4 wire addressable RGB pixels

[orchidman33]

I am wanting to change the pixels on my Mega tree as repairs are almost impossible to pixels with dual control wires. I can get GS8208.
Can I control these and what protocol do is set Xlights to. My controllers are Falcon F16V3. Any help would be great before I place any orders.

 

[Notenoughlights]

I believe you treat them as ws2811 pixels. There is no real difference in running them from a control perspective except for the backup data line.

Edit: What do you mean "repairs are impossible to pixels with dual control wires" GS8208 have dual data lines, one main and one backup.

 

[orchidman33]

sorry - my mind got muddled. I am currently using the normal 3 wire version of pixels. and the tree is just over 5m

 

[darylc]

GS8208 just use 3 wires to your controller like ws2811

 

[ryanschristmaslights]

GS8208 should function properly with your controller configured for WS2811 output. This is how I have my Advatek PixLite controllers configured for GS8208 12V bullet pixel strings + GS8208 12V 30L/m individually addressable strip and it all just works .

 

[Adsy]

So how would hook up to a smart receiver?
Are both data lines sharing data port?

 

[Notenoughlights]

So how would hook up to a smart receiver?
Are both data lines sharing data port?

The backup data line goes to ground/v- it's not used at the first pixel.

 

[orchidman33]

So how would hook up to a smart receiver?
Are both data lines sharing data port?

This tread shows how they are wired - Its in the first part of the tread

https://auschristmaslighting.com/threads/gs8208-led-strip.10916/

 

[orchidman33]

I have this week had 10 strings of 100 of these arrive
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328....order_list.order_list_main.23.21ef1802aZZxtp
I got strings working last night and desided to do some testing tonight for the string length I wil be using.
These pixels are 4 wire V+, Gnd, Data, and Clock. To make them work, Clock and Gnd were connected together and then Xlight protocol selected, was WS2811.
I wanted to see what my current draws were as I use strings of 200, so test length is 200 pixelswith NO power injection.
My test voltage was 12.03V
Briliance 100 percent
Current draw ALL lamps powered but off 1.43A
Red = 4.15
Green =4.15
Blue = 4.13
Red/Blue = 4.00
Red/Green = 4.06
Blue/Green = 3.86
White = 3.42

From what I have seen it the colours are very virbrant and white appears on film as the same brilliance as any individual colour.

 

[someoneAUS]

I didn't think they have clock.

V+, Data, bkp Data, gnd. I thought was the way they were wired.

 

[orchidman33]

the supplier even sent me the controller pigtail with each lead labell, so I used thier terminologue.

 

[gingrbredman]

Curious as to why you picked this particular set? Looks like the connectors are the JST type, at least from the pictures on that link you sent. Are you going to modify the connectors for your mega tree?

I have a bunch coming from RayWu hopefully today, got delayed by the Midwest storm yesterday but can't wait to try them out as well.

RayWu also has a bunch of male and female pig tails, what he calls "4 wire XConnect" so I ordered a bunch with mine. My plan is to use them for a permanent roof line install and love all the feedback this site has given on the GS8208 type.

 

[TerryK]

the supplier even sent me the controller pigtail with each lead labell, so I used thier terminologue.

Pigtail is labeled incorrectly then. GS8208 pixels have, as previously mentioned, the typical V+ and V- along with the DI (Data In) and the 4th wire, a BI (Backup In). I just recently posted amperage data in the ACL Media.

 

[algerdes]

Documentation I've found on them show the hookup to have V+, V-, Data In, Backup Data In, and Data Out coming off of the chip. (See the attached.) No clock!

Note: Image is from PixLite Support.

A good writeup on these can be found here: https://auschristmaslighting.com/threads/gs8208-based-pixels-testing-and-evaluation-2022.14569/

 

[TerryK]

Need to correct myself; getting harder to keep the various pixel types straight in the head. BI isn't a GS8208 pin ID. BI is the backup input for a WS2815.

A GS8208 uses in its datasheet SDI, SDO, and SDI2; along with the RGB outputs and power pins. On or in the GS8208 pixels I have it's DI1, DI2, DO1, and DO2.