Multiple strands possible without making loops?

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So I have a project coming up where I have multiple strands of LED strings that are all connected to the controller at one end. It would be really hard (if not impossible)to bring the dataout wire of the end of the strand back to the data-in wire of the next strand, to make it a single continuous LED strand.

I could just connect the data-in pins of all the strands together, but that would make them all light up the same. Is there a way for me to accomplish this?

With the ESP32, it should be possible to change the output port, but I’m not sure if the PB code would allow that.

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This is where the output expander helps. I’m also working on using the clock signal for a second ws2812 output, but don’t have that out yet.

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AH! Yeah, that’s perfect! I didn’t know that existed! Ordering a couple now!

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Or you could use Pebble-style strands that have a data return line already in them.

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Wait, what? I didn’t know these existed!! What’s the search term to find that?

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It’s “yo Carrie, I’ll buy some of your data return Pebbles off of you.” :joy: I do have a bunch and would be willing to make you a good deal on them, so just hit me up with how many meters you want if you’re interested. But also “data return” and “pebble” or “seed” will get you in the general vicinity of listings on AliExpress. I haven’t seen them on Amazon. We sell short segments with the Tentacle Buddies, so you can see the type I have. Scroll thru the photos, there’s a ton of info in them. Tentacle Buddies

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I thought they were really cool too but on an engineering and electrical perspective, having a hub that controls a star layout is really much better and more resilient than a very very long single strand with return wires.
Only if it’s a very small design of maybe 100 pixels at most, would a return wire make sense since the size of the hub could be inconvenient,