About Ray using a higher current in LED.

[tbone321]

Running power from a separate source is no big deal as long as you cut the +12V to separate the supplies.  The common is common and they can be left together but the +12V should be cut where you want the hub power to stop and the injected power to take over.  Even with your idea, the +12V should be cut to prevent overloading of one of the connections fails which would dump the entire load on the other one.

[Steve Gase]

Running power from a separate source is no big deal as long as you cut the +12V to separate the supplies.  The common is common and they can be left together but the +12V should be cut where you want the hub power to stop and the injected power to take over.  Even with your idea, the +12V should be cut to prevent overloading of one of the connections fails which would dump the entire load on the other one.

and don't forget to fuse any injection to add.

[DanHouston]

So given these new LEDs what is the maximum number of nodes you can run on without adding additional power injection?

[keitha43]

My guess would be 70 to play it safe (assuming Ray's specs are correct at 60ma per node). However Steve was measuring 55ma per node on a similar led so that would be closer to 75 node limit. If you didn't run these at full intensity you could add a few more. Now I am not an expert so if someone with more knowledge sees a problem with my calculation feel free to point out my mistake 

[sittinguphigh]

It may be possible to get 128 nodes. If some one who has a 100 nodes or more of technicolor strings could do a test with the intensity at a lower rate we would know if that will work.

[tbone321]

Sure it will work but all you will need is a glitch that sends them all to full power and then it no no longer will be working.  Power injection is the easiest answer to this right now and it is not all that difficult to do, especially in a snall area.

[Steve Gase]

i'm close to putting up my technicolor strings.  they are 100ct TM1804.  I'm going to attempt no power injection and see how far that takes me.


i suppose I should avoid the full-on-white effects.


according to the other thread regarding TM1804, maybe there isn't a problem -- or maybe not with the older-design IP68 strings.

[sittinguphigh]

That would be great Steve if you can bring down the intensity and see if 100 nodes will work fine?

Does any one know what Ray means when he says LDO?
Is it some kind of voltage regulator?

[dduck]

I am using lowered intensity to about 50% with my show.   My measurement for
watts/amps is not as good as Steve's but should be in the ballpark.   I used a
kill-a-watt device.   Been on for 1.5 nights now with no problems.    I also used the
same technique to burn-in my 100 node count Technicolor's.    Because these lights
as so bright 50% still looks great.     

Bill

[sittinguphigh]

So you have no dimming down on all 100 nodes?

[dduck]

when I do all white at 50% I do see some dimming.   I also measured the voltage at the end of the string.
For 100% I saw 50% drop in voltage.   At 50% it is 25%.    With color at 50% I get 10% drop.   So needless
to say I also avoid all white in my display.

[sittinguphigh]

So I wonder how low you have to go to get all 100 nodes to evenly display white?
And the white bright enough?

[Made2Rock]

That would be great Steve if you can bring down the intensity and see if 100 nodes will work fine?

Does any one know what Ray means when he says LDO?
Is it some kind of voltage regulator?

I took a node apart and there is a 2811 on it, a 7805 (which is a voltage regulator), a couple of caps and a LED. So my guess is he is talking about the voltage regulator.

Joe

[Robert]

Per Wikipedia,

A low-dropout or LDO regulator is a DC linear voltage regulator which can operate with a very small input–output differential voltage.

[Made2Rock]

Thank you. It looks like the chip is only capable of handling 3/4 watt and they are at half. Now comes the question of I am seeing of higher current LEDs. The other question I wonder about it this thing is enclosed in a thick layer of plastic. So is it overheating?

Joe