Getting Started
Wiring Guides & Controller Settings
Power Distribution (StarEFX panels)
PSU #1: Powers the controller and the first 30 panels.
PSU #2: Power Injector: For panels 31–60, plug a second 12V power supply into the power injector after panel 30.
More panels? Just repeat: every 30 panels add another power injector with its own 12V power supply.
The data cable runs straight through; injectors only add power.
Data Connection
Controller → Panel 1 (labeled plug):
- follow the labels on the wires power link cables to correctly insert them into the controller.
Panel → Panel:
Daisy chain the panels with the link cables. Plug 6-pin to 6-pin for the DATA IN connection. Plug 4-pin to 4-pin for the DATA OUT connection.
At a Power Injector (every 30 panels):
Continue linking the panels to the power injectors, no need to split. Power injector boosts the power.
Power Distribution (LED strip)
Connecting the Power Supply Grounds
- Before doing anything else, take a piece of 0.5mm² wire and connect the GND (Negative) screw on the top power supply directly to the GND (Negative) screw on the bottom power supply.
If you forget this, your lights will flicker rainbow or not work.
Wire the Top Half (First 4 Strips | 0m – 20m)
Connect power and ground from PSU 1 to your ESP32 Controller.
Run a power and ground wire from the fuse to the start of the 1st LED strip.
Go to the point where the 2nd strip ends and the 3rd Strip begins (the 10m mark). CUT the RED (+) wire between these two strips.
Run a long Power (Red) and Ground wire from the fuse to the very end of the 4th Strip (the 20m mark). This powers strips 3 & 4 backwards.
Result: PSU 1 powers the first 10m from the front, and the next 10m from the back.
Wire the Bottom Half (Next 4 Strips | 20m – 40m)
Run Power and Ground from the Bottom PSU (via fuse) to the start of the 5th Strip (the 25m mark).
- Go to the point where the 6th strip ends and the 7th Strip begins (the 30m mark). CUT the RED (+) wire between these two strips.
- Run a second set of power and ground wires from the fuse all the way to the very end of the 8th/Last strip (the 40m mark).
- Result: PSU 2 powers the first 10m from the front, and the next 10m from the back.
Connect the Data (The Green Wire)
Run the Green wire from the Controller to the start of the 1st Strip.
Connect the Data wire from the end of the 4th Strip (20m mark) to the start of the 5th Strip.
Tip: Because the connectors are cut off, strip the Green data wire sleeves and wire them together using a Wago clip.
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Controller Setup (StarEFX panels)
In the WLED App/Web UI:
Go to Config (gear icon) → LED Preferences → Hardware Setup → LED Outputs.
Configure Output #1:
Chipset = TM1814 (StarEFX Panels)
Data GPIO = 2
Set LED length:
For panels:
Length = 2 (LEDs per panel) x (Number of panels)
Enter this value under Output #1 → Length.
Controller Setup (LED strip)
In the WLED App/Web UI:
Go to Config (gear icon) → LED Preferences → Hardware Setup → LED Outputs.
- Configure the output:
Output #2 → LED strip
Chipset = WS281x (StarEFX LED strip)
Data GPIO = 16
Set LED length using the formula:
Length = Total strip length (mm) ÷ 41.666 mm (Length of each pixel)
Enter this value for Output #2 → Length.
Note every 5M strip has 120 pixels
- Once configured click the save button up top.
- Troubleshooting LED length:
- If only part of the strip lights up → length is too short.
Images
Segments Check
The system can be configured in two modes: either with the panels and LEDs synchronised to display the same effect, or independently, allowing each to run separate effects.
To synchronise the panels and LED strip , set them up as one segment using the combined LED count of the panels and strip.
Segments → Segment 0:
Start LED = 0
Stop LED = Total LEDs in output 1 and 2 (this is displayed at the top of LED preferences).
To work independently two segments are needed. To add another segment click “+ Add segment”.
Segments → Segment 0 (StarEFX panels):
Start LED = 0
Stop LED = 8 (exact LED count entered in LED Preferences)
Segments Check (LED strip)
Segment 1
Start LED = 8 (count must continue from segment 1)
Stop LED = 120 (exact LED count entered in LED Preferences)
- Once entered the length of the LEDs, click the tick to save changes
Applying Effects to Multiple Segments
You can assign a unique effect to each segment independently. First, select a segment and apply an effect. Then, select a different segment and apply another effect.
