DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: zwiller on January 30, 2012,
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Ready to place an order from Ray. Wanted to see if I have this right.
Join Aliexpress.
Combine multiple items to get better deal on shipping.
DHL is best delivery method. Less chance of customs issues, quick shipping, less chance items damaged or lost.
Pay with credit card not paypal. Best option for resolving disputes.
Do NOT release escrow until all items accounted for and burn in tested.
When shipment arrives, count everything and burn in test for several hours at minimum.
Resolve missing items, bad parts, with Ray before 20 days when escrow time is up.
Failure rate on stuff <10% so Ray throws some extra items to cover above.
Release escrow to Ray when all is cool.
Am I way off? Just making a test order but it will likely be $200 and want to do this right.
THANKS
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Not sure what you mean by join Aliexpress? Just follow the links in the wiki. If you are ordering multiple items you will probably have to email him and have him calculate the cost of the order with shipping as the web site doesn't calculate it right if combining different items. Sometimes he will throw in a few extra nodes to cover any malfunctioning ones. Also be sure and count your nodes. Out of 9-128 strings of replacement nodes I was shorted 2 and then had 4 bad ones. That is a pretty low failure rate. These are the ip-68 nodes.
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Ready to place an order from Ray. Wanted to see if I have this right.
Join Aliexpress.
Combine multiple items to get better deal on shipping.
*** if ordering different items, ask for an invoice. sometimes he can do a better deal.
DHL is best delivery method. Less chance of customs issues, quick shipping, less chance items damaged or lost.
*** i think he only ships via DHL. I've ordered with other shipping methods, but DHL still delivered.
Pay with credit card not paypal. Best option for resolving disputes.
*** Paypal cancelled their agreement with AliExpress, it's not an option anymore
Do NOT release escrow until all items accounted for and burn in tested.
*** this would be a good idea as long as you do the "burn in" in a reasonable amount of time.
*** he generally is pretty good about making things right
When shipment arrives, count everything and burn in test for several hours at minimum.
*** good practice
Resolve missing items, bad parts, with Ray before 20 days when escrow time is up.
*** yes
Failure rate on stuff <10% so Ray throws some extra items to cover above.
*** sometimes you get just the amount you ordered
Release escrow to Ray when all is cool.
*** yes
Am I way off? Just making a test order but it will likely be $200 and want to do this right.
THANKS
looks good so far. It's always nervous when you do that first order.
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One thing that may happen with your Credit Card too is that they may decline the charges. Since you are ordering over seas and that is unusual they may think that you card has been compromised. I had to let my CC company know that it was ok before they would accept the charges.
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I've done it the way you stated and also did another order by just emailing Ray and paying with paypal. Either way worked fine, but less hassles with CC company by going thru paypal.
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Thanks for advice guys. <res.
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I put everything I wanted into the cart, then did a screenshot of it and then then had ray do a combined shipping quote for me. NOrmally it takes another day, but you'll save even more than what the website will do for you.
Make sure to get things like the wire, the quick connectors ... cause those scale well into your shipping costs with a bigger order, but cost a ton if you order them on their own.
I've used DHL and the others with him and to be honest, they arrive in a sorts of different boxes and services, not necessarily the one you pick ... so I'd go with the cheapest. All the boxes appear to have been through WW III and are usually taped to the nth degree.
I never did the burn in with mine, but running them on the TM1804 controller is a good idea.
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I done multiple large orders with Ray. I have him send a quote usually Word doc. When i approve he make special web link for my order. I pay with a credit card. Usually have to call cc company after first decline and tell them it is ok. Then try again. He has taken care of bad nodes and strips even when escrow had expired.
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I will ask for a quote instead of using the cart. Yeah, I plan to get the wire now. It is pricey to ship but I need it.
For some reason I am not really interested in the quick connectors. Am I off my rocker? I plan to attach the ssc to the elements I make and disconnect via cat 5.
Taybrynn, do you have a link for the controller? Not sure which one you're referring to. Not a bad idea if reasonable.
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For some reason I am not really interested in the quick connectors. Am I off my rocker? I plan to attach the ssc to the elements I make and disconnect via cat 5.
I went that route last year and was unhappy with my decision. Any time I had to test or change an SSC I had to cut and re solder the wires in the field. After the first one wish I had spent the $1.00 for the connector. I am adding connectors to all my SCC this year.
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For some reason I am not really interested in the quick connectors. Am I off my rocker? I plan to attach the ssc to the elements I make and disconnect via cat 5.
I went that route last year and was unhappy with my decision. Any time I had to test or change an SSC I had to cut and re solder the wires in the field. After the first one wish I had spent the $1.00 for the connector. I am adding connectors to all my SCC this year.
I used the quick connectors in my display and I had a bad SSC less than one minute to change it out with a spare. No quick connectors mean a solder job either outside (Murphy's Law it will be raining or snowing) or having to take the element down and bring it in to repair.
