So I’ve seen a lot of projects about it using WLED. I’ve seen many people connect LED strips directly to USB powered ESP32s, at the 5V pin. I also compare it with CHATGPT but I don’t trust it (rightly so). How much can I absorb. The 5v PIN should provide me with a maximum of 500mA (when I power the ESP32 with USB) because it should be protected so I expect a maximum of about 15leds at 50% brightness.
However, I see people online who power strips with 60 LEDs directly from the 5V pin…
I don’t really understand if this 5V PIN on the ESPs can supply how much.
5V pin is usually directly connected to USB, so limiting factors are USB supply current and PCB traces of course. Some boards have diode protection which can limit current also.
I’m quite sure 500mA is not going to be problem.
15 LEDs at 50% brightness (white) all simultaneously would draw less than that.
It quite heavily depends how you use your LEDs, I have 300 LED strip powered from 2A power supply still making nice effects.
Although that is correct and you can share the same PSU up to a limit. I find it easier to just use a dedicated PSU for led’s unless it’s like 10 or something but, if its a full string I would just use a separate one just for tbe led’s.