# RGB Cube using WS2812 5050 LEDs

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148>\
**Category:** Share Your Projects\
**Created:** [12 January 2026 13:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148 "2026-01-12T13:05:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 13:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/1 "2026-01-12T13:05:50Z")

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OMG - just seen these 8 by 8 WS2812 RGB 5050 LEDs sheets on AE for £0.76 or $1 USD.

[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009659290651.html](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009659290651.html)

If I bought 5 of those sheets I could construct a cube that I could control from my mobile phone using BARRED.

How cool would that be ????????????????????????

 ![mon_cube_A.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/8/3/83af71ce5839ebd9b5c207c38b9ad3978f7050c6.jpeg)  
 ![mon_cube_B.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/d/5d02a2ebfaa644e9591549dce2838fa0b81aaa02.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 13:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/2 "2026-01-12T13:49:50Z")

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6 sheets to form full cube and mounted on a corner would be nice.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 13:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/3 "2026-01-12T13:51:20Z")

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How about an entire flat wall of them?! 😃

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**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 13:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/4 "2026-01-12T13:56:17Z")

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Would not like the Electrickery bill each sheet at max luminosity is 3.8A

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 13:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/5 "2026-01-12T13:57:00Z")

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Phew - just looked at the data sheet. Full brilliance for a whole sheet consumes 3.84Amps.  
Multily that by 5 or 6 sheets means a hefty PSU or multiple feed-in-points.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 14:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/6 "2026-01-12T14:01:37Z")

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> [@E1cid](#):
>
> Would not like the Electrickery bill each sheet at max luminosity is 3.8A

Well that's only 19W (3.8A \* 5V) per sheet. If they have the same characteristics as other WS2812 LEDs I have, I would probably run them at 10-20% of that figure.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 14:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/7 "2026-01-12T14:01:41Z")

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I often find that LED's don't need anywhere near full power. And, of course, they will last longer when run at lower power.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 14:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/8 "2026-01-12T14:04:47Z")

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I think I might name this project as... Cube-RED

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 14:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/9 "2026-01-12T14:04:51Z")

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Aliexpress is brilliant at dynamic pricing.

Dave saw them at 76p, I looked and they were 96p, now £2.17!

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 14:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/10 "2026-01-12T14:06:44Z")

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Looking back - I think the price I saw was a new-shopper-introduction (1-per-order).  
Just looked again - price has indeed increased to £2.17  
They must have "sensed" there might be an upcoming demand and increased the price.

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [12 January 2026 19:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/11 "2026-01-12T19:24:13Z")

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Can be found at £6.90 for 6 inc VAT and free delivery.

Follow Dave's original link then scroll down and look for related items.

EDIT: now found some for £5.10 😀

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2026 19:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/12 "2026-01-17T19:03:06Z")

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@dynamicdave

Cube is under construction !

 ![20260117_185813](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/6/46f0267d257f55190ed61fefcb5f6d91502bc1c7.jpeg)  
 ![20260117_185759](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/1/6/169d5797da47c8079b8782c4692a7d39d49034c3.jpeg)

😉

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2026 19:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/13 "2026-01-17T19:17:59Z")

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OMG - that looks super-cool.  
Did you order them from AE (as they must have been delivered very quickly) ?  
Which micro-controller are you going to use to drive it?

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2026 17:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/14 "2026-01-18T17:37:03Z")

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Yeah followed your link to AE, then a bit more digging and they can be found much cheaper.

Mostly likely I will use an EPS S2 Mini, D1 mini would probably be OK as well.

I will flash with WLED.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2026 18:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/15 "2026-01-18T18:04:16Z")

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(When I get my panels) I was thinking of driving each panel from a separate output pin - rather than connecting each panel in a daisy-chain as it might mean working out the NeoPixel position a bit easier.

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2026 18:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/16 "2026-01-18T18:32:50Z")

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WLED makes quite easy to "construct" the matrix in software, well worth a look.  
But it could be done either way with WLED as you can combine outputs together.

I did change my mind about the layout, as when folded up the connections are touching each other 🤔

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [18 January 2026 20:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/17 "2026-01-18T20:02:34Z")

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Here's a link to [WLED](https://kno.wled.ge/) for people who may be interested in trying it out.

**EDIT:** Just tried to flash WLED onto an ESP32-S2-Mini and ESP-C3 - **failed**.  
Then tried an old ESP8266 Wemos D1-Mini - **success**

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [20 January 2026 03:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/18 "2026-01-20T03:01:29Z")

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> [@dynamicdave](#):
>
> ESP32-S2-Mini

They can be a bit tricky with the default web flash page, there is an alternative you could try  
[https://wled-install.github.io/](https://wled-install.github.io/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [22 January 2026 18:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/19 "2026-01-22T18:41:12Z")

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Just testing my new CUBE!  
No prize for guessing what the text says

Just need to figure out a stand design to hold it on 1 corner point.  
🤣

![20260122_182651 (1)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/9/6/9666ff15b87cf391d52f43b5a9d21f62341e64ac.gif)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [22 January 2026 18:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/rgb-cube-using-ws2812-5050-leds/100148/20 "2026-01-22T18:43:37Z")

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Woo - that is impressive.