Brian
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the connectors are deffinately worth it, just make sure to use the female end on the ssc, and the male end on the strings, nodes, strips, etc.
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The connectors are well worth it ... Not a place I would cut corners.
Having them on ssc is very handy. Also between display items ... I put between mega balls and sure enough, one went bad, so just unscrewed it and I was fixed in minutes .
This tester :
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/365216351-TH2010-series-LED-pixel-remote-controller-support-TM1803-TM1804-TM1809-TM1812IC--wholesalers.html
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Ok ok ok! I will get connectors. ;D
$20 for the controller. Not bad at all.
Thanks again. 8)
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in case no one told you, get the 3 pin connectors >:D
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Does somebody have a link to the connectors you are talking about? Thanks
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Just let him know how many pairs for quote.
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/331631241-100-pairs-3-Core-White-Waterproof-Line-15cm-long-each-male-and-female-3core-wholesalers.html
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Beat me to it. ;) The link is in the wiki with the smart string stuff "accessories".
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-425563008/10pcs-lot3-Core-White-Waterproof-Line-15cm-long-each-male-and-female.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-425563008/10pcs-lot3-Core-White-Waterproof-Line-15cm-long-each-male-and-female.html)
Info on the site is confusing. Actually states 100 pairs in the description but I don't think it's right...
I will let him know how many pairs.
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I just ordered 50 pairs from Ray. I think that the 100 pairs quote is correct. However, you should always ask ray for a quote since you can save on the shipping. The site calculator doesn't seem to adjust for combined shipments.
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I bought the 10 pair with a qty 0f 2 (20 pairs total). Order more than you need, they come in handy for testing. I connected 3 of them to alligator clips or terminal strips so I could test my strings without having to solder everything together and that worked out great. I still have those 3 test connection available and will use them again when I order more. That does mean that I have the other halfs of those connectors laying around, but it is worth it to have the easy to use test connections.
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What is the normal time delay when ordering from Ray? I paid a week ago & still have not received a shipping notice.
Mike
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It varies, but if you are concerned send him an email and ask for status of your order. Once shipped they come surprisingly fast coming all the way from China.
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What is the normal time delay when ordering from Ray? I paid a week ago & still have not received a shipping notice.
Also, bear in mind that there was recently the Chinese new years, so they might be backed up on orders as well...
/Stefan
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Finally placed my order yesterday and got an email from Ray that he was shipping today (his Wed?) On my proforma invoice the expected delivery was 12 days.
Also, on my deal we were communicating directly and not through Aliexpress. So I ended up using paypal directly to him and not through ali. Will report back with details.
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Also, on my deal we were communicating directly and not through Aliexpress. So I ended up using paypal directly to him and not through ali. Will report back with details.
Ummmm... And if you don't get what you ordered or a lot of it is DOA. How will you have any leverage in negotiating a return/refund if you already paid it by paypal? There is no escrow system in place there, is it?
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11 days ago (during new year celebrations) i also placed a big order with ray -- directly using paypal. (I've done it before, and felt comfotable doing so again.)
He told me originally it would take about a week, so yesterday i asked for status. He replied quickly that it would go out this week.
Last time i needed to give him a nudge too, but that was when he was rolling out the ip68 strings. Btw, i'm glad he waited to send me those and not the older ip67s.
So, send emails to bump your order if it seems delayed.
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What is the normal time delay when ordering from Ray? I paid a week ago & still have not received a shipping notice.
Mike
I ordered some flex strips and connectors on January 31 and they arrived in Oregon on February 6. That's almost 1100 miles per day or 46 miles per hour.
I have always used paypal instead of a credit card. I have had 1 problem with some nodes and Ray fixed it without a question. He has been very responsive for me.
John
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i always ask Ray if stuff is in stock now before i order anything. it saves him from having to do the time juggle, and it gives me a realistic timeframe for when i will get stuff... i'll usually chat with him and ask if certain items are in stock. i had a post a couple weeks ago about the flex strips. he's really good at telling you how many he has in stock, and when more might come in.
also, for the connectors, he has 2,3,4, and 5 conductor connectors. i might get some other stuff for use with other items. (like using a 4 conductor connector for connecting rgb strings (without an IC) to the mr16.)
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Glad to know I was not the only one using paypal directly to Ray... Although I think everything will be fine, we could dispute payment through paypal if need be, right?
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Got my tracking number this am both from Alice and Ray, it was not an automated DHL email. >.d9
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nice
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I chatted with Ray & he stated my order would ship in 5 days due to an out of stock.
Mike
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And theres a good chance it won't arrive via. DHL either. Based on my own experiences.
Normally its just in a box wrapped with 10 gallons of tape and looks like it dropped off a bus or something .
