# Ideas and Tips **URL:** https://forum.electromage.com/c/ideas/7.md [Latest](https://forum.electromage.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.electromage.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.electromage.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Ideas and Tips category](https://forum.electromage.com/t/about-the-ideas-and-tips-category/17)
**Author:** [@wizard](https://forum.electromage.com/u/wizard)\ **Replies:** 0
Welcome to the Ideas and Tips category. Here you’ll find some inspiration about what you can do, whats possible, and learn about tips and tricks to make things easier! Lesser known features Hacks or clever ways of doin… --- ## [Batteries-included Claude Code template project](https://forum.electromage.com/t/batteries-included-claude-code-template-project/4667)
**Author:** [@CodingTom](https://forum.electromage.com/u/CodingTom)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 5:53am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/batteries-included-claude-code-template-project/4667 "2026-09-30T05:53:54Z")
(Apologies if this already exists in some form, but I couldn’t find anything exactly like this in the forums, and wanted to share in case it helps others!) Hey folks, I’ve been working on a little setup that helps to cr… --- ## [Control board/MIDI pre-made compatible with Pixelblaze?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/control-board-midi-pre-made-compatible-with-pixelblaze/2968)
**Author:** [@hololit](https://forum.electromage.com/u/hololit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/control-board-midi-pre-made-compatible-with-pixelblaze/2968 "2026-09-14T23:28:01Z")
Hello, me again ! I’d like to be able to use a physical controller plugged to a Pixelblaze+Sensor board to control a pattern dynamically, to drive for example a wireless wearable running the Pico. I could build mine, b… --- ## [Having wifi default to client mode but revert to wifi AP if network is not available](https://forum.electromage.com/t/having-wifi-default-to-client-mode-but-revert-to-wifi-ap-if-network-is-not-available/3835)
**Author:** [@marcmerlin](https://forum.electromage.com/u/marcmerlin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/having-wifi-default-to-client-mode-but-revert-to-wifi-ap-if-network-is-not-available/3835 "2025-11-08T16:50:08Z")
For my LED wearable, I have my ESP32 do similar things as pixelblaze, and there is one feature I would much like to have pixelblaze offer too if I want to be able to switch to it from my own older solution: My code is s… --- ## [Rebuilding an old project](https://forum.electromage.com/t/rebuilding-an-old-project/4233)
**Author:** [@ValiantEnergy](https://forum.electromage.com/u/ValiantEnergy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/rebuilding-an-old-project/4233 "2025-09-22T17:28:55Z")
Hey all, I am new here. I have an old project/installation called the “Eye of the Illuminati”. This project was a pyramid with around 2000 addressable LED’s. I used a “Pixel Pusher” to drive the LED’s and set up WiFi … --- ## [Video Lesson: Beginner's Guide to Setting Up Pixelblze](https://forum.electromage.com/t/video-lesson-beginners-guide-to-setting-up-pixelblze/4223)
**Author:** [@Gallaugher](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Gallaugher)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/video-lesson-beginners-guide-to-setting-up-pixelblze/4223 "2025-09-17T14:06:02Z")
This is the lesson I’ve created to help my students get up-to-speed with PixelBlaze. I’m super-new to all of this, so thoughts on this & future lessons are welcome. Thanks to all here who are helping me learn. And if it’… --- ## [Help! Want to find the project on here of a rainbow between clouds of fluff](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-want-to-find-the-project-on-here-of-a-rainbow-between-clouds-of-fluff/2180)
**Author:** [@a19grey](https://forum.electromage.com/u/a19grey)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-want-to-find-the-project-on-here-of-a-rainbow-between-clouds-of-fluff/2180 "2025-09-11T15:35:45Z")
I saw a project on here where someone made for their kid a linear strip inside some kind of tubing with cloud fluff at either end so it looked like a ‘rainbow’ between two clouds. But searches for ‘rainbow’, ‘cloud’ etc … --- ## [How to get power to LEDs (Wiring)](https://forum.electromage.com/t/how-to-get-power-to-leds-wiring/20)
**Author:** [@wizard](https://forum.electromage.com/u/wizard)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/how-to-get-power-to-leds-wiring/20 "2025-01-15T00:44:02Z")
For any LED powering setup, it’s important to know how much current the LEDs are going to actually draw. If you do full brightness rainbow, only 1/3 of the max energy is used compared to full white color (in RGB strips, … --- ## [Is 1000-2000 WS2811s a use case for the \[Pro\] Output Exapnder?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/is-1000-2000-ws2811s-a-use-case-for-the-pro-output-exapnder/3928)
**Author:** [@dan-allan](https://forum.electromage.com/u/dan-allan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/is-1000-2000-ws2811s-a-use-case-for-the-pro-output-exapnder/3928 "2024-12-25T21:30:44Z")
Request for Feedback I would be grateful for feedback on whether driver 1000-2000 WS2811 pixels would benefit from a \[Pro\] Output Expander. Specifically I’m wondering whether the splitting the data lines from the control… --- ## [WS2812 Bubble light strings at Costco](https://forum.electromage.com/t/ws2812-bubble-light-strings-at-costco/3893)
