How to make a cheap distribution box for your holiday lights

I make a custom distribution box in this video to power LED props for my Christmas light show. This is how I do it on a budget!
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IG: @drift_dad_official
5v 12Amp Power supply - amzn.to/3Pcb4Z2
Ammo Box - amzn.to/3VKv5s7
Wire strippers - amzn.to/3VHXZt7
WS2812B 5v LED Strips 5 meters 60 led/meter IP65 - amzn.to/3Ubtzh0
WS2811 12V RGB 12mm pixels - amzn.to/3UoAjsi
5v 60Amp Power supply - amzn.to/3u3raKS
12v Power supply amzn.to/3GOKe7k
Diffuser channels 1 meter - amzn.to/3EGIBpk
Diffuser channels 2 meter - amzn.to/3XEq45J
Junction box - amzn.to/3VosbbS
Solderless butt connectors - amzn.to/3VbtGKV
18AWG 3 conductor wire - amzn.to/3GNme4g
18AWG 2 conductor wire - amzn.to/3VbSz9t
Cable Gland Joints - amzn.to/3AP3iyl
Dig quad controller - quinled.info/p...
Pigtail Male - www.holidaycor...
Pigtail Female - www.holidaycor...

[@williamcolvin3609]

You can get cone shaped step drills in a lot of different configurations to accommodate just about any size you might need - and they are in small steps where there is little chance of grabbing and causing damage.

[@TheGingerDan]

Nice, easy to follow video for a simple, portable, control box. I would use fork wire connectors for the power supply cables - the quad can take up to 12AWG. I’d also use ferrules on the LED strip wiring. I’d probably also put some sort of riser or something for the components to sit on as suggested above. Not throwing shade though. It’s a nice, clean build and I appreciate the video! Keep it up. 👍🏻

[@IntermitTech]

Awesome instruction video, loved seeing it, nice little controller box that way! :)
One little tip. Beneath the ESP32 there are 4 DIP switches, they are covered with the orange plastic you can peel off. When using 3-wire cable (such as xConnect and such) it's best to flip those to 33R mode (they are in 249R mode by default), that will work much better for longer runs using the 3-wire cable! It doesn't look like you are having issues now (and then it will make no difference) but if the wires from the controller to the LEDs gets around 10ft it'll make a big difference and allow you to go 32ft+ easily in 33R mode. :)

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

Excellent! Thank you for the insight! I really appreciate it!

[@tylerkelley8857]

Thank you, yours is the first video that was easy to follow and understand.

[@jonathanproctor7798]

love your videos, on the power supply, I'm going to try to power up 8 hoops total. That's 4 reels of the led lights you show in your video. A total of 1200 leds. Is the 12 amp 5v power supply large enough for my set-up?

[@aaro_n]

I actually just bought an ammo can today to do a similar thing. But I got the feild box from Menards

[@corinnejames3254]

Love the ammo box!

[@rachaelb9164]

Should the electronics be up on some sort of grid or risers in case a little water gets inside?

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

I suppose you could but there shouldn’t be any water getting in the box.

[@botoepfer8588]

very cool! I followed your lead, what lights did you use? I grabbed a step bit from HF to drill the box, I am working on a rack to hold the components inside the box

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

I’m using mostly ws2811 bullet pixels.

[@botoepfer8588]

just ordered more parts for our place in NC@@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad

[@bondreas]

Very cool build. I’m just getting into this hobby! By putting this together, what kind of lights could you run on it? Would this be compatible for the pixel strings that people use to light up their canes/trees/etc shapes? The power supply says 5v but I believe most of those pixel lights are 12v.

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

I use bullet pixels mostly but you can also use strips. You just need to match the power supply with the lights.

[@bondreas]

@@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad thanks for your quick response! What is your goto 12v supply?

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

@@bondreas yes most of my lights are 12v

[@bondreas]

@@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad Nice, thanks for confirming. When would you consider wiring both terminals (hot wire and negative)? You mention in the video when you run a "bunch" of lights. How many lights would you say is required to have both wired? And would that prevent you from having to do power inject your lights in any way? (Sorry, im new to this!)

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

@@bondreas you always have to connect all 3 wires (V+, data, ground)

[@whelenguy]

as an electrician - those auto strippers suck. Save your headache and just get a good pair of Kleins

[@scotprice8553]

how many strings of lights/pixesl can that Dig-Quad LED Controller control?

[@DIYD_Do_It_Yourself_Dad]

The website says 1500+. I have 1800 on one of mine with no issues at all