5V 10A switching power supply

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

DC

DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.

DC barrel jack

A round power connector commonly used for low-voltage DC power supplies, often described by its outer and inner diameters such as 5.5 x 2.1 mm. Matching the barrel size and polarity is important so the plug physically fits and powers the device correctly.

LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

NeoPixel

A type of addressable LED system where colour data is sent along a single digital data line from one LED or controller to the next. Compatibility matters because the timing and signal format must match for the lights or driver board to respond correctly.

WS2812B

A smart RGB LED chip with a tiny built-in controller, commonly used in addressable light strips and panels. It matters because many WS2812B LEDs can be chained together and controlled from one microcontroller pin, but they need compatible code and careful power planning as the number of LEDs grows.