**Author:** [@Glitch](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Glitch)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/ws2812-bubble-light-strings-at-costco/3893 "2024-12-17T05:21:45Z")
I bought some Christmas light strings last week thinking they might work with a Pixelblaze controller and lucked out! The product is marketed by enbrighten and is described as ‘Color-changing LED Bubble Lights’ and sol… --- ## [Loading the most popular 1D patterns all at once?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/loading-the-most-popular-1d-patterns-all-at-once/3834)
**Author:** [@marcmerlin](https://forum.electromage.com/u/marcmerlin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/loading-the-most-popular-1d-patterns-all-at-once/3834 "2024-11-14T22:54:38Z")
I’m new to pixelblaze, but not new to LEDs strips or matrices, been doing my own for around 8 years now, and been using either my own code to power my strips, or more recently the Vrabocry WS2811 WS2812B LED Controller … --- ## [The #ConnectiCOT Sphere!](https://forum.electromage.com/t/the-connecticot-sphere/3823)
**Author:** [@willpemble](https://forum.electromage.com/u/willpemble)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/the-connecticot-sphere/3823 "2024-11-01T22:47:58Z")
Hello All! I’m new here, with a jillion questions. I’ve built this 18 foot diameter geosphere in my yard. Now, I’d like for it to be filled with pebble LEDs. For starters. I’m hoping to add 5,000 WS2811 LEDs in the form… --- ## [Pixelblaze # of syncs possible + WiFi question](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-of-syncs-possible-wifi-question/3790)
**Author:** [@Gene621](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Gene621)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-of-syncs-possible-wifi-question/3790 "2024-10-18T11:11:10Z")
Hi there! I want to do a project with 20-30 pool noodles (3-4 feet each)… Each noodle will have a Pixelblaze and an LED strip with armature wire to form the noodle into a squiggly shape. These Pixelblazes will all be w… --- ## [A place to stash new ideas](https://forum.electromage.com/t/a-place-to-stash-new-ideas/661)
**Author:** [@Scruffynerf](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Scruffynerf)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/a-place-to-stash-new-ideas/661 "2024-10-10T14:31:35Z")
Decided that my PB “wish list” aka “never ending Todo list” might as well be public, since others might contribute ideas/suggestions or point me in the right direction… (Or maybe implement it themselves, nudge nudge) St… --- ## [Pixelblaze newbie needs some reassurance](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-newbie-needs-some-reassurance/3779)
**Author:** [@Osha](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Osha)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2024, 11:32am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-newbie-needs-some-reassurance/3779 "2024-10-05T11:32:47Z")
I am a long time teensy and LED enthusiast, interested in diving into the pixelblaze world, but I see a few striking issues that I could use some guidance on. Looked for answers but there seems to be nothing definitive… --- ## [RGB Mosfet driver](https://forum.electromage.com/t/rgb-mosfet-driver/3760)
**Author:** [@jdhollan](https://forum.electromage.com/u/jdhollan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/rgb-mosfet-driver/3760 "2024-09-24T04:14:48Z")
I recently bought a WS-compatible mosfet driver board from \[Northern Lights Electronic Design, LLC - Minneapolis, MN\] I was looking to combine ledstrips with a power RGB spotlight. It works fine but causes a lot of nois… --- ## [Help with hardware for home lighting project](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-with-hardware-for-home-lighting-project/3725)
**Author:** [@Bene](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Bene)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-with-hardware-for-home-lighting-project/3725 "2024-08-27T02:21:12Z")
I want to use a sk9822 led strip for my home, to build a light, it should be 6m long and I have a few questions about this: Is 144 leds/m too much? How do I wire something like this, because at full brightness and 144 … --- ## [Help needed for License Plate Project](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-needed-for-license-plate-project/3675)
**Author:** [@chromaglow](https://forum.electromage.com/u/chromaglow)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/help-needed-for-license-plate-project/3675 "2024-07-31T13:40:53Z")
Hi everyone, For my next trick, I’m planning to create an LED-covered license plate holder for my old Prius. I have some questions and am looking for resources before diving into extensive research. I’d like to figure … --- ## [Pixelblaze and Home Automation](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-and-home-automation/3655)
**Author:** [@Vitaliy](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Vitaliy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/pixelblaze-and-home-automation/3655 "2024-07-18T00:42:53Z")
I am Home Automation enthusiast. My main Home Automation controller is Hubitat Elevation plus Home assistant is used as a companion controller. Thanks to the @zranger1 I discovered a Pixelblaze and sure, zranger1 designe… --- ## [Upgrade to COB strips](https://forum.electromage.com/t/upgrade-to-cob-strips/3219)
**Author:** [@Vitaliy](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Vitaliy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/upgrade-to-cob-strips/3219 "2024-07-08T17:38:16Z")
I am planning to update my few existing lighting projects with COB LED Strips. I need minimum 16.4ft (5m) strip length. Of course I can stich together few shorter strips. Ideally I am looking for 24V but single LED per… --- ## [Light Difuser question](https://forum.electromage.com/t/light-difuser-question/3580)
