I’m building a small wifi controlled desk lamp using the XIAO esp32c3. The led strip I’ll be using is 5V and consumes max 1A. I was hoping I could use a 5V 2A usb power adapter I had laying around. (I’ll use WLED to adjust the max current going into the leds.)
My question: What would be the best/most efficient way to power it, either through usb-in on the controller or externally through 5V and GND pins (with a diode)? Also, is there a max current this controller can handle through these inputs before it gets fried?
HI there,
and welcome here,
I wouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel in this design, Use the USB power supply & small battery to make it wireless as a trick move to impress your friends and followers
Depends on the current draw of the LED’s and the number of them you use. There is one like yours here:
Hi, thanks for the reply. I’m not really planning on using a battery though, considering the base will have no room for it and I don’t want to bother charging it. I’ll hide the cable good, I promise.
After reading some posts on here about how the controller can only handle 500mA I think I’ll power the led’s externally and provide a lower current to the controller. Do you have any advise on how many amps should go into the 5V pin to power it efficiently?
Hi there,
SO given this from the datasheet:
4.2 Recommended Operating Conditions
Table 12: Recommended Operating Conditions
Operating ambient temperature
ESP32-C3–40 —105
ESP32-C3FN4 85 °C - ESP32-C3FH4 105
4. If you use a single power supply, the recommended output current is 500 mA or more.
I typically use a 2 amp capable and that way power for other sensor overhead is built in.
Unless your welding or something and there’s room for a battery being charged if need be +200ma.
Have a look at and use one of those Xiao Matrix Boards , very bright you can daisy chain them too;
This means I can use the power supply I already had. That makes it so much easier, thanks!
I’ve also been researching about the diode that should come before the 5V pin, but I’m not sure if it’s even necessary, since I don’t intend to use the 3v3 pin or usb-port while the external power is plugged in.
But instead of €139 it will probably cost me about €20.
I want to try to get the base as small as possible, that’s why I went with the XIAO controller.
Currently I’m figuring out what components I need so it doesn’t get fried/blow up. So far I got a 3A fuse, tvs diode, schottky diode, 10uF capacitor… That’s probably good for now.
wow made out of a glass block… thats cool… you should add a metal strip… or a couple around the glass and you can touch to turn it on and off… if you do three touch pins you could make it rgb and you could control the color… each time you touch red the red intensity would increase… maybe by 15-20%
PJ 
and there’s room for a battery being charged if need be +200ma. 
