DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: Steve Gase on December 23, 2013,
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I've seen some references to different pixel types, and I'm not sure what products are being referenced.
Can you reply to this thread with info/sources for each of the following? ...and add anything similar to this thread to help clarify/define additional products.
- Technicolor
- FirePix
- Bullet (TM1804)
- Pixabulbs
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Technicolor (1st Gen)
Designed by Zach Stoltenberg, intended to address water-proofing problems, UV-protection to extend the lifespan, supporting optional covers of various styles, ...12V. Sold and available from multiple vendors and manufacturers. (including Ray Wu)
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/50nodes-DC12V-WS2811-LED-technicolor-pixel-waterproof-full-color/922175400.htm (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/50nodes-DC12V-WS2811-LED-technicolor-pixel-waterproof-full-color/922175400.htm)
Available in WS2811 and TM1804 chips. The Ray Wu variety used a WS2811 with a clock setting compatible with Zeus and SSC.
Had major problems in the 1st generation, mostly due to missing (?) conformal coatings, overheating, water intrusion.
Also available as FirePix.
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FirePix (1st Gen)
Designed by Zach Stoltenberg, intended to address water-proofing problems, UV-protection to extend the lifespan, supporting optional covers of various styles, ...12V. Sold and available from multiple vendors and manufacturers. (FirePix sold by HolidayCoro)
http://www.holidaycoro.com/Smart-RGB-Node-LayFlat-2811-50-Count-p/685.htm (http://www.holidaycoro.com/Smart-RGB-Node-LayFlat-2811-50-Count-p/685.htm)
Available in WS2811, 12v -- but clock rate makes them incompatible with Zeus and SSC.
Had major problems in the 1st generation, mostly due to missing (?) conformal coatings, overheating, water intrusion.
Also available as Technicolor.
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I found this info from another site:
Pixabulbs And Pixadot
Sold by Diy Led Express.
The PixaBulbs are a cross between a C7 and a C9 bulb. They are the height of a C7 with the width of a C9. Each PixaBulb has 2 5050 LEDs, runs on a WS2811 IC, runs on 12v, and are IP68 rates.
It is unknown if these work with Zeus and SSC.
The PixaDots have a single 5050 LED, run on a WS2801 IC, uses 5v and are IP68 rated. As they use 5v and the wrong chip, so they are incompatible with Zeus and SSC.
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Pixabulbs available from diyledexpress.com are WS2811 IC and have 2 12v 5050 RGB leds fully embedded in that clear resin/plastic material. It has a bulb cover and the shape of the node looks similar to a LOR cosmic color bulb. One user here said he was using a couple of bulbs with a V1 (unmodified) and a V4 SSC. I saw good reviews on another forum. But they cost about twice as much as a Ray bullet node like those in the WIKI. It might be worth the cost though as someone had theirs working while buried in the snow.
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Ray bullet node like those in the WIKI.
So, "bullet node" is another name for Ray's IP68 smart pixels...?
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/50-node-LED-pixel-string-DC12V-input-new-model-IP68/701799_495657175.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/50-node-LED-pixel-string-DC12V-input-new-model-IP68/701799_495657175.html)
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I have some Pixabulbs on the way for some testing. They have very good reviews. They are a little bit more but given the recent quality of the Technicolor pixels and the fact that the cover is integrated I am willing to spend a bit more.
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I have some Pixabulbs on the way for some testing. They have very good reviews. They are a little bit more but given the recent quality of the Technicolor pixels and the fact that the cover is integrated I am willing to spend a bit more.
Is there another source, besides DiyLedExpress?
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Bullet nodes are just like Ray's in the WIKI. It just refers to the shape of the pixel. The ones at diyledexpress look identical to the LOR CCB's at much less cost. I don't know if they are the same manufacturer. I haven't seen anything similar on aliexpress.
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These items sold at Seasonal Entertainment. They are 2801 based.
Rainbow Pixicles Traditional icicle string (individual pixel control)
Rainbow Drops Traditional icicle string (all drops treated as 1 node)
Rainbow C9 Pixels C9 covered flat backed nodes
Rainbow Mini Pixels Bullet shaped nodes.
Rainbow C7 Pixel C7 covered flat backed nodes
Interesting concept with the icicle design. I wonder how much fun it would be to make something similar. Their system makes it hard to expand. All products are 42 pixels max. Kind of limiting.