**Author:** [@Vitaliy](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Vitaliy)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/light-difuser-question/3580 "2024-06-07T02:13:50Z")
The hardware (electronics portion) for the Virtual Fireplace is ready and 100% functional. I am experimenting with different Light Diffusers but would like to hear what you guys already using. Front will be Black Trans… --- ## [Color Rendition Index (CRI) - Tutorial and questions](https://forum.electromage.com/t/color-rendition-index-cri-tutorial-and-questions/3533)
**Author:** [@hololit](https://forum.electromage.com/u/hololit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2024, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/color-rendition-index-cri-tutorial-and-questions/3533 "2024-05-10T07:19:22Z")
Hello, I’m trying to understand CRI on LED. I figured it could be of interest to people here so I will explain a bit what I learnt, then I have some questions for Pixelblaze applications. I understand CRI has its limi… --- ## [My Cheater Method to Mapping 3D Spheres / Polyhedra](https://forum.electromage.com/t/my-cheater-method-to-mapping-3d-spheres-polyhedra/2922)
**Author:** [@Corvid](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Corvid)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/my-cheater-method-to-mapping-3d-spheres-polyhedra/2922 "2024-03-12T05:04:07Z")
I posted this over on LEDs Are Awesome a bit ago: I am working on spherical project and found a really great resource online with 3D coordinate systems for all sorts of polyhedron. http://dmccooey.com/polyhedra/ The co… --- ## [APA107 Pixelblaze Support](https://forum.electromage.com/t/apa107-pixelblaze-support/225)
**Author:** [@Blacklynx](https://forum.electromage.com/u/Blacklynx)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/apa107-pixelblaze-support/225 "2024-03-10T16:57:02Z")
Does the Pixelblaze support APA107 LEDs? I’ve read they work on most APA102 drivers, but it does not say it is supported in the documentation. Looks like they are a bit more efficient and are about the same cost as APA10… --- ## [Use pixelblaze to control CCT led AND adressable RGB?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/use-pixelblaze-to-control-cct-led-and-adressable-rgb/3430)
**Author:** [@hololit](https://forum.electromage.com/u/hololit)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/use-pixelblaze-to-control-cct-led-and-adressable-rgb/3430 "2024-02-22T18:00:09Z")
I have equipped a floor lamp for my living room with SK6812 RGBW 144 LED/m recently. The reasons for this choice are: High density: adressable effects look smoother W: white LED allow me to use it as a normal lamp to … --- ## [How do I update Pixelblaze?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/how-do-i-update-pixelblaze/213)
**Author:** [@wizard](https://forum.electromage.com/u/wizard)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2024, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/how-do-i-update-pixelblaze/213 "2024-01-24T23:45:09Z")
If you have a recent version of Pixelblaze firmware (v2.18 or above, or any V3), you can update right from settings as long as your Pixelblaze is connected to the internet. If you can’t connect your Pixelblaze to the in… --- ## [Advice on 2020-sized SK and APA variants](https://forum.electromage.com/t/advice-on-2020-sized-sk-and-apa-variants/3230)
**Author:** [@paulwb](https://forum.electromage.com/u/paulwb)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/advice-on-2020-sized-sk-and-apa-variants/3230 "2023-10-07T18:36:04Z")
I am thinking of using individual 2020-sized leds for wearable projects. I’m looking for advice and things I should be aware of regarding the various types available (likely from Aliexpress). The leds will be part of m… --- ## [3d printable case for Pixelblaze v3?](https://forum.electromage.com/t/3d-printable-case-for-pixelblaze-v3/1316)
**Author:** [@sgroen](https://forum.electromage.com/u/sgroen)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2023, 10:03am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/3d-printable-case-for-pixelblaze-v3/1316 "2023-09-29T10:03:07Z")
3d printable case posted for Pixelblaze v3? --- ## [Controlling pixelblaze over serial or similar wired connection](https://forum.electromage.com/t/controlling-pixelblaze-over-serial-or-similar-wired-connection/1913)
**Author:** [@munkisquisher](https://forum.electromage.com/u/munkisquisher)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/controlling-pixelblaze-over-serial-or-similar-wired-connection/1913 "2023-09-13T14:06:00Z")
Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has any examples on sending data into pixelblaze from another microcontroller. I’m playing with the little ESP cam, a rp2040 with a colour sensor and a full blown openMV cam with object detec… --- ## [Simple control using momentary buttons](https://forum.electromage.com/t/simple-control-using-momentary-buttons/2615)
**Author:** [@misterconnolly](https://forum.electromage.com/u/misterconnolly)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/simple-control-using-momentary-buttons/2615 "2023-09-08T00:39:28Z")
Sometimes I want a simple button to perform a specialized function. While the current onboard button is incredibly useful, the functionality that it offers cannot be customized. I had some project ideas that required one… [Next page](https://forum.electromage.com/c/ideas/7.md?page=1)