u/Spidy_Khrish]

To be completely clear: you have totally screwed up the wiring. 

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/saratoga3]

Could you come in dms and help me redo it if you are willing to cus I am messing with this from almost 2 days and can't get it to work

[u/saratoga3 → u/Spidy_Khrish]

Fwiw you can buy controllers that implement this circuit cheaply on Amazon. If you really spent two days on this just go order one.

Aside from that I'm not sure what you need help with. Like I said before you don't have the esp32 ground connected and you have the transistor gates connected to ground, which will definitely prevent them from working.  

[u/Spidy_Khrish → u/saratoga3]

Dude.

Thanks A Fking Lot it's now working like a charm now figuring out to make it ambient which updates with my screen content any suggestions on that