rPi-28D+ now available

AAH

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The rPi-28D+ pixel and DMX cape for the Raspberry Pi is now available. It is essentially the same as the rPi-28D but with fuses for the 3 pixel outputs. The board is supplied with 3 7.5A ATO fuses but can be used with up to 10A fuses meaning that up to around 180-200 pixels per output can be powered at 100% brightness.
The boards are $AU38 including GST which works out to around $USD24.40 or £18.55. There is discounts for bulk quantities and they ship pretty near anywhere in the world.
http://www.hansonelectronics.com.au/product/rpi-28dplus/
-Supports 2 2811 pixel outputs
-Supports 1 2801 pixel output
-Supports 1 non-isolated DMX outputs
-Runs under Falcon Player (FPP)
-Has 75HC245 to level shift signals from Raspberry Pi 3.3V logic to 5V logic
-Can power cape and Raspberry Pi from 5V or 12V input
-Uncommitted connection to GPIO26 pin for external use. Powering down, starting show, changing sequence etc.
-Mounting holes to suit Pi 2, Pi 3 and Pi Zero
-Real Time Clock (RTC) for show scheduling
-Supplied with M2.5 Nylon spacers to separate the Pi and rPi-28D
-3 fused power inputs for the 3 pixel outputs. 5V , 12V and/or 24V pixels can be connected
-Supplied with 3 7.5A ATO automotive fuses
 

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AAH

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Can this be used with the raspberry pi B (first generation pi)?
The Pi naming conventions are weird. The short answer is that if it has the larger 40 pin header rather than the 28 pin then it should work.
 

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Leevi Graham

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From the manual

> Using the WS2811 outputs disables the onboard audio and external usb audio must be plugged in and configured if needed.

Is this still the case with the rPi-28D+?
 

AAH

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From the manual

> Using the WS2811 outputs disables the onboard audio and external usb audio must be plugged in and configured if needed.

Is this still the case with the rPi-28D+?
It's the case with all capes/hats/caps that use the 2811 output. It has something to do with the PWM circuitry and audio circuitry needing the same stuff. It's above my pay grade.
 

Pavle

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I was playing around with a couple of sequences that had audio media and when I attempted to play those, all pixels went bright white and only a full restart would fix it. I don't have an external sound card so put it down to a glitch where it was attempting to use onboard audio that wasn't available due to the hat. Once I removed (or loaded as sequence only) those sequences from my playlist I was back in business.
 

AAH

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I was playing around with a couple of sequences that had audio media and when I attempted to play those, all pixels went bright white and only a full restart would fix it. I don't have an external sound card so put it down to a glitch where it was attempting to use onboard audio that wasn't available due to the hat. Once I removed (or loaded as sequence only) those sequences from my playlist I was back in business.
What version of FPP were/are you using? That shouldn't occur and FPP "should" disable the audio if the pi pixel strings are enabled. At 1 stage FPP used to have issues if there was an audio file and no audio device. Maybe the fix for that has caused other issues.
 

Pavle

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@AAH finally got around to getting my other string going tonight and using the new instructions you have on your site I can confirm both port 1 & 2 are functioning as they should.

now to fix up the sequences to use the new layout.

I’ve also ordered a sound card so will be able to test the issue I was having above once it arrives.
 
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mrsteve

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If the rPi-28D is powered by 12V, how is the Pi powered from the rPi-28D? What converts the 12V to 5V for the Pi?

I suspect if the data lines are driven by 5V, and the only power source is 12V via the rPi-28D for both that and the Pi, then if you have a USB audio card, when a sequence with audio starts, available 5V would drop too low and cause the bright white / flicker / random behaviour (Alan, similar to the flickering issues, but this randomly occurred even when they were on 20fps). I overcame this issue by connecting a 5V adapter from a Google Home into the Pi, in addition to the 12V supply via the rPi-28D.

I was able to isolate this by using FPP > Status Control > Display Testing > Sequence tab, instead of playing sequence + audio from the Status Page.
 

AAH

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If the rPi-28D is powered by 12V, how is the Pi powered from the rPi-28D? What converts the 12V to 5V for the Pi?

I suspect if the data lines are driven by 5V, and the only power source is 12V via the rPi-28D for both that and the Pi, then if you have a USB audio card, when a sequence with audio starts, available 5V would drop too low and cause the bright white / flicker / random behaviour (Alan, similar to the flickering issues, but this randomly occurred even when they were on 20fps). I overcame this issue by connecting a 5V adapter from a Google Home into the Pi, in addition to the 12V supply via the rPi-28D.

I was able to isolate this by using FPP > Status Control > Display Testing > Sequence tab, instead of playing sequence + audio from the Status Page.
The rPi-28D and rPi-28D+ regulate the 12V (actually anything 8V to 24V) down to 5V via a 3A switchmode regulator.
 

james_o100

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If the rPi-28D is powered by 12V, how is the Pi powered from the rPi-28D? What converts the 12V to 5V for the Pi?

I suspect if the data lines are driven by 5V, and the only power source is 12V via the rPi-28D for both that and the Pi, then if you have a USB audio card, when a sequence with audio starts, available 5V would drop too low and cause the bright white / flicker / random behaviour (Alan, similar to the flickering issues, but this randomly occurred even when they were on 20fps). I overcame this issue by connecting a 5V adapter from a Google Home into the Pi, in addition to the 12V supply via the rPi-28D.

I was able to isolate this by using FPP > Status Control > Display Testing > Sequence tab, instead of playing sequence + audio from the Status Page.

I have the rPI28D powering the PI, and use a USB audio card, with ZERO issues - and all of my stuff is 12v.
Never experienced the issue your reporting.
 

stevelee

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Does the rPi-28D+ work with the latest Pi 4's ?

I'm looking at getting them a couple of LED strings to start playing with. At the same time work on the whole house layout, which will decide what larger setup I end up with. I'll then use the the Pi to play the shows rather than using the competer. Is there an alternate to what I'm thinking of doing for the short term ?
 

AAH

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Does the rPi-28D+ work with the latest Pi 4's ?

I'm looking at getting them a couple of LED strings to start playing with. At the same time work on the whole house layout, which will decide what larger setup I end up with. I'll then use the the Pi to play the shows rather than using the competer. Is there an alternate to what I'm thinking of doing for the short term ?
Hi Steve
Falcon Player doesn't need the extra processing power of a Pi4. You can happily run it on a Pi2 if needed. The Pi4's run quite hot and it's not really recommended to bang a cap/cape/hat on top of them without a fan or heatsinks on the Pi and with a cape on top that becomes hard to do. Because of the heat and the fact that there's no necessity or benefit in going to a Pi4 over a Pi3 I don't stock anything other than the Pi3B+. The board will however work fine (other than heat) with the Pi4's as long as you use the right Pi image as there's been updates to the Pi4 which screws up the hardware signature.
If you're just wanting to play then using a pixel tester or 2 and a power distribution like my Power8 or PSDIST1 will allow you to build props and do testing etc but with only basic control of colours etc.
 
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