Dumb RGB Strings In Your Display (2018)
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2024
- Smart pixels get all the attention these days, but dumb RGB strings may still have a place in your display. We look at controlling dumb strings with an Arduino Uno and a 2811DC15 from Hanson Electronics.
2811DC15: bit.ly/2tHwwwy
Make: article: bit.ly/2lIUG5g
If you are new to the channel and want to learn how to do computer-controlled lighting, check out my Beginner playlist: • Beginner RGB Pixels
I also have a very basic online course for RGB Pixel beginners (please use this referral link): bit.ly/ccudemyc... (designed to bring someone up to speed quickly - you may not need to take this course if you've seen all my videos)
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Hardware and software:
Falcon Pixel Controllers: bit.ly/pixelco...
Falcon Player Software: bit.ly/falconp...
xLights sequencing software: xlights.org
Boscoyo Studio bit.ly/Boscoyo...
CFOL bit.ly/crocket...
Christmas Lighting Forums:
auschristmasli...
diychristmas.or...
doityourselfchr...
falconchristmas...
nutcracker123.c...
www.planetchris...
Facebook Groups:
Advanced RGB Pixels and Controllers bit.ly/2zEMrgX
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#ccrgbpixels #canispaterchristmas
The irony of this video hurts. :) You posted it on Canada Day July 1, for those of you who don't know what Canada Day is, it is like July 4th, but 3 days earlier, and we are only officially 151 years old. We have fireworks, friends, long weekend. ;)
I am just ribbing you, keep the vids coming and can't wait for the game changer.
😂
OMG LOL LOL you have made my night, after a really crapping night playing pool, I come home to your new video and it totally cheered me up, thank you. :)
Haha. Sorry to hear about the crappy evening, but glad I could help! :)
Going into the power supply re-seller business I see. Jeff you keep surprising us with your versatility!
Haha! Na, I’ll use them. Totally re-arranging the layout and adding more lights! :)
I was asking about this on a Facebook group and was told it didn’t exist. And I knew I seen it somewhere. thanks.
Which part?
CanispaterChristmas a board that controls dumb strings from falcon
The one I used was from Hanson Electronics. He has a 5-string version and a 10-string version. The boards can also be used to control relays for animatronic props.
New to the hobby and really enjoy your videos. I'm wanting to use some dumb rgb bullet style nodes in my display this year and was wondering if you have a source for them I've been looking online but I'm having trouble finding any.
Thanks! Why dumb nodes? They may be hard to find. They're an older design. I got mine from Ray tho.
@@CanispaterChristmas thanks for the reply. This is my first year to do a display and I thought the dumb rgbs might be a little easier to sequence until I get a little more familiar with sequencing. Do you think I should just go ahead and go with smart pixels?
Yes and they are more the standard now. If you are in the US, check out wiredwatts.com. Ken has just about everything you'll need.
@@CanispaterChristmas Thank you!!
Hey Jeff, Until now I didn't have a reason to even look at dumb pixels, but thanks for the run-thru. I noticed at about 4:43 in the video you have some really nice termination on your wiring. Can you provide source and description for those? Love the color coding and apparent ease of using in screw-tightened connections.
Haha! Thanks! You mean the bootlaced ferrules? I got a kit from Amazon amzn.to/2wXEJO6. I had been just using soldered wire, but Alan Hanson turned me onto those as some people had problems with the soldered tips backing out of the connectors due to the current/heat etc. I started using these and they're pretty cool. No soldering needed.
I know the odd few people with no chip in them :D
Great video Jeff.
The 2811DC boards can also be used for boring old single channel fairy lights, rgb floods and I know of 1 person who has used them to drive solenoids to control fountain/jet type things. Protection is needed once you drive relays or solenoids.
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When you say protection needed. What would i need to drive relays from 2811dc15? Is a diode enough?
A diode is enough. There's an example of connecting a relay in the suer manual.
Thanks for all your incredible videos. have a great 4th.
Thanks Ralph. You too!
I am pretty sure you can "off board power" with these boards too, meaning you can use different voltages on the same board....