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All my orders have come DHL and they usually call you to make sure you will be there. They even rescheduled to come after 5:00 to accomidate me.
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no matter what i choose for shipping, it always comes DHL
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That's wild, cause I pick dhl every time, but it's only arrived dhl once.
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Mine have always come from DHL and I cannot believe how fast from China after you get the shipping notification. It has been at the most 2 days for me.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
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Its funny because when Ray shipped me my replacements for my older style nodes for the new ip68 ones, I was tracking them and they left Hong Kong, Hong Kong and 4 hours later arrived in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Then left again and arrived in Hong Kong again so I was imaginging someone in a Rickshaw running back and forth across the city. But when it finally showed it arrived in customs around 2:00am up around Ohio or someplace like that, it was already on a truck in OKC out for delivery by about 8:00am the same day.
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the hong kong locations are the stops making it out of the country DHL likes to land in Cincinnati as it's a "port" that's not used as heavily as the California coast, or new york city, so things pass through customs quickly.
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Thanks guys, I wasn't getting my hopes up but now I am expecting these things tomorrow... ;D
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Less than 48 hours from shipping notice the stuff was delivered from halfway around the world. Thankfully the missus was home to sign for it. She said there's "something with all this tape on it here for you". :o
Kind of amazing when you think about it. Might call Ray on his cell and thank him... Oh wait, it's 4:30am there ;D
Time for me to cut out of work... It's RGB time. (Relaxation, Grub and Beer) 8)
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Amazing how you can get stuff from around the world in half of the time that you can from across the country or even the state! :o
Have fun with them and let us know what you think! 8)
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Packing was great. No issues with shipping. Still tinkering but its safe to safe all appears functional. Went with SS, 4led square modules, and some dumb SS. That controller is wicked cool! Man the fades on program #78 on that thing are as good as incans! 2 thumbs up for Ray. Only problem is I can't get this stuff to blink with lynx setup yet no matter what I do.
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What dumb ss did you get?
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post a new topic in the troubleshooting area, nad we can try to get you hooked up
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What dumb ss did you get?
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-431022423/DC12V-input-12mm-through-hole-LED-channel-letter-100pcs-a-string.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-431022423/DC12V-input-12mm-through-hole-LED-channel-letter-100pcs-a-string.html)
I am planning on mix of smart and dumb for my display.
BTW all the nodes look well sealed etc. That said never had the earlier IP67 stuff to compare.
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Which controller did you get?? I have 2 different ones coming from Ray.
Mike
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Which controller did you get?? I have 2 different ones coming from Ray.
Mike
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/365216351-TH2010-series-LED-pixel-remote-controller-support-TM1803-TM1804-TM1809-TM1812IC--wholesalers.html
I had to laugh when I first saw it... Thought it would be larger. It's smaller than the dongle.
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What dumb ss did you get?
http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-431022423/DC12V-input-12mm-through-hole-LED-channel-letter-100pcs-a-string.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209889132-431022423/DC12V-input-12mm-through-hole-LED-channel-letter-100pcs-a-string.html)
I am planning on mix of smart and dumb for my display.
BTW all the nodes look well sealed etc. That said never had the earlier IP67 stuff to compare.
HEADS UP! Watch the wiring on these. The wire colors do not correlate to hook up. Look at the labeling of the node! Mine were: green wire is +, white wire is blue, blue wire is green. red wire is red :o
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There r no wiring standards on most of this. Even the ss items got done in two flavors, but r documented on the wiki. Dmoore has done videos on all the rgb stuff and how you can't trust the wire colors ... Even between batches of same product sometimes ...
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There r no wiring standards on most of this. Even the ss items got done in two flavors, but r documented on the wiki. Dmoore has done videos on all the rgb stuff and how you can't trust the wire colors ... Even between batches of same product sometimes ...
Truer words were never spoken...
Taybrynn, you using the 4 led square modules right and they work with SS gear, right? Mine aren't working correctly but I suspect it is the 330 ohm resistor. Running to rat shack at lunch...
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I need to verify that for you. I did think they were working but it's been awhile since I touched them. I bought more , and I cant imagine doing that if I had problems.
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I had problems with the resistors but only one type of ss item ... I think with the nodes or flex strips ??
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I need to verify that for you. I did think they were working but it's been awhile since I touched them. I bought more , and I cant imagine doing that if I had problems.
Saw your other post in troubleshooting. If you could test them to be sure that would be great. THanks
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I will ... I had two SSC wired just for them ... and just know I didn't use them in the show because I was putting them into RGB coroflakes ... and just ran out of time to build them.
Like I said, I'm pretty sure it worked, just because I initial bought some, tested, then bought a bunch more. I have 100 modules now of this type. So I sure hope they work.
I have found that the TM1804 tester isn't really a great tester for SSC operation, but is a good device (as you said) and does a lot of cool patterns that works well to burn in these items.