DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: RJ on June 24, 2011,
-
I have samples of new nodes coming that are suppost to be 100% watertight. I will post pics and my impressions of them when they get here.
RJ
-
Are these coming from Ray or is this from another source?
I was getting ready to order some nodes but I want to wait and see what you come up with.
Thanks for all you do!
-
Give me a few days to get them and see before you order. Might be not worth anything but might be great!
RJ
-
My timing sucks.
I just ordered more nodes 4 days ago.
I wonder if it is too late to cancel the order.
John
-
I just got an order in last week from Ray and they were better filled where the wires come out than my original order and I got excited. But upon testing I had more problemw with the nodes themselves. On my original order back when you could first order them, I only had about 3 nodes that the colors were a little off where you could only tell on white or one of the yellow or fusia type colors. This was 3 nodes on 800 node order. This time on a 300 node order each string had 1 or 2 bad nodes that either caaused the rest of the string to not light or to stay on and such. If you pulled a little on the wires they would sometimes pop right out of the node. Ray rushed me out replacements right away.
-
Keep us posted on this. I am putting together my order for Ray, but will hold off until I hear what you have to report about these. Thanks.
-Mike
-
I too am ready to order as well and will be waiting as well ;)
-
Will the new nodes be any cheaper to buy or ship, would they also be coming from china.
Adam
-
Give me a few days to get them and see before you order. Might be not worth anything but might be great!
RJ
RJ,
Anything to report on these new nodes? Still holding off on a purchase hoping you might have some new options.
-Mike
-
I have just returned from being away. I do have shipments so I likely have them. I will be looking at what I received this weekend once I am free of work.
Sent from my Charge by Tapatalk
RJ
-
RJ,
Do you think you might have anything to report this weekend? I'm holding off on my smart strings purchase while waiting to hear if there is anything to these new strings. Thanks.
-Mike
-
RJ,
Do you think you might have anything to report this weekend? I'm holding off on my smart strings purchase while waiting to hear if there is anything to these new strings. Thanks.
-Mike
I received them and they look good. They appear to maybe have added some kind of epoxy on the end of the pcb before they molded them. It then hardens into a flat hard end with the wire glued into it. I like it but the lights would not work. I started on the Ray tester and they did not work so I tried an SSC with no change. I had a hard time understanding but I think they were for me to look at the assembly technic to get my opinion before they made any SS string like them. I was told they would send me some working ones as soon as the first batch came out to test functionaility.
So I have been in hold waiting to see them arrive. No word at this point sorry! I will shoot them another email to see the status. I can not recommend this route yet as I have not seen any thing work yet.
RJ
-
OK, no worries. Just keep us posted if you hear anything new. I'll have to decide if I want to hold off a little longer or go ahead and order from Ray's current inventory.
-Mike
-
Im looking to purchase some RayWu nodes this week or next.
RJ, Im Curious if you tested these newer nodes. And if so how would i reference them to purchase them. Thanks
-
Sorry,
I missed this post and stumbled on it.
I have tested some he sent me with the epoxied ends and they worked fine. not sure how to tell you to get them other than talk to him.
RJ
-
Actually I placed an order with Ray a few weeks back and specifically asked for the newer "style" pixel strings. Ray said the new method achieves true IP68 waterproofing. He said that is what he would send in my order. Unfortunately he says he's out of stock on some of the parts, so I'm stuck waiting for my shipment. Like RJ says, I'd communicate with Ray prior to the purchase and make sure he knows you want the newer waterproofed pixel strings. Of course, we'll see what he ends up sending me.
-Mike
-
I just received my order a few days ago... new pixels (I ordered 5 - 128 pixel strings)... not one bad pixel in the lot... the epoxy looks great...
-
Dandyman,
I am looking to buy 6 strings. Could you send a close-up picture of a node?
Thanks.
