# Connecting GS8208 **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Tags:** beginner\ **Created:** [March 1, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012 "2025-03-01T03:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![larana](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@larana](https://forum.electromage.com/u/larana)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/1 "2025-03-01T03:27:45Z")
Hello. I have a V3 Pixelblaze with the pre-soldered connection and bought the GS8208 lights. They don’t come on when I power it up, which after reading more into the docs appears to be because it needs 5V power in. I have the Mini Buck 5v DC converter but there were no instructions. I assume I need to solder it but not sure where the connections go. Thanks for any guidance, I am a beginner. 🙂 PS I also have the Pro Expander if that makes a difference. ![IMG_9251](https://forum.electromage.com/uploads/default/original/2X/f/fc832a5a502bd0304e9bba0a90c410595c5dc1ef.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![jeff](https://forum.electromage.com/user_avatar/forum.electromage.com/jeff/32/3473_2.png) [@jeff](https://forum.electromage.com/u/jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/2 "2025-03-01T04:36:13Z")
Hey! I’m not in a spot where I can easily draw a diagram, but if a written description would help, look for the section of the Getting Started page titled “Connecting WS2815 or GS8208 Type LEDs” [https://electromage.com/docs/hardware-getting-started](https://electromage.com/docs/hardware-getting-started) Remember that all grounds can/should be connected together. Then, +12V will go to your strip and the minibuck, and that will produce +5V which will go to VIN on your Pixelblaze. I think there’s a clever spot to solder a minibuck right on top of a pro expander, but again I’m sorry I’m not at home. A fast mediocre answer to get you started! ---
**Author:** ![larana](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@larana](https://forum.electromage.com/u/larana)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/3 "2025-03-01T04:57:11Z")
Thanks! I realized after posting that I think the Pro Expander already has a 5v DC converter on the board. So I guess I need to loop that into the configuration. ---
**Author:** ![larana](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@larana](https://forum.electromage.com/u/larana)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/4 "2025-03-02T00:51:25Z")
Ok, I’ve got myself sorted with the lights working now through the Pro Expander and the built-in 12v-\>5v converter. Next question I had about these particular lights - the product description has the following: > These use the common, unclocked WS281x “neopixel” protocol for data transmission. For redundancy, there’s a backup data line that will leapfrog a pixel that goes bad or a broken data. The first pixel’s backup data line, labeled D2 or BI, should be connected to GND. The first expander LED port has GND, D0, D1, V+ pins. I have Data (yellow wire) going to D0 and that works. D1 currently unused. Should I be connecting the other wire (green) on the GS8208 to GND also for this backup data feature to work? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jeff](https://forum.electromage.com/user_avatar/forum.electromage.com/jeff/32/3473_2.png) [@jeff](https://forum.electromage.com/u/jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/5 "2025-03-02T16:13:35Z")
> [@larana](#): > > Should I be connecting the other wire (green) on the GS8208 to GND also for this backup data feature to work? Yes - this will result in the best overall stability instead of letting it “float”. ---
**Author:** ![GodmanchesterGoblin](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@GodmanchesterGoblin](https://forum.electromage.com/u/GodmanchesterGoblin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/6 "2025-03-07T17:03:50Z")
Hi @larana Just curious - where did you get your GS8208 strips? I’ve been looking at these for a project for next Christmas, where I need 12V with minimal voltage drops, and the GS8208 seems to fit that requirement particularly well. Many thanks, Les. ---
**Author:** ![larana](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@larana](https://forum.electromage.com/u/larana)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/7 "2025-03-07T17:18:30Z")
ElectroMage sells them directly! This is where I got them. > **[Gamma-corrected GS8208 12V LEDs - 5m strip](https://shop.electromage.com/products/5-meter-spool-of-60-m-gs8206-12v-led-strip)** > >   Why choose these pixels? Relatively new, the GS8208 is the best 12V individually-addressable full-color pixels. They have a much better brightness curve than the similar WS2815. People typically choose 12V LEDs because: You can run ~2.5X more... ---
**Author:** ![GodmanchesterGoblin](https://forum.electromage.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@GodmanchesterGoblin](https://forum.electromage.com/u/GodmanchesterGoblin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/8 "2025-03-07T18:02:30Z")
OK, that’s cool. Thanks for the quick reply. I was unaware that Electromage were selling them - I previously only saw them on AliExpress from various relatively unknown sellers. Now I need to think about how long a length to get. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.electromage.com/uploads/default/original/1X/98123d16088a5451b5a585e24c0f2a40dd76061e.png) [@system](https://forum.electromage.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.electromage.com/t/connecting-gs8208/4012/9 "2025-07-05T18:03:00Z")
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