Cool! I didn't try that, but Alan Hanson would know the answer for sure. He has a contact page on his website. I've done that with smart pixels, but admit I'm not as familiar with these.
Another great video Jeff, now with that controller for the Dummies can you control each string or do they all come at once if you have more than one string attached to the controller. I would like to use it for my Tune In Sign I cut on my CNC and then some other features also. With the sign it would stay on constantly during the songs but the other features would be on interment intervals.
To a pixel controller, this looks like a set of pixels (5 or 10 depending on which dumb controller you have), but the actual dumb pixels themselves are controlled at the string level as opposed to the node level. To answer your question, yes, you can control each port individually so a string attached to port 1 can be on off or any color and a string attached to port 2 can be different.
@@CanispaterChristmas Thank you for the reply so fast Jeff, Looks like I am going to get a controller from Hanson
Tell him I sent you. :)
@@CanispaterChristmas Will do!!
I was wondering of I bought a holiday Coro 30 channel dumb rgb controller and I plugged in three strings of dumb led rgb strips also from holiday Coro would I need to program or control these some how? I mean it says it’s Ready2run so would I just plug them in and have the settings on there already? Or would I be able to add settings or different modes my self if I were to program them and add it to the system. Sorry I’m just as dumb as the bloody lights. Don’t really know what I’m doing trying to add some rgb lights to my bland looking led ones which are all out of sync and it’s really annoying. I chose this set only as it was ready2run and looked weather proof which it has to be for the crazy weather here in Australia wether it’s poring rain or boiling hot. Also looked very easy to install and use.
Ready2Run generally means the kit includes everything you need to get started hardware-wise (cables, power supply, etc). You would still need to provide data to get the lights to turn on and off and set the color like you want. There may be a test mode that would work without having to program anything. Honestly, I'm unfamiliar with the HolidayCoro line of controllers so I won't be a lot of help here though I know others have them. You may want ask over on the forums (AusChristmasLighting for people in your country, but check the others too) and/or Facebook groups linked in the descriptions of my videos - plenty of folks over there with experience and knowledge.
CanispaterChristmas thanks for the quick reply. Yes it does come preinstalled with a test mode on it. If I wanted to add new colours and program the lights how and what should I use to do that? Thanks.
Well, I use xLights to program the lights for my display. Getting from xLights to that HolidayCoro controller is a bit out of my wheelhouse as I use a Falcon controller which has support for DMX and I run any DMX off that. I do know there are DMX dongles you can use to plug into your computer, but I've not used them. Alan at www.hansonelectronics.com.au has items that might help.
@@CanispaterChristmas Hey im pretty new to doing the christmas lights thing. So far I have a Raspberry Pi3b+ with 16 relay channels comming off of it. The Pi is running FlaconPlayer and so far I have successfully played a few sequences. The reason for my post here is because I have also just purchased a ready to run dumb 30 channel box from holidaycoro along with the DMX dongle... I see you said you dont have any experience with this brand, but Im hoping the setup will be fairly similar.. and onto my question do you have a video on how to setup a dmx controller with xlights? Im sure I can bumble my way threw it evently but any assistance would be super appreciated!!
@@MrZac1811 That's great! I don't have any DMX controllers, but you might find something useful here: videos.xlights.org/search.php?keywords=dmx&video-id=
So based on the pile of power supplies I think a falcon f48 will be making an appearance at some point ..... you can only wonder🧐
Haha. Well, I bought ten power supplies to get the discount, but yeah, the F48 will be making an appearance soon. :)
I am using code to run my pixels off arduino. I do also want to run some dumb RGB LED strips off an Arduino too, where can I find code for the Arduino?
Dumb pixels are analog so you 'd use 'analogWrite' to set the output level for each color.
@@CanispaterChristmas well I am trying to run flood lights but I don’t want to use dumb rgb lights if I could, do you know if they sell rgb flood lights with the ws2811 chip?
@@lightsonmatfield4031 Yes, they exist. I have a couple of them.
@@CanispaterChristmas where could I get some of them? eBay?
