Would like a Wi-Fi RGB controller for low-voltage 5mm LEDs with common anode

Discussion Projects
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A while ago I made an LED-lit candelabra inspired by a computer game I like: http://imgur.com/a/8TjPU - it is powered by a controller intended for RGB LED strips which typically seems to accept 12 V inputs for all three channels. I put three high-power LEDs in series and adapted the voltages to my needs by placing some high-power resistors in series as well. It works but the tubes aren’t evenly lit. I can control it from my phone which has an IR emitter.

I want to do it again but using many low-power LEDs stacked on top of each other rather than single high-power LEDs shining from the bottom of the tubes. I will use convex/inverted cone LEDs to give a wide viewing angle. The problem is that the overwhelming majority of remote-controlled RGB LED controllers are for 12 V and 24 V LED strips where as my LEDs will accept something like 2.4 V and 3.2 V (x2). With 100 LEDs in series this will be around 2A per channel, I think.

Any suggestions? I’m hoping to escape doing the complicated circuit building stuff myself (has worked so far :P).

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Have you thought about using addressable pixel strips (WS2812B or APA102)?

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Hey Jon. My very first attempt was using LED strips but the problem is that in order to get 360 degree lighting around the inside of the tube, I have to wrap them around a metal tube inside the diffuser and this places them too close to the diffuser which makes the points of light visible. I want the tube to appear to be the light-source rather than LEDs inside it.

Edit: What’s the closest-spaced WS2812B or APA102 strip I’m likely to find? My first attempt was with 60/meter whereas now I’m seeing 144/meter and maybe if I use a piece of square bar instead of a metal tube, I can run the LEDs up and down the four sides. I think I’d rather get non-addressable LEDs though because they’ll be cheaper and a little bit easier to wire up?

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What about a couple of these back to back (or perhaps three in a triangular setup) https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/adafruit-neopixel-stick

It’s kind of hard to suggest without knowing the requirements of the project (like the size of the lamp, maximum acceptable power draw, etc)!

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The candelabra tubes are ~33 cm tall and there are three of them so those sticks would be a pretty expensive method, plus the addressable options all require complicated control methods. The control method I used for my original lamp is simply this thing which was really easy to attach and didn’t require me to learn programming etc!

Unfortunately, I can’t find LED strips with 144 LEDs per metre that aren’t using addressable LEDs!

The maximum acceptable power draw is, I suppose, 150 W. I’m guessing that the main limitation is the ability to dissipate the heat.