# Garden Path Lights with WLED and a Sunset Timer ## Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRqPQdOblF4 Turn your garden into a nighttime wonderland with a twinkling lighted crystal-lined pathway. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to build your own modular, weather-resistant pathway lights that are anything but ordinary. These lights are fully controllable using the free, open-source WLED software, so you can create dazzling light shows right in your backyard with no coding required. Sync multiple strips together using your local WiFi network. Control and program the lights with your smart phone or any web-enabled browser, enabling them to come on at sunset and turn off again at whatever time you choose.  ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/132/209/medium800/proximity_gardenpath_hero.jpeg?1725910566) I rent my art out for events, so I wanted to build something that was sturdy, modular, and easy to transport. I built 16 independent 4-foot sections of track with connectors at each end so I can plug them in to each other in a variety of different configurations.  This guide will show how to do that, but of course it's fine to simplify and just use one long track for a permanent backyard install. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/132/210/medium800/proximity_crystal-strips.jpeg?1725912211) ## Skills & Materials This is an intermediate level project. You'll need to be familiar with soldering connectors to LED strips -- check out our [How to Solder NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/make-it-glow-how-to-solder-neopixels-a-beginners-guide/soldering-strips) guide for a primer -- and you'll need to get a little messy with silicone sealant. The programming and coding is the easy part. You'll need to install the software and do a little configuration, but WLED gets you to the fun part quickly: design and create your own light animations and playlists with the easy-to-use app. ### Parts ### Material Quantities How much or how many of each piece will depend on the size and layout of your installation. Grab your tape measure and check the layout page of this guide before you order so you get enough of everything. ### Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM [Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400) One of our star Feathers is the [Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3405) - with the fabulous ESP32 WROOM module on there, it makes quick work of WiFi and Bluetooth® projects that take advantage of Espressifs most popular chipset. Recently we had... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5400/guides) ![Top view of black rectangle-shaped microcontroller.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5400-13.jpg) If you're installing in multiple areas and would like to sync over longer distances, try the Feather ESP32 w.FL antenna. This will extend your range considerably! The antenna is not included with the Feather so be sure to grab one of those too. ### Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 w.FL Antenna - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM [Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 w.FL Antenna - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5438) One of our star Feathers is the [Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3405) - with the fabulous ESP32 WROOM module on there, it makes quick work of WiFi and Bluetooth® projects that take advantage of Espressifs most popular chipset. Recently we had... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5438) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5438/guides) ![Angled shot of rectangular microcontroller.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5438-10.jpg) ### Part: WiFi Antenna quantity: 1 WiFi Antenna with w.FL / MHF3 / IPEX3 Connector [WiFi Antenna](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5445) In choosing the density of your pixels, you have some options. Adafruit sells pixel reels at 30, 60, and 144 lights per meter. I found that the 60 LEDs per meter lights gave me really smooth animations and a decent light-run length. WLED runs into memory limitations after around 800 pixels in a run, so consider the total number of pixels you'll have when planning out your installation. If you need more than 800 pixels, get a second microcontroller and sync the sections together. WLED makes this easy. ### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED [Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! You wanted **twice the LEDs**? We got it (well, its 1.875 times as many but that's within a margin of... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1138/guides) ![Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip reel wired to a microcontroller, with all the LEDs in a rainbow](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1138-00.jpg) ### 5V 10A switching power supply [5V 10A switching power supply](https://www.adafruit.com/product/658) This is a beefy switching supply, for when you need a lot of power! It can supply 5V DC up to 10 Amps, running from 110V or 220V power (the plug it comes with is for US/Canada/Japan but you can use any plug adapter for your country, or just replace the cable with a standard computer/appliance... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/658) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/658/guides) ![5V 10A switching power supply brick with IEC power port.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/658-07.jpg) Here are the connectors and power adapters I used. I used a LOT of them -- my design is modular 4-foot tracks, and each track section had connectors.  ### Part: Female DC Power Adapter quantity: 1 Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block [Female DC Power Adapter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368) ### Part: 3 Pin JST Connectors quantity: 1 3-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set [3 Pin JST Connectors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1663) ### Part: 2 Pin JST Connectors quantity: 1 2-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set [2 Pin JST Connectors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2880) ### Additional Materials - [Garden Path Edging](https://a.co/d/fksXBr6) - 1.5" tall - Plastic Crystals - size 16mm x 22mm: [a 1 lb bag](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BHV8LLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) will cover about 4 feet of 1.5" edging. I made 16 4-foot tracks so I needed to [buy in bulk. ](https://www.eventswholesale.com/10-bags-acrylic-crystal-rock-fillers-clear-approx-150-pcs-per-bag/) - [Clear Silicone Caulk](https://a.co/d/2K9DjOq) - 1 tube will cover around 7-8 feet of edging. - [1/2" Clear Heat Shrink](https://a.co/d/4ccoea8) - for weatherproofing the strips - [Power Injection Wire](https://a.co/d/iB12dHq) - in case you have longer runs of 300+ lights - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/garden-path-lights-with-sunset-timer/wiring-diagram.