DiyLightAnimation

Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,

Title: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
after seeing what nodes are available...  string, flex strip, rigid strip, rectangle, square. is there anything missing you'd like to see as far as a different shape?
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: Slite on February 02, 2012,
Round?

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-502777619/DC12V-WS2801-LED-pixel-module-3pcs-5050-SMD-RGB-WS2801IC-40pcs-a-string.html
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
essentially you can use the metal squares to do the same as that. i meant, is there something people wish they could do with the smart strings that isn't easy to do now because of the current shapes or way they are wired? (for example, icycles)   anything else?
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 02, 2012,
I wish there was a longer module say 15cm similar to the rectangular module but with 6 discrete leds instead of 3 in series.  It would have tabs on its side instead of the ends so when it was mounted end to end the end, the leds would remain spaced the same between modules as within the module itself.  Also, it would only have 3cm of wire instead of 9cm so that the wire would not obstruct the view of the leds when mounted end to end.  I could work with the rectangular 3 led module if wiring was shorter, assuming the tabs are on its sides, but I believe the tabs are now on the ends like the dumb stuff now…  Can anyone confirm?

I think a smart version of this would be cool (1 more led in square module): http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-441784808/20pcs-string-waterproof-led-pixel-module-4pcs-SMD-RGB-5050-1pcs-LPD6803-32-gray-level-DC12V.html

Also think smart strings and/or dumb strings with choices of 3”, 6”, or 12” spacing would be a hit.

AND for the piece d’resistance…  Some sort of connector that would allow us to easily splice 3 conductor wire to modules instead of soldering and heat shrinking.  Would settle for a non waterproof solution that would need be heatshrinked which saves the soldering.

Is there a remote chance some of these ideas could actually be made?   
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
the technology is still fairly new, so anything's possible.

yes, the rectangle nodes have tabs at the ends.

so for the metal squares, you're looking for this?
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-441785531/20pcs-string-TM1804IC-waterproof-led-pixel-module-4pcs-SMD-RGB-5050-.html

Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 02, 2012,
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the technology is still fairly new, so anything's possible.

yes, the rectangle nodes have tabs at the ends.

so for the metal squares, you're looking for this?
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-441785531/20pcs-string-TM1804IC-waterproof-led-pixel-module-4pcs-SMD-RGB-5050-.html



Awesome find!  Never saw them before...  This couldn't have come at a better time Ray and I are working on a transaction. 

 
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
those aren't indivually controlled though. just 4 leds controlled as one node
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
i'd also point out that since there's an extra led on the node, that it's power consumtion increases.
most likely 90 per ssc max
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 02, 2012,
Totally with ya.  (Might actually starting to get this stuff)  I just wanted a little more power for my luminaries  >:D

Are there other ss compatible things that maybe I am not finding on Ray's site?
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: taybrynn on February 02, 2012,
I have those 4 LED square modules and they seems the same as 3 LED(s) square modules.  They are controlled the same with the TM1804 controller, but I haven't attached them to a SSC yet.  They use more power than the 3 LED squares, but still less than the 3 led rect. mods.  Wire color is non standard.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
there should be, but one unknown is the order of the r,g and b  RJ's setup utility takes into account the nodes we have in the wiki. if any of the items use a different order, they aren't supported.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 02, 2012,
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I have those 4 LED square modules and they seems the same as 3 LED(s) square modules.  They are controlled the same with the TM1804 controller, but I haven't attached them to a SSC yet.  They use more power than the 3 LED squares, but still less than the 3 led rect. mods.  Wire color is non standard.

If you could try and let me know if they work I would really appreciate it.   >.d9
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: Slite on February 02, 2012,
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essentially you can use the metal squares to do the same as that. i meant, is there something people wish they could do with the smart strings that isn't easy to do now because of the current shapes or way they are wired? (for example, icycles)   anything else?

Rope would be nice....
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 02, 2012,
didn't think of that...
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: Rod R on February 02, 2012,
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essentially you can use the metal squares to do the same as that. i meant, is there something people wish they could do with the smart strings that isn't easy to do now because of the current shapes or way they are wired? (for example, icycles)   anything else?