Inventories are probably running low this time of year, especially this year, but Ken sells them: www.wiredwatts.com/smart-pixels
I am currently looking for a way to run some rgbww dumb pixel strips off at falcon16. Any ideas like a 2811dc that includes control of warm white? The string has ground, red, green, blue, warm white. If not is there a place to get the 2811dc in the United States? Thank you!
I don't know of anyone still supporting dumb strings other than Alan and he ships anywhere. F16 only supports smart pixels so you'll need a dumb controller. I built an RGB version with an Arduino, but it doesn't support pixel data. They are analog so a transistors and resistors are all that's needed to control them. Getting them to respond to pixel data will require more circuitry, but obviously not impossible.
@@CanispaterChristmas thank you for the quick reply! I have been going through the into to pixels lessons that you have made, they are very helpful!
So the 2811DC controller is not compatible with the f16? From my limited knowledge I thought the 2811dc controller would basically take the data from the f16 and use that to control 4 strands of dumb pixels.
Thanks! Sorry for the confusion. The 2811DC looks like a 2811 pixel or string of pixels to the F16 so it is compatible. You can even run other pixels off the same string. So yes, you understand it correctly.
@@CanispaterChristmas it's a Christmas miracle! Thanks again for all the work you have put into your videos!
The stack of power supplies lol just wow
HAHA! Yeah, I HAD to buy 10 to get the discount. lol!
Just curious about the home automation that slider bar looked like one from Home Assistant
Good eye! Yes. It's Home Assistant. The video that pops up should be all about setting it up for my stairway lighting.
Im still new at it using the newest hassio it has its challenges
I moved to a Docker container running on my linux machine just 'cause I'm learning Docker. Yeah, I'm also learning just about every time I want to change something, but it seems to work well.
It has its bumps in the road I am working on themes so I can use different ones for my new Dashboard on a 10 inch tablet to really make it auto control from the tablet
Ah yeah. I haven't ventured in that area. Good luck! :)
Can you use a pi to control this controller with Xlights or do you need pixel controller as well as this?
The board thinks it's a WS2811 pixel so you'd still need a pixel controller. An rPi-28D (www.hansonelectronics.com.au/product/rpi-28d/) might be an inexpensive option.
So mount the rPI-28D to the pi, then would I be able to output from that to a 2811DC30 and run XLights through the pi?
I believe that will work though I haven't tried that configuration. BTW, you can create a sequence or "light program" in xLights and export an FSEQ file. Load Falcon Player on the Pi, import the FSEQ file, schedule and play that file on the Pi. With the rPi-28D attached, you'd configure it as an output in Falcon Player, then run wires from the rPi-28D to the 2811DC30. Appropriate power supplies and you should be delighting your neighbors.
Thanks for the input. Scanning through the forums has been time consuming, to say the least. I've been thinking about getting your course, but my purpose for the light display is for a summer festival in town, so I have more time to figure everything out. Tried to use them this year but ended up having to use mechanical relays with standard led Christmas lights.
Ah OK. I know it sounds like a lot and it is for your first year, but once you get it all set up, it's easier to add onto. Try loading Falcon Player on the Pi first. I'm doing a series on that right now. Once you get that running, hollar at Alan, get those boards and hook them up. You can test the lights from the testing menu in Falcon Player to at least get something blinking. Then program away. :)
do you have a Hinks pix controller if so I need help
I do not, but ask in the forums or Facebook groups. Plenty of folks there have them.
thanks
@@CanispaterChristmas can recommend a video to get music sync to a show or instruction
Check out my Beginner playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLFyrAfJ-kKd4ZfPdXWIt8v_bav61mW_KW
Still no game changer???? You're making my beard grey!?!?!?😂😂😂
😂
Hey. Tip for your dogs and fireworks. Close curtains and turn all lights on and turn tv up
Yeah, the one that's really bothered by it hides in the bathroom and I turn on the white noise generator for her. :) Someone told me that they fire off a cap gun when they feed them as a puppy so the pops are no big deal as they get older.
CanispaterChristmas never heard that one before. I play a lot of fireworks videos on the speakers the cat is no longer bothered by them any more