-
They look the same but have filled up the inside of the node until it is level with the outside. Ray sent me some samples to look at without me asking along with a clear faceted c9 cover I had been trying to get from him and had given up because he kept sending the wrong thing. Haven't had time to test them yet.
Make sure to test the new nodes using RJ's test program for at least 12 hours. On the original batch some that seemed fine using Ray's test controller had problems using the test firmware after a few hours.
-
Is there an updated link / product number to use when ordering these new nodes?
-
I saw what looks like brand new nodes for sale at Rays store. Same price as the old ones.
-
I received my lights about Mid August, and I believe they are the "newer" water proofed ones, as there appears to be dry silicon type goop in the ends... I would be interested in seeing some pictures for comparison...
I am still planning on sealing most of mine tomorrow... Wanted to wait for the humidity to drop back down a bit....
As an aside, I couldn't locate Plasti-dip thinner locally, so I purchased the two ingredients as per the MSDS and will be thinning it with that...
65% Toluene
35 VM&P Naphtha
Any negative thoughts on doing it this way?
PS. I ordered 26 strings, and have tested 17 of them so far with 0% failure... Will have the rested tested and cut by end of weekend, fingers crossed...
-
The only thing I see with the testing nodes we did is they feel like the back of a post it note when done. Not sticky just like something is there. I'm not sure it matters but that is what they fell like. They are water resistant at that point and seem to care nothing about water as even around the led gets another sealing. What I am saying is once it is dry it seems to make them truly water resistant.
RJ
-
Hello all
sorry if this is a redundant question, but is this the improved smart string?
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-495658226/128-node-LED-pixel-string-DC12V-input-new-model-IP68.html
Jess
-
The only way to know for sure is ask him prior to ordering... But I would assume all newly ordered strings would be the "sealed" ones....
Also, I would like to report....
Out of 3328 Nodes (26 x 128) I had only 1 that was bad (The RED element was out in it).
That works out to about a .03% failure rate.... LOL...
I burned in all of the strings for about 5 minute each.. and had a 2 1/2 year old help me stretch them out... So I am sure they were stretched well...
Richard
-
Five minutes is not long enough. You need to test with RJ's test Firmware for around 12 hours. I had a few nodes that worked fine for a couple of hours before I went to bed but were malfunctioning when I got up the next morning.
-
I run mine for a week - occaisonally moving them around and giving them a slight drop to the table top. One of my last strings lost a node as I did this just before I shut them off. The nodes can go at anytime, but this helps to weed out the weaker ones.
-
jess, those are the ones I saw ... and was also wondering if they were the newest nodes available.
-
I sent Ray an email, we'll see what he says.
-
That's Cool... I have cut them to the sizes I needed, and am sealing them up now...
As an aside, RJ... What is your verdict on the "sealed" lights Ray is sending?
He assured me mine were water proof, and I could even submerge them in water...
Richard
-
He didn't answer my question Are these the higher quality nodes?
I sent him another email asking him again.
-
Here is what I found out.
Ray wu: Dear Jess,
thanks for your reply!yes, this is the new version ip68 nodes, much better waterproof function than before.
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-496604235/invoice-to-Mr-Jess-from-Ray-9-20.html
thanks and best regards
>>> jesshersch Tue Sep 20 00:00:39 PDT 2011 >>>
Ray on the 128 pixel nodes are these the better waterproof nodes?
Jess
-
Are these nodes the same diameter (for mounting) otherwise? I'm wondering if I design something with the nodes I have, will these replacement nodes also fit the same. It appears so.
-
I don't know It's kinda hard to tell with pictures.
-
The samples he sent me looked the same just they were filled with the clear stuff so it was level with the outer edges. Mind you I didn't get out my mm ruler. Maybe I should. I did notice that my initial order had about a 1/4 inch more space between nodes than the 2nd batch I received. It was really noticable when the strings were stretch out side by side. I think I will add a tie wrap to the base of the nodes on the longer strings to try to get the same length.