Images
Power Distribution (StarEFX panels)
PSU #1: Powers the controller and the first 30 panels.
PSU #2: Power Injector: For panels 31–60, plug a second 12V power supply into the power injector after panel 30.
More panels? Just repeat: every 30 panels add another power injector with its own 12V power supply.
The data cable runs straight through; injectors only add power.
Data Connection
Controller → Panel 1 (labeled plug):
- follow the labels on the wires power link cables to correctly insert them into the controller.
Panel → Panel:
Daisy chain the panels with the link cables. Plug 6-pin to 6-pin for the DATA IN connection. Plug 4-pin to 4-pin for the DATA OUT connection.
At a Power Injector (every 30 panels):
Continue linking the panels to the power injectors, no need to split. Power injector boosts the power.
Power Distribution (LED strip)
Connecting the Power Supply Grounds
- Before doing anything else, take a piece of 0.5mm² wire and connect the GND (Negative) screw on the top power supply directly to the GND (Negative) screw on the bottom power supply.
If you forget this, your lights will flicker rainbow or not work.
Wire the Top Half (First 4 Strips | 0m – 20m)
Connect power and ground from PSU 1 to your ESP32 Controller.
Run a power and ground wire from the fuse to the start of the 1st LED strip.
Go to the point where the 2nd strip ends and the 3rd Strip begins (the 10m mark). CUT the RED (+) wire between these two strips.
Run a long Power (Red) and Ground wire from the fuse to the very end of the 4th Strip (the 20m mark). This powers strips 3 & 4 backwards.
Result: PSU 1 powers the first 10m from the front, and the next 10m from the back.
Wire the Bottom Half (Next 4 Strips | 20m – 40m)
Run Power and Ground from the Bottom PSU (via fuse) to the start of the 5th Strip (the 25m mark).
- Go to the point where the 6th strip ends and the 7th Strip begins (the 30m mark). CUT the RED (+) wire between these two strips.
- Run a second set of power and ground wires from the fuse all the way to the very end of the 8th/Last strip (the 40m mark).
- Result: PSU 2 powers the first 10m from the front, and the next 10m from the back.
Connect the Data (The Green Wire)
Run the Green wire from the Controller to the start of the 1st Strip.
Connect the Data wire from the end of the 4th Strip (20m mark) to the start of the 5th Strip.
Tip: Because the connectors are cut off, strip the Green data wire sleeves and wire them together using a Wago clip.
Images
Controller Setup (StarEFX panels)
In the WLED App/Web UI:
Go to Config (gear icon) → LED Preferences → Hardware Setup → LED Outputs.
Configure Output #1:
Chipset = TM1814 (StarEFX Panels)
Data GPIO = 2
Set LED length:
For panels:
Length = 8 LEDs per panel x (Number of panels)
Enter this value under Output #1 → Length.
Controller Setup (LED strip)
In the WLED App/Web UI:
Go to Config (gear icon) → LED Preferences → Hardware Setup → LED Outputs.
- Configure the output:
Output #2 → LED strip
Chipset = WS281x (StarEFX LED Strip)
Data GPIO = 16
Set LED length using the formula:
Length = Total strip length (mm) ÷ 41.666 mm (Length of each pixel)
Enter this value for Output #2 → Length.
Note every 5M strip has 120 pixels
- Once configured click the save button up top.
- Troubleshooting LED length:
- If only part of the strip lights up → length is too short.
Images
Segments Check
The system can be configured in two modes: either with the panels and LEDs synchronised to display the same effect, or independently, allowing each to run separate effects.
To synchronise the panels and LED strip , set them up as one segment using the combined LED count of the panels and strip.
Segments → Segment 0:
Start LED = 0
Stop LED = Total LEDs in output 1 and 2 (this is displayed at the top of LED preferences).
To work independently two segments are needed. To add another segment click “+ Add segment”.
Segments → Segment 0 (StarEFX panels):
Start LED = 0
Stop LED = 8 (exact LED count entered in LED Preferences)
Segments Check (LED strip)
Segment 1
Start LED = 8 (count must continue from segment 1)
Stop LED = 120 (exact LED count entered in LED Preferences)
- Once entered the length of the LEDs, click the tick to save changes
Applying Effects to Multiple Segments
You can assign a unique effect to each segment independently. First, select a segment and apply an effect. Then, select a different segment and apply another effect.
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Wiring Guides & Controller Settings
Wiring StarEFX panels and LED strip, and app settings guide
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