Watch the direction mark on flex strings

[smeighan]

I was soldering 3 pin leads onto my 20x120 flex strips this weekend. got in the groove, 3 1/8" shrink tubing, larger 1/2" clear tubing. wired some up, checked them. perfect.

sat down and wired the pile.

I didnt notice that after 4 strings, the flex strips were wound on the reels backwards.,
After 15 strings, i tested again. 9 didn't work. That is when i noticed i had wired connectors on the out side of the strip.

heads up, look at the little arrow and don't assume that all strings are wound on the reels the same way.

i know, dumb error. and i dont even drink.

trying to get mega-tree completed so i can get back to fixing bugs in nutcracker.

thanks

[jeffcoast]

I made the same error, and to top it off I had my roommate helping me, and told him to trim the wires on far end, not thinking to check that all of them were wound the same.

[jnealand]

Welcome to the world of DIY.  I have soldered on the wrong ends of 3 and 4 pin connectors, soldered on the wires to my SSCs before putting the PVC end cap over the wire, etc.  Makes me glad I have desoldering braid and the RS desoldering iron.  But I keep learning and keep trying.  Just yesterday I was putting an SSC in a case and my mentally impaired son watching says "you didn't put the wire thru the top", so I think I will have him watch all my work.  4 eyes are better than my two old ones.  LOL.

[rdebolt]

OK Not to be stupid here, but you do connect the SSC on the side that the arrow points to the lights right? The reason I ask is that I have my first SS strip and no lights. Controller is controlling a set of SS so I know that the controller is working.

[travailen]

OK Not to be stupid here, but you do connect the SSC on the side that the arrow points to the lights right? The reason I ask is that I have my first SS strip and no lights. Controller is controlling a set of SS so I know that the controller is working.

SSC goes here   | --->         -->            Flexible  Smart String      --->| 

The arrow indicates the direction of the data flow not the end that gets the SSC . Don't connect the SSC to the pointy end of the arrow

Rick S

[rrowan]

OK Not to be stupid here, but you do connect the SSC on the side that the arrow points to the lights right? The reason I ask is that I have my first SS strip and no lights. Controller is controlling a set of SS so I know that the controller is working.

SSC goes here   | --->         -->            Flexible  Smart String      --->| 

The arrow indicates the direction of the data flow not the end that gets the SSC . Don't connect the SSC to the pointy end of the arrow

Rick S

I updated the wiki page Light Chart to hopefully help with the direction.

Rick R.

[rdebolt]

Well that's what I though the obvious was, but the reason I asked is that the first 2 of my flex strips will not work. I know that the SSC is ok because if I plug it into a SS set that I have they work fine, but nothing from the first 2 of my flex strips. Working on the 3rd, but it seems like I have something wrong.

[rdebolt]

3rd time is a charm I guess. But that means that of my first 3 flex strips 2 don't work! That is not a very good start! 

[rrowan]

3rd time is a charm I guess. But that means that of my first 3 flex strips 2 don't work! That is not a very good start! 

Contact Ray for replacements

Rick R.

[rdebolt]

I will I have another order that he is gettting ready to ship so I will just have him send the replacement with that order. At least my percentages are going up, now 2 dead out of 5.... still testing. 

[rdebolt]

Well only 2 of 10 were DOA. Amazing that they were my first 2. I was really worried at first. 

[smeighan]

I have 20x120 flex strips. All are ok

I have 16x128 strings, 14 ok, 2 something is broken.

One of the broken ones looks like it was assembled by someone on drugs.

Every chip crooked, internal leads of led bent at 30 degrees.

Instead of rgb sequence, I get rainbow colors cycling.

I use xlights  to test everything first.

On the brighter side, my assembly continues. Finished six 16' arches. I made them from one inch white pex.

Now working on PVC frames for windows and then on to eaves.

[rdebolt]

One of the broken ones looks like it was assembled by someone on drugs.

Every chip crooked, internal leads of led bent at 30 degrees.

LOL. Ya, some of the quality control seems to be lacking. Good luck on the rest of your setup!