USB fairy light controller teardown (Patreon)

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A look at a common style of USB Christmas light controller, with some slight hackability. It's very simple, but sadly it doesn't have a memory function to hold the last light setting. It also has a timer function which some people may like, but I don't really care for it, as it messes up the use of these in indoor all-day decorative applications. The string of lights itself is configured with alternate polarity LEDs, which means you can't just use a battery and resistor to run them. It needs the polarity swapped at high speed to make them all look lit continuously. There are manufacturing advantages to this, and possible a reduction in corrosion caused by water ingress too. But it makes it harder to use these lights fully without having that extra polarity reversing circuitry. If you do cut the length down, then note that it uses a three wire system for even intensity along the run. If you cut the string, the loose wire that runs the length will have to be connected to one or the other of the cut end to get the circuit to light. Which wire can be determined by dabbing the loose wire on the other ends. One will shunt the lights and the other will make them light. Supporting the channel with a dollar or two on Patreon helps keep it independent of YouTube's quirks, avoids intrusive mid-video adverts, gives early access, bonus footage and regular quiet Patreon live streams. https://www.patreon.com/bigclive #ElectronicsCreators