Dumb String Power Draw

[lboucher]

What is different about these 2 strands of dumb string??

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They look the same, also, i assume the actual LED i the same as the smart strings.
Which makes me trust Rays numbers.

However holidacoro does show a video actually measuring his and seeing the higher current.

So what gives??

I still want 128 dumb nodes to a strand, if that is do-able.

[lboucher]

In case anyone else goes this route, be warned.
The Dumb strings through ray do draw more than 4 amps per 128 count (actually more than 4 amps per 100 count.)
Kinda surprised.
I gotta go measure my smart strings 128 count strands tomorrow and make sure I am not crazy.

Guess i have to go source some more dumb string controllers to spread the load.

Also, fyi, received a 350 watt power supply from Ray, it is definitely defective, voltages is low at first, then slowly creeps up, but didn't seem to be getting much more over 11 volts. It would kinds slowly creep up the longer it was one. And yes the trim pot was set all the way up.
Then suddenly the plastic cap on one of the large blue capacitors popped off, kinda startling.
Other power supply is working fine.

[combustionmark]

You did have the 110/220 volt switch set right? I forgot to set the switch and had low voltage that crept up, found it before doing damage.

[lboucher]

Yep, had it switched to the 115 setting. although now that you say that, I will double check, and check to see if I can tell if the switch is working.

[lboucher]

Welp finally did a test today and what do you know.
Dumb Strings from Ray pull 0.044 amp per node
1st Gen smart strings are only pulling 0.028 amps
Now that's a significant difference. Cannot even run 100 nodes on a DSC and stay under the 4 amp limits.

This all seems silly, but, I will say the dumb strings are way way brighter than my smart strings.

Disappointing the lack of accurate info on Rays website, makes it hard to plan for how many controllers one will need.

Can anyone confirm/deny the current draw of modern day smart nodes from ray?

[combustionmark]

Try adjusting the voltage on the power supply. I ran into issues with brightness last year "MR16", and found turning the voltage down helped. With dumb strings there is a RGB led and 3 resistors, the resistors set the current draw on the leds. Turning down the voltage will reduce the current and brightness, you should then be able to have more nodes.

You will have to use a separate hub for any strings with a reduced voltage, and keep track of anything that uses the lower voltage, as hooking them to full power will blow fuses. You may also see a slight color shift, red seams to be the most sensitive to current changes, While green is the most visible.

[RJ]

You can also inject the power after the dsc and my power limit does not apply. The cat5 is the 4 amp limit. If you do this the wire size of the string is the limit.

Sent from my Charge by Tapatalk

RJ

[lboucher]

Thanks for the input.
When i first had these hooked up I only has 10.5 volts on the,, and with 128 of them, they were like a toater when bundled up, definitely too hot.

So i think i am going to stick with 75 per string.
I can tell the LED itself does get a bit warm, definittely warmer than my old smart strands

Very bright though