Hippogriff
Member
I have purchased some Neopixel Sticks (https://www.adafruit.com/products/1426) which I've got to work fine, no different than the WS2812B strings or individual LEDs... I was looking over the instructions for using these things at https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/power and I came across the following:
"Before connecting a NeoPixel strip to ANY source of power, we very strongly recommend adding a large capacitor (1000 µF, 6.3V or higher) across the + and – terminals. This prevents the initial onrush of current from damaging the pixels."
Now, I've never done this before... I now power my circuits via USB and, I dunno, I just never saw the need and I've never had any problems - yet. I note it's only a recommendation, even if it's a strong one, but I do have some capacitors laying around so I grabbed a 100μF 16V one and plonked it in there.
My question is - the website says 1000μF 6.3V or higher... if I'm using a 100μF 16V what are the practicalities of that?
Will it help not one jot as it's not big enough?
Will it help a little bit but it will not be optimum?
Could it even be a negative addition to the circuit?
I'm suspecting that it'll help a little bit... but I have ordered some 1000μF 6.3V ones from eBay anyway.
My question is really about the choosing of an appropriate capacitor, I guess, and whether any capacitor (in this scenario) is better than no capacitor.
"Before connecting a NeoPixel strip to ANY source of power, we very strongly recommend adding a large capacitor (1000 µF, 6.3V or higher) across the + and – terminals. This prevents the initial onrush of current from damaging the pixels."
Now, I've never done this before... I now power my circuits via USB and, I dunno, I just never saw the need and I've never had any problems - yet. I note it's only a recommendation, even if it's a strong one, but I do have some capacitors laying around so I grabbed a 100μF 16V one and plonked it in there.
My question is - the website says 1000μF 6.3V or higher... if I'm using a 100μF 16V what are the practicalities of that?
Will it help not one jot as it's not big enough?
Will it help a little bit but it will not be optimum?
Could it even be a negative addition to the circuit?
I'm suspecting that it'll help a little bit... but I have ordered some 1000μF 6.3V ones from eBay anyway.
My question is really about the choosing of an appropriate capacitor, I guess, and whether any capacitor (in this scenario) is better than no capacitor.