Smart String Troubleshooting and TH2010 Controller/Tester

[cavu2u]

I need some help troubleshooting an issue I’m having getting some smart strings from Ray to work properly.

I first hooked up a batch of 20 square nodes to a TH2010-X controller – also from Ray. (These are the square nodes on the wiki and can be seen at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login the controller can be seen at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login)

Using a laptop-type power adapter rated to output 6000 mA (6 amps) and after wiring the controller to the square nodes, the first 15 light out of 20 worked properly. My assumption at the time was either:
1)   #16 is bad and needs to be removed – and splice in some new ones or
2)   The power adapter did not have enough power for the entire string.

See Wiring diagram below.

Wiring in the pics is:
Black - 12v + from power supply
Yellow - 12 -, COM or GND from power supply
Red - Smart string 12v +
Green - Smart string 12v -, COM
Blue - Smart string data

According to the wiki, 120 square nodes should consume 3.96 amps – well below the adapter’s 6amp capacity and I was only trying to power 20.

If power was an issue, I tried overcoming it by powering the unit with a 900-watt PC power supply that I will use later in an active hub – (74 amps of 12 vDC).

With the PC power supply – same results – 15 lit out of 20.  <scratching head>

Thinking I had some bad nodes, I switched over to a 75-node smart string that I had just received in the same shipment. The wiki say 128 nodes should use 3.79 amps and therefore 75 should be no problem.

Hooked it all up according to wiring diagram and …

Same results – 15 nodes lit out of 20.

Hmmm.

Pull out another 75-node smart string … same result, 15 outta 20.

I find it nearly impossible that three strings can have identical failures, so I have ruled out #16 is bad on all three.

The controller seems to be working fine and I have seen many folks here using them to “burn in” RGB strings, so I thought this would be a germane topic.

Now I’m really stumped and don’t know what to do next.

Help?! Please.

What next? What am I doing wrong.

[pk]

You need to tell the TH2010 how many pixels it is controlling.  The instruction sheet tells you how to do this.

[dcwehw99]

See You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

[MrChristmas2000]

You push the right 3 buttons simutaneously, then the far right button twice. The + / - keys then let you set how many pixels you want to test. ( sorry I don't have my unit close right now). After you set your desired number push the far right button once then the power on button and you should see all the pixels light up unless you have had a failure.

Hope that thelps.

[cavu2u]

Thanks guys.

Now I have the manual - I swear it did not come with one.

I'll give this a whirl when I get home this evening

Thanks Again

John

[MrChristmas2000]

Why doesn't someone post that tester manual to the wiki? I know it's not exactly a DIY product but almost everyone using pixelnet has bought one.

[cavu2u]

Works like a charm!!!

The li'l lights are bootyful!

Thanks so much for the help.

Let me know who and I can forward the pdf manual to someone to put in the wiki.

Thanks!
John

[chrisatpsu]

that would be rick, unless someone else steps up.

[jnealand]

Did this manual get posted to the wiki?  If so I can't find it and can someone provide a link to the manual for downloading.  Thanks

[MrChristmas2000]

Here is a link to my copy.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Hope that helps.

[jnealand]

Got it thanks

[jnealand]

What is the battery size that goes in the remote.  Looks like an N or a 4AAAA, but I can not find anything that tells me.  I guess I can just take it to the local battery store and let them figure it out.

[MrChristmas2000]

A23

Here is a random googled example:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

[jnealand]

Thanks I will be going to the local Interstate Battery store this morning and now I have a place to start looking.

[combustionmark]

I just got a large order in from Ray. I forgot to order the tester. But guess what was in the box...

Just goes to show, Ray knows what we really want.