DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: txag2008 on April 26, 2013,
-
Please help clarify something for a Smart String noob like myself.
Before diving completely in to the Smart String scene I was looking to just dip my toes in. Can a 4 port passive hub be used without a 16 port active/passive hub to control Smart Strings? Since the 4 port passive hub takes a pixelnet input and has 4 pixelnet outputs I was just thinking of going straight to the 4 port passive hub from the etherdongle.
I have drawn up a simple sketch to better show the setup I am referring to.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/33uqzi9.jpg)
-
I can't view your sketch, but yes you can connect directly to the 4 port hub. You will need to connect a 12V power supply to it and connect the output from etherdongle.
-
Yes. Missing from your diagram is the 12vt power supply that you will need.
-
This is basically a signal splitter and a 12v power injection point.
I've never done it this way, but it seems like a simple way to hook up a few strings with a ss hub.
Just be careful on how much you attach, since most of the portable 12v power supplies
only have a few amps and you might need (up to) 4 amps for each 128 node smart string attached.
-
I am planning to use one for testing and was actually surprised that you can power 512 nodes from one but in order for that you will need a decent PS, 16A+ or about a 250W PS.
-
Yes this is one of its intended uses.
RJ
-
Just be forewarned that if you want to cascade them (plug a second one into the first one) you are likely to have issues as these do not include the signal regeneration and buffering that are built into the 16 port hubs.
I keep a 4 port wired up at my workbench for testing.
-
Yes. Works great. Just have extra fuses on hand.
Or you could use removable fuses. Was going to try that myself.