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I have some Pixabulbs on the way for some testing. They have very good reviews. They are a little bit more but given the recent quality of the Technicolor pixels and the fact that the cover is integrated I am willing to spend a bit more.
Is there another source, besides DiyLedExpress?
Not that I am aware of.
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This thread has become ads for vendors. Everyone knows how I feel about this.
RJ
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Sorry! My reason for looking for another type pixel is even though the ip68 nodes in the WIKI are way better than the original ip66 as to waterproofing, I noticed some corrosion where the led solders to the board on some so I figure it is only a matter of time until they fail. I am thinking water gets in on the end where the body touches the led. So I was looking for something to last for years.
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Sorry! My reason for looking for another type pixel is even though the ip68 nodes in the WIKI are way better than the original ip66 as to waterproofing, I noticed some corrosion where the led solders to the board on some so I figure it is only a matter of time until they fail. I am thinking water gets in on the end where the body touches the led. So I was looking for something to last for years.
+1
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The original post is fine, they just seem to always go in the direction this one is.
RJ
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The original post is fine, they just seem to always go in the direction this one is.
RJ
RJ,
Didn't mean to go this direction. I have no interest in their site just saw them and thought I would give them a try. I edited my post.
Brian
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with all that said, is there any plans to find a US solution or get the manufacturing of the current pixels smoothed out. I hoping to make the complete jump this year.
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Generally speaking, the current list of strings, strips, and nodes found in the wiki are pretty good. There is a NORMAL failure rate that is tolerable, and it can be offset by requesting from ray some "spares" that you can then use to "swap out" failed with spare pixels.
The issues seen this year were due to our attempts to order from off the approved list... finding what should be compatible pixels, but in new/different configurations to offer more choices in our displays. Some of these options looked great on paper, and even in the demos -- but in real life they had problems.
Not everything had problems... a few guys in the forum have tried a lot of ray's offerings and they've had great success.
Maybe a survey is needed to formally collect data on these "grey-area" products. The survey might tell us how many people have tried the product against DLA controllers, and what failure rates were experienced with each.
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Can anyone comment on the pixabulb amperage and/or max per ssc? Searched but details are sketchy. I had a heck of a time with power injection requirements this past year with 5050 gear and I wonder how well 50 dual 5050s will look on full white with the SSC. Maybe the string has built in power injection? Any other details appreciated.
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How exactly would the string have "built in" power injection. I truly believe that the main issue is using both cat5 and RJ45 connectors for this level of power draw. I know that RJ specked out the cable and connectors but in order for it to handle the load we are putting on them, you need all three remaining pairs to make it work. This is also the reason for needing stranded wire over solid, to make sure that one of the wires doesn't break and dump the load on the remaining two pairs. An RJ45 is also not designed for solid high current connections and are having corrosion issues that are also in many cases leading to high voltage drops. All it will take is a grain of dirt or sand to break the connection on one of those soft pins. This is why I intend to experiment with different cable types and connectors to see if I can find something that can handle the load as well as transfer the signal. I hope to be able to start in early Feb and I have a few ideas.
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Of course I find it now... 1.3A per 50 pixabulbs. So .03A per so a SSC could run 2 - 50' and a 25'. Wow that's cool. Just need 2 50s in my case.
I can say with reasonable certainty that the West Marine corrosion spray helped immensely this year for me. That said, almost all of my issues this past season we water infiltration/condensation of the pvc shell for the SSC. It just was wicked weather for me. Reminds me of another topic I need to post...
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I'm not running a ssc. For planning 2013's display, I measured my Pixabulbs at 0.9A per 25 at full white. 0.036A per pixel. Ran 623 of them as one string but didn't measure power consumption for the full setup. All power was from a single 360W supply. I injected power in the middle at 6 places as well as at each end. My longest run between injections was 146 pixels with power injected from each side, 73pixels away from power, max. Testing inside beforehand, I decided I could get away with 150 without a visible difference if I injected power both directions. At aroung 157-158 I started noticing dimming. When powering from a single end, 75 was pushing it with a small amount of dimming noticeable with bulbs side by side.
All power was over 14ga landscape wire except for the start pixel, which got it's power and signal over cat5. No RJ45s anywhere in the power or data lines. I used terminal strips and crimp-on spade connectors.
@zwiller - In your case of only needing 2x50 I would still supply power directly to each string, 100 px is a little far for pixabulbs if you want full brightness.
Marc