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM [Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400) One of our star Feathers is the [Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3405) - with the fabulous ESP32 WROOM module on there, it makes quick work of WiFi and Bluetooth® projects that take advantage of Espressifs most popular chipset. Recently we had... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5400/guides) ### WiFi Antenna with w.FL / MHF3 / IPEX3 Connector [WiFi Antenna with w.FL / MHF3 / IPEX3 Connector](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5445) That's one slim cellular antenna! At about 220mm long from tip to tip and with a cable thickness of just 0.8mm, this 2.4GHz WiFi or BLE antenna is slim, compact, and sensitive, with a 4dBi gain. The antenna is the trace on the PCB that is at the end of the skinny coaxial cable.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5445) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5445/guides) ### Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 w.FL Antenna - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM [Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2 w.FL Antenna - 8MB Flash + 2 MB PSRAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5438) One of our star Feathers is the [Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3405) - with the fabulous ESP32 WROOM module on there, it makes quick work of WiFi and Bluetooth® projects that take advantage of Espressifs most popular chipset. Recently we had... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5438) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5438/guides) ### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED [Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 60 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! You wanted **twice the LEDs**? We got it (well, its 1.875 times as many but that's within a margin of... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1138) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1138/guides) ### 5V 10A switching power supply [5V 10A switching power supply](https://www.adafruit.com/product/658) This is a beefy switching supply, for when you need a lot of power! It can supply 5V DC up to 10 Amps, running from 110V or 220V power (the plug it comes with is for US/Canada/Japan but you can use any plug adapter for your country, or just replace the cable with a standard computer/appliance... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/658) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/658/guides) ### Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block [Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368) If you need to connect a DC power wall wart to a board that doesn't have a DC jack - this adapter will come in very handy! There is a 2.1mm DC jack on one end, and a screw terminal block on the other. The terminals are labeled with positive/negative assuming a positive-tip configuration... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/368/guides) ### 3-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set [3-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1663) These 3-wire cables are 163mm (6.4") long and come as a set. One cable has a JST SM type connector plug on the end. The other cable has a matching JST SM type receptacle connector. They are good for whenever you have 3 wires you want to be able to plug and unplug. We like the solid and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1663) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1663/guides) ### 2-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set [2-pin JST SM Plug + Receptacle Cable Set](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2880) These 2-wire cables are 16cm long and come as a set.  One side has a 2-pin JST SM type connector plug on the end.  The other side has a matching 2-pin JST SM type receptacle connector.  They are good for whenever you have 2 wires you want to be able to plug and unplug.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2880) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2880/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-esp32-feather-v2.md) - [Holiday Lights: Easy DIY Christmas Wreath & Garland with WLED](https://learn.adafruit.com/holiday-garland-decor-app-control-with-no-coding.md) - [Introducing Adafruit Feather](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather.md) - [CircuitPython Web Workflow Code Editor Quick Start](https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-web-workflow-using-the-code-editor.md) - [WiFi Mailbox Notifier](https://learn.adafruit.com/wifi-mailbox-notifier.md) - [MP3 Playback with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/mp3-playback-with-circuitpython.md) - [Using Piezo Buzzers with WipperSnapper](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-piezo-buzzers-with-wippersnapper.md) - [No-Code Battery Monitoring with WipperSnapper](https://learn.adafruit.com/no-code-battery-monitoring-with-wippersnapper.md) - [Sound Reactive Paper Lanterns with LedFx](https://learn.adafruit.com/sound-reactive-paper-lanterns-with-led-fx.md) - [CircuitPython on ESP32 Quick Start](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-with-esp32-quick-start.md) - [Edge-Lit Tavern Sign with WLED - Control with WiFi or IR Remote](https://learn.adafruit.com/edge-lit-tavern-sign-with-wled-control-with-wifi-or-ir-remote.md) - [LED Matrix Necklace Pendant](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-matrix-necklace-pendant.md) - [How To Install Drivers for WCH CH34X / CH340 / CH341 / CH342 / CH343 / CH344 / CH346 / CH347 / CH9101 / CH9102 / CH9103 / CH9104 / CH9111 / CH9114 / CH9143 USB to Serial Chips](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-install-drivers-for-wch-usb-to-serial-chips-ch9102f-ch9102.md) - [Networking in CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/networking-in-circuitpython.md) - [eInk / ePaper Weather Station](https://learn.adafruit.com/epaper-weather-station.md) - [Espresso Water Tank Meter](https://learn.adafruit.com/espresso-water-tank-meter.md)