What is a Lynx Smart String?

[RJ]

RJ,

Lookin' good.  Can  you share the dimensions of the finalized board?  Did you have a case in mind when designing it or is that something we will have to come up with?

Greg

already did :
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I gave up I was trying to find a enclosure that would work with a Power supply and this but nothing worked well so I just built it and leave it up to you guys to fit it into something.

RJ

[csf]

RJ that stuff looks great!

The UV stuff I am not so concerned about, I have yet to lose any cords / lights sets yet that I could say were uv damaged.

Do you think they will be pretty resultant to water? Also do you think the smart strings wires are strong enough to hold up to wind while up on a mega tree?

I am seriously considering making all my display upgrades for next year be smart string technology, and I just want to make sure they should be lasting more then one season of decorating.

Also How far away can one rigid stick be to the next rigid stick in a daisy chain?

Thanks again RJ for making this technology available to all of us!

[RJ]

I will show some of this in an upcoming video of what I did, What works and even what does not.

RJ

[tng5737]

First of all, I haven't read each and every post in this series so please forgive me if this is a duplicate question.   In a previous post you suggest that we NOT focus on node spacing.    But suppose I want to build a mega tree out of these SS - how would I calculate how many nodes I would need for a given tree height and strand count  (i.e, 20ft tall and say 16 individual strands or segments)?

[rrowan]

First of all, I haven't read each and every post in this series so please forgive me if this is a duplicate question.   In a previous post you suggest that we NOT focus on node spacing.    But suppose I want to build a mega tree out of these SS - how would I calculate how many nodes I would need for a given tree height and strand count  (i.e, 20ft tall and say 16 individual strands or segments)?

The statement was made because there is many different types of nodes and spacing. What RJ used on his mega tree is 3.5 inch spacing between each node.

So 70 nodes would be about 20.42 feet long if my math is correct

So 16 x 70 = 1120 nodes

Of course adjust the numbers any way you want.

Cheers

Rick R.

[RJ]

First of all, I haven't read each and every post in this series so please forgive me if this is a duplicate question.   In a previous post you suggest that we NOT focus on node spacing.    But suppose I want to build a mega tree out of these SS - how would I calculate how many nodes I would need for a given tree height and strand count  (i.e, 20ft tall and say 16 individual strands or segments)?

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RJ

[Trepidati0n]

I think i'm with RJ on this.  He seems to have his finger on the pulse of "what makes sense" for the enthusiast.  That is a significant skill unto its own.

[csf]

I will show some of this in an upcoming video of what I did, What works and even what does not.

RJ

Sounds good

Stile really liking the fact that the one meeter light strip is 11$, especially since  the RGB light strips I was thinking of adding to my display were 65$ for one meeter and were not node based... If they keep 30 lights in each strip I will probably perches 30 of them. 

Two other things I thought of that I don't believe were answered yet, that may be helpfully to let us know about.

1) are smart strings / other devices soldered directly to the controller?
2)How long is the flexible ribbon, and how many pixels does it contain?

If these questions are already answered your next video then no need to answerer them, but just trying to keep track of what we know, and things to find out about.

[batdive]

I think they were quoted at like $11 a piece.  

Ohh nice can get my matrix  



I think it is showing the future since he has it set up to do DMX Universe 1 through 8... HAHAHAHA...

Nice looking board RJ...   as usual!


RJ, on a side note what would be the max draw if you used all 16 ports w/full 128 nodes per port?  Asking reference a power supply as I use this for a different project and it is pretty nice for the 12V out at higher amps, not to mention thinner then an PC power, but the wattage is lower than a PC supply

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-JS

[RJ]

I think they were quoted at like $11 a piece.  

Ohh nice can get my matrix  



I think it is showing the future since he has it set up to do DMX Universe 1 through 8... HAHAHAHA...

Nice looking board RJ...   as usual!


RJ, on a side note what would be the max draw if you used all 16 ports w/full 128 nodes per port?  Asking reference a power supply as I use this for a different project and it is pretty nice for the 12V out at higher amps, not to mention thinner then an PC power, but the wattage is lower than a PC supply

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-JS

Thanks but there are 8 dmx universes in 4096 channels.

RJ, on a side note what would be the max draw

The wiki is your friend for that kind of info.

RJ

[batdive]

Thanks but there are 8 dmx universes in 4096 channels.

Didnt even think of it that way... to busy drooling over the concept of the rigid SSC's =)

The wiki is your friend for that kind of info.

RJ

Look at that, didnt even see that it had been updated with info.  Nice answered my question great. 



Appreciate it thanks RJ

-JS

[loveroflife96]

Loving those rigid nodes "on a stick" (for those that get that...10points)...but got a quick question....are they built into a aluminum U-Channel that is hollow or is it solid?  Reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking about window outlines with them.  You could easily file the edge of the housing, bend it to the required length for your window and then apply silicone as well as possibly a corner U-channel bracket and you'd have yourself window lights boxes that you could simply reinstall every year and not have to worry about other ways of installing lights in the windows...PLUS YOU'D HAVE COLOR CONTROL!!! 

Just wondering...I'm getting excited!!

[egenoup]

Like in "Jalapeno...."  "on a stick!"...

Egenoup

[Dave H]

RJ

Can you provide the approximate diameter of the pixel ??
Is it comparable to say a C9 socket?

Just trying to look ahead as to how to afix the Smart Strings to the fascia and hopefully utilize standard clips which I'll need to pick up in quantity (and cheap) at the "after Christmas sales"

[Corey872]

For once, I can hardly wait for this Christmas to be over and next to roll around!  Though I don't know if I'm more excited to use these strings for Christmas or the Halloween haunt!

One quick question:

As I understand it, there was mention of getting smart strings in various lengths.  I assume we also buy the controller board, a component kit, then assemble the board, solder it to the string, etc  to form the complete unit?

If we're putting the stuff together, is there any chance to just buy the nodes in bulk...say a reel of 1,000 then be able to cut off the exact amount needed  - up to the 128 node max stipulated earlier?

My main worry is the thought of framing doors/windows - obviously coming up short is bad, so you'd have to order more than needed and trim.  But then what of the dozen strings of  10, 12, 15 nodes - hack all those back together to make one Frankenstein string?

Well, back to more reading in the wiki!