I Bought the CHEAPEST Permanent Outdoor Lights on Amazon: will it WLED - Episode 4

Quick Overview

The cheapest permanent outdoor lights found on Amazon, the JOh set priced at $81.49 for 200ft, successfully integrate with the advanced Gledopto Elite 2D-EXMU WLED controller, proving that budget lighting can achieve high-level customization despite the manufacturer incorrectly advertising a dedicated white light feature that the internal RGB chip lacks.

Key Points: The 200ft JOh Permanent Outdoor Lights kit was purchased for $81.49, which the reviewer considered suspiciously cheap. The light strip uses traditional RGB LEDs, featuring Red, Green, and Blue sections on the chip, confirming it lacks a dedicated white LED, contrary to the product listing's claim of 'Premium White Light'. The reviewer successfully integrated the lights with a Gledopto Elite 2D-EXMU controller, which is designed for advanced WLED setups. Wiring required identifying the three strands: Red (24V+), Black (Data/SPI), and White (Ground), despite the product packaging suggesting different assignments. The lights proved compatible with WLED software, displaying full RGB capabilities, although the white light output was observed to be a less pure, mixed color compared to dedicated white LEDs. The LED spacing on the 200ft kit was measured at 23.5 inches between center points, which is significantly less dense than the Govee and Asahom competitors (32.5 inches and 16.5 inches, respectively).

Context: The video is the fourth episode in a series called 'will it WLED,' where the creator tests inexpensive, off-brand lighting products found on Amazon to see if they can be successfully integrated and controlled using the open-source WLED firmware, often requiring a more advanced controller like the Gledopto Elite 2D-EXMU for proper operation and customization.

Detailed Analysis

The creator investigates the cheapest permanent outdoor lighting kit found on Amazon, the 200ft JOh set for $81.49, to determine if it is compatible with WLED control via a Gledopto Elite 2D-EXMU controller. Upon unboxing, the creator notes the packaging lists generic features like dimmability and 16 million colors, but critically, an image comparison suggests the lights lack a dedicated white LED, instead relying on the RGB chip for white light, which often results in a purplish tint. Initial physical inspection of a single LED confirmed it uses a standard RGB chip with distinct Red, Green, and Blue segments, validating the suspicion that the 'Premium White Light' claim is misleading. The unboxing revealed all necessary components: the light string, a generic remote, an instruction manual, mounting hardware (screws/clips), a non-waterproof AC/DC adapter (24V, 2A), and a small white Bluetooth controller, which the creator immediately set aside in favor of the advanced Gledopto controller. The process involved stripping the wires from the cut end of the string, revealing three conductors: Red (assumed 24V+), Black (Data/SPI), and White (Ground), which were then connected to the corresponding terminals on the Gledopto controller (V+, IO16, GND). After powering up and connecting via the WLED app, the lights successfully turned on and displayed colors, confirming WLED compatibility. The creator configured the hardware setup in WLED: Total LEDs set to 106 (based on the 200ft length and measured spacing), mA/LED set to 12mA (WS2815), Color Order set to RGB, and Length set to 100 (though the actual count is 106). The test revealed that while the lights function well with WLED, the white light output is inferior (purplish) compared to dedicated white LEDs, and they are generally not as bright as branded alternatives like Govee or Asahom, though they provide better value for the price.