Rope would be nice....

Yes Rope would be cool to have.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 02, 2012,
http://www.ledneonflex.com/led-neon-smd-rgb.html

It's out there.  Maybe Ray can do it cheaper?  Last time I looked into it the cost was outrageous. 

Title: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: rm357 on February 02, 2012,
I have some of the 4 led square nodes. They work fine, but are not the same color. At full on they are redder than the others.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: Slite on February 03, 2012,
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http://www.ledneonflex.com/led-neon-smd-rgb.html

It's out there.  Maybe Ray can do it cheaper?  Last time I looked into it the cost was outrageous.

Cool, but that looked like "dumb" RGB, not smart string.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 03, 2012,
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http://www.ledneonflex.com/led-neon-smd-rgb.html

It's out there.  Maybe Ray can do it cheaper?  Last time I looked into it the cost was outrageous.

Cool, but that looked like "dumb" RGB, not smart string.

Yeah good point. Most if not all of the led neon is dumb.

When I mean expensive think $30-40 a foot! 
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 03, 2012,
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I have some of the 4 led square nodes. They work fine, but are not the same color. At full on they are redder than the others.

Do you think the 4 led module is bad enough to pass on em?  I don't care for the rectangular modules for a similar reason.  Their white is way too "cool"/blue to me.  That said, maybe some white correction in lsp would fix.
Title: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: taybrynn on February 03, 2012,
I was going to put the 4 led squares inside a couple coroflakes.   The diffused color should be fine.   I mean, none of these ss rgb lights match my incandescent minis, but the red and green r fairly close.   The fade characteristics r a lot different and not discussed much.   Incan. Seems to be nearly perfect on fades.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: zwiller on February 03, 2012,
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I was going to put the 4 led squares inside a couple coroflakes.   The diffused color should be fine.   I mean, none of these ss rgb lights match my incandescent minis, but the red and green r fairly close.   The fade characteristics r a lot different and not discussed much.   Incan. Seems to be nearly perfect on fades.

Thought I was the only one who thought SS didn't fade that well.  I keep telling myself that it won't matter in context of a show but not really sure.  Maybe something can be done about it, since as you said, no one talks about it...  Wonder if its on the hardware or software side?

 
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: FireMedic4Christ on February 03, 2012,
I would like to see some different covers available other than the C9. I love the flexibility the nodes add to my display, but I also want something a little more traditional looking. A choice of covers also allows one to add some depth and character to your display. C9 on the roof, C7 in the trees and strawberry on the shrubs. I would likely use C7 and the round strawberry covers if I found some that would fit over the SS nodes.
 
I also think a net style light would be great for shrubs. In object oriented programming software, this would make sweeping fades easy to do.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: chrisatpsu on February 03, 2012,
so with a smart net, you'd like to see a large gap matrix?
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: FireMedic4Christ on February 03, 2012,
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so with a smart net, you'd like to see a large gap matrix?

That's what I was thinking. Nothing for video, just nodes on a 6 x 6 or so matrix.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: taybrynn on February 03, 2012,
I think its likely the same issue that you run into with fading with LED(s) when used on a LE ... except they have put in the lighting curves capability into the LE for them ... but for SS ... I'm wondering if a similar SS capability makes sense?  For example, I have some sequencing which does fades between 50% and 0% and even 30 and 0% ... and most of these fades are essentially non-existent using SS ... but quite effective using say C9(s) or incan. minis.
Title: Re: smart string nodes not covered?
Post by: FireMedic4Christ on February 04, 2012,
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I think its likely the same issue that you run into with fading with LED(s) when used on a LE ... except they have put in the lighting curves capability into the LE for them ... but for SS ... I'm wondering if a similar SS capability makes sense?  For example, I have some sequencing which does fades between 50% and 0% and even 30 and 0% ... and most of these fades are essentially non-existent using SS ... but quite effective using say C9(s) or incan. minis.

I did say sweeping fades, but more correctly meant fading the pixels from one color to the next, not fades in intensity.
 
I think it was LSP that would once the nodes are all addressed allows you to use preprogramed fades such as from the center out, left to right, corner to corner.
 
Brian