DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: dpitts on August 18, 2011,
-
I have read posts out finding bad nodes and strings not working. Have the quality issues been sorted out. Or, should I expect to be troubleshooting nodes and hacking strings up to find bad nodes. Just trying to get a feel for what I am in for.
Thanks.
-
I would still be prepared to have some bad nodes.
I would buy the 1804 tester or have SSC ready to go when they arrive.
I still think its possible to have 5-10% of the order be defective in some way,
but hopefully its much better than that now. You can return for replacement but thats a time consuming and slow process.
I ordered early and had lots of problems. On my re-order they were better, but still had some
bad nodes. Ray did replace the bad ones and even sent some bonus ones for my trouble, but even those had a some bad ones in them.
I had read in other places to plan on a fairly high number of bad nodes and be prepared for the
possibility of extensive splicing.
I'm not saying Ray is bad, he is good to work with ... but I think you could anything from a great experience to maybe 5-10% bad ... so why not plan for the worst?
-
Do you have a link to where i should buy the 1804 tester.
-
I believe this is what he is referring to:
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/365216351-TH2010-series-LED-pixel-remote-controller-support-TM1803-TM1804-TM1809-TM1812IC--wholesalers.html
I'm gonig to add one to my order.
See this thread for additional details:
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=4993.msg82839#msg82839
-
Thank you for the info.
-
Just in case you didn't know here is a post recently by RJ. Just something to think about for the future.
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=5511.msg90191#msg90191 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=5511.msg90191#msg90191)
-
Do you mean 5-10 % of the pixels or the strings. Big difference.
I still think its possible to have 5-10% of the order be defective in some way,
but hopefully its much better than that now. You can return for replacement but thats a time consuming and slow process.
-
Well I meant just the nodes. I had about 10% overall I had to splice out.
I suspect that ordering these days that number would be much lower, but not zero.
Maybe just plan for 5% bad on the nodes, just so you can handle worst case.
Again, Ray actually replaced all the bad onces and even gave me some extras ... so
no complaints, just a lot of splicing.
I bought 4 SS flex strips and they are all perfect. To me, the quality of those
and even the modules was much higher than the nodes, no failures on any of those
thus far.
-
Mine was one of the first orders and my failure rate has been less than 1% overall. Of about 1400 nodes, I've only got about 8 or 10 bad ones. The bad thing is that it tends to be one or two on a string, but I've also had a number of good strings.
RM
-
I agree the quality of the strips is excellent. The modules have a few more issues but not many. It is hard to say how bad the strings (nodes) are, since many of my failure were before RJ discovered the 150 ohm resistor and as such I might have some failures which were due to that. Overall I would say that 10% sounds about right.
-
I also would be in the less than 1% area. The problem is that I believe there was one of the batches with quality issues outside of normal so those people will have a higher issue.
I just received the test batch of nodes from ray and they are sealed totally shut in the back and look good. Dad and I were looking at them last might and wish all ours were like this.
RJ
-
Mine were part of the bad batch (early order), so hopefully not representative of current orders.
I got some replacement for free, but they were also a high percentage bad. But in the end, I'm ok with it because I have more working nodes than I originally ordered.
-
I also would be in the less than 1% area. The problem is that I believe there was one of the batches with quality issues outside of normal so those people will have a higher issue.
I just received the test batch of nodes from ray and they are sealed totally shut in the back and look good. Dad and I were looking at them last might and wish all ours were like this.
RJ
I wonder if I order some nodes now if I will get this "new and improved version"? Do you know if Ray will be shipping this kind now?
-Mike
-
I just received the test batch of nodes from ray and they are sealed totally shut in the back and look good. Dad and I were looking at them last might and wish all ours were like this.
RJ
As an aside - does this mean you will be waterproofing your earlier strings?
-
Have not decided yet. Likely will do something. Not sure if we will dip them or just put some on the ends. If there were like the test ones then no I would not be even thinking about it.
RJ
-
Ok I did purchase 1600 nodes from Ray. 16 - 100 cnt strings. he created me a link with nodes plus tester. I click the link and went through the order process. Does this mean I am under the Ali escrow transaction rules that i have seen mentioned. When I receive the nodes i will take pictures of them. Maybe RJ can verify as to if they are sealed liked his test nodes. I have never seen a node before so i will not know what to look for.
-
It sounds like I will be removing and replacing at least some nodes. What tools and materials are needed to splice nodes in and out?
-
It sounds like I will be removing and replacing at least some nodes. What tools and materials are needed to splice nodes in and out?
Just the basics. Wire cutters/strippers, solder iron, solder, electric tape or heat shrink tubing or liquid tape
Cheers
Rick R.
-
OK. Here is the update. My order for 1600 string nodes went in on Aug. 19th. I received my strings and $17.00 controller on the Friday the 26th. Great shipping. I was surprised to see it only took a couple of days via UPS to get from China to Colorado.
I have used the controller to brief test all strings. I only had one string that seemed to have problems. All other string had no problems and all LEDS lit up with Red,Green and Blue. The string that had problems I wiggled the wire where the trouble node seemed to be and the whole string started working. it could be a loose connection. Although I cannot get the error to reproduce. I marked the string and suspect node. I am in the process of burning in a string overnight. Although I cannot burn in all strings because I have yet to get my 3-wire pigtails.
Do the failures in most strings happen during a longer burn-in or were they noticed right away? I'm trying to get a feel for where i am at.
Also AliExpress keeps wanting me to confirm receipt of order. But I do have three more days to accept.
-
How is the quality of the build on the strings?
Most problems show up in the burn in within 24 hours.
Brian
-
Most of the problems on mine either showed up right away, or after moving them around a bunch. I would find problems after running for 5-6 hours, but i think it was more from me moving the lights around and trying to see if any node movement banging around would cause issues. I would take them while they were running and pick them up and drop them about 6 inches off of the floor and repeat. (windy mega tree simulation)
Every time I found a problem I would cut out the offending node, and burn them in longer. I think they all got about minimum of 12 hours each.
-
After burning in my strings for a few hours each is when the failures begin to show up. Also I started to see the failures more when connected to SSCs in test mode.
It may be just one pixel in the string missing one color typically. I left mine in bundles so I could look at all the pixels at once.
You will need to get the para cord for supporting the string in a mega tree. The wire is not strong enough to support large lengths of pixels.
I found that your are going to need to do some micro soldering to keep from creating large gaps between the pixels. Look at the examples that can be found on most strings. Also be careful you can melt the insulation easily if you apply the solder too long or use the heat gun for too long.