Do the light pipes clip on to the RGBW chips?
How do I match the right size?
Are these RGBW LED chips (5050/7070) dimmable by varying the current?
I am using an ESP32 as my MCU.
Do I need a smd multi-channel driver/controller to mix the colors?
I am making a dog collar that will have a 3D printed case.
On the lower sides of the collar I’m planning on printing in transparent plastic. Which is why I need about 100lm/color channel and a 90° pipe that is compatible with the RGBW smd chip that I select.
Any help would really be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jay
Hi Jay_Hox,
RGBW light pipes typically do not clip directly onto 5050 or 7070 LED chips. Typically the RGBW LED is soldered to the PCB while the light pipe is mounted separately and aligned over the LED to guide the light outward. A 5050 LED package measures approximately 5.0 mm x 5.0 mm, while a 7070 package measures about 7.0 mm x 7.0 mm, so the light pipe should be sized appropriately to efficiently capture the light output.
Most designs of RGBW LED’s are dimmable, this can normally be done by analog dimming (varying current) or PWM dimming, which is probably the easiest approach with a ESP32. I believe the ESP32 GPIO pins cannot provide this level of current to the LED’s so it’s most likely a multi-channel LED driver is recommended.
If you are using Addressable LED’s that have integrated circuitry where the external driver stage is built into the LED package itself.
Addressable LEDs would be another way to go about this, no LED drivers needed, just serial communication coming from the microcontroller. Example:
2758 Adafruit Industries LLC | LED Addressable, Specialty | DigiKey
Thank you. Do you know how the light pipes are mounted.
Could they just be glued around the sides then placed over top of the RGBW chip?
I know they make actual 90° SMD LEDs, but they are usually ased as indicator lights and wouldn’t be bright enough.
With a multi-channel driver/controller would it be able to run all the LEDs RGB&W at the same time?
Jerrad Hoxie
Regarding how light pipes are mounted there are certainly options:
Do you want the lights individually controlled or are you turning all the LEDs the same color at the same time? I mention this because if you’re looking for individual control addressable LEDS are probably the way you’re going to want to go.
Here are some light pipes offered for your consideration.
Yeah a snap fit would work great. As far as the RGBW LEDs I will have two and then I will need multichannel controllers so that I can vary the current for disability and mixing colors. Then The ESP32 would control those drivers/controllers.
The light pipes I am seeing have 2 pegs and appear togo over something like a 5050 or 7070. Is a peg hole left in the PCB for those light pipes?
dumb question but is there a rating in lumens on how much light can be transferred with these light pipes?
The light pipe will fit into a slot and at the end will be translucent PETG that expands wider than that slot to glow and hopefully project light out if enough lumens are put into it.
