Big W lights - want to use a PSU and join a lot of together

The Bald Boy

New elf
Joined
Oct 14, 2018
Messages
41
Location
Lake Macquarie
HI all,
I have a lot of dumb Big W lights with a MFC. I would like to get rid of the power pack that comes with it and use a PSU. This will save me a lot or power boards and extension cords!!
I am not sure of the following:
  1. What type of controller I need, if needed at all?
  2. Can I just plug the wires from the LED into the PSU?
  3. Can I use the MFC that comes with it to ensure the light changing pattern? Or Do I need something else?
  4. What size PSU would I need? I am thinking 30V and winding it down. I have read on this site that although the power pack that comes with the lights might say 24V - they actually run at a higher voltage
The power pack/plug that comes with the dumb lights have the following information: photos also supplied
AC-DC adaptor
model KMD-240-01000-48SA
input 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 24V=10VA

AC-AC Adaptor
model KMA-220-01000-41SA
nput 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 22V=10VA

AC-AC Adaptor
model KMA-220-00800-41SA
nput 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 22V=8VA

Power supply
model: MKV-C-300-130-AU
PRI: 220-240V-50/60Hz 0.16A
SEC: 30V - 0.43A 13W

Aah has said the MFC is:
It's a 3 wire 2 channel controller assuming that it's both power and lights that are coming in the bottom.

I currently have a Falcon F16v3 and a Raspberry pi 3B+. I will run a 12V PSU to the Falcon for some led strips I have purchased.

Sorry about the long message - just trying to give as much information as possible. I am really new to all of this :)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2565.JPG
    IMG_2565.JPG
    107 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_2570.JPG
    IMG_2570.JPG
    86.9 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_2569.JPG
    IMG_2569.JPG
    86.2 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_2568.JPG
    IMG_2568.JPG
    83.7 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_2567.JPG
    IMG_2567.JPG
    96.8 KB · Views: 16
  • IMG_2566.JPG
    IMG_2566.JPG
    97.7 KB · Views: 16

scamper

Dedicated elf
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
1,225
Location
collie
There are many posts on the forum that describe how to do this so it is worth while doing a search and seeing what other people have done.
That being said, Big W have changed their light strings a few times over the years and you may well have a few different ones there.
I modified a bunch of mine and use them on some mini trees that I have. I use a 27v power supply and run them off a 24 channel controller. Each set of lights is 2 channels. so the are orange and green or blue and red. This controller is fed DMX from the output port from your f16v3 (ports 1 to 3 that look like an ethernet port) then you set them up in the settings to say they are dmx out instead of strings. But this will only work on the 3 string models as the 2 string models work on simply switching the polarity back and forth to get the different colours.
HTB1o9xKGXXXXXcLXVXXq6xXFXXXk.jpg
 

Nuzzy

Apprentice elf
Joined
Aug 6, 2017
Messages
75
Location
Denmark
I used one of @AAH 2811dc30 controllers with a 27 volt power supply to control mine. Then made a sequence in Xlights that mimicked the flashing pattern I liked from the MFC so it was like nothing had changed. With the controller, like @scamper does, they then become controllable through Xlights so you can include them in your show if you wish.
 

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
Using 1 power supply isn't quite as easy as hooking it up to the existing controllers or hooking multiple lights to existing controllers.
There's a range of voltages in your controllers for your lights with a mix of AC and DC. The AC have a ~ looking symbol and DC have a symbol like = but the bottom line is dashed. The AC type controllers will typically have 3, 4 or 5 wires out to the leds and 2 coming from the plugpack. These are the easy ones that can be controlled with normal DMX controllers. DC type controllers in my experience will generally be the dreaded 2 wire 2 channel ones. They'll only have 2 wires going out to the leds.
Connecting multiple strings to 1 multifunction controller is an issue because the controllers will generally only have a very low current rating. The AC type will commonly have a 24VAC 1A rating on them as they use a generic design and low cost parts.
3/4/5 wire lights can be controlled with a conventional DC dimmer like most DMX boards or via my pixel to DC boards 2811DC15/2811DC30. The 2 wire 2 channel ones require a special system to control them as they are designed so that the polarity of the wiring needs to be reversed to control each half of the lights.
Using a slightly different voltage for a number of different lights isn't always a huge hassle. Using too low a voltage will mean that sometimes led strings won't light up as the voltage isn't enough to turn on the 6,7,8 leds that are wired in series. With too high a voltage the current the leds get will be higher and they will be brighter but as long as the leds are flashed rather than being on 100% this generally won't cause a problem.
 

sparkyg

New elf
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
14
Using 1 power supply isn't quite as easy as hooking it up to the existing controllers or hooking multiple lights to existing controllers.
There's a range of voltages in your controllers for your lights with a mix of AC and DC. The AC have a ~ looking symbol and DC have a symbol like = but the bottom line is dashed. The AC type controllers will typically have 3, 4 or 5 wires out to the leds and 2 coming from the plugpack. These are the easy ones that can be controlled with normal DMX controllers. DC type controllers in my experience will generally be the dreaded 2 wire 2 channel ones. They'll only have 2 wires going out to the leds.
Connecting multiple strings to 1 multifunction controller is an issue because the controllers will generally only have a very low current rating. The AC type will commonly have a 24VAC 1A rating on them as they use a generic design and low cost parts.
3/4/5 wire lights can be controlled with a conventional DC dimmer like most DMX boards or via my pixel to DC boards 2811DC15/2811DC30. The 2 wire 2 channel ones require a special system to control them as they are designed so that the polarity of the wiring needs to be reversed to control each half of the lights.
Using a slightly different voltage for a number of different lights isn't always a huge hassle. Using too low a voltage will mean that sometimes led strings won't light up as the voltage isn't enough to turn on the 6,7,8 leds that are wired in series. With too high a voltage the current the leds get will be higher and they will be brighter but as long as the leds are flashed rather than being on 100% this generally won't cause a problem.

What sort of money would you be looking at to replace the plug ins, then of course i guess you would need something to make them flash in unison ?
 

Ellis

Naughty Elf
Joined
Aug 21, 2017
Messages
207
Location
Gold Coast
Just an fyi @AAH and others reading regarding the slight voltage variances when using DMX boards.

What I did was connected all my strings and turned them on at 100%, then turned the voltage up on the PSU until I noticed a flicker, which was in 2 sets of rope light.
Backed off a bit and that was where I left it
 

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
What sort of money would you be looking at to replace the plug ins, then of course i guess you would need something to make them flash in unison ?
Are you talking about a DMX controlled flashing in unison or a standalone controller?
Currently the only option is my DMX2-18 but next year I'll make up a standalone controller that multiple 2 wire light sets can be plugged into.
 

bpratt

Senior elf
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
562
Location
Jimboomba, Queensland
I'm thinking I'm in a similar boat here..... got a stack of Big W purchased led strings, which are two wire ones. and was thinking there might be a way of utilising them as I upgrade to a Falcon F16v3 this year as part of going pixel lighting.

Maybe I might just stick with all the plugpacks and keep them running till they croak it. :)
 

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
I'm thinking I'm in a similar boat here..... got a stack of Big W purchased led strings, which are two wire ones. and was thinking there might be a way of utilising them as I upgrade to a Falcon F16v3 this year as part of going pixel lighting.

Maybe I might just stick with all the plugpacks and keep them running till they croak it. :)
The DMX2-18 can be ran from an F16. Alternately I made up a 2811DC2-30 which I am yet to test. This would allow control from any source of 2811 data including the pixel testers.
 

jslunn70

New elf
Joined
Nov 6, 2010
Messages
13
Location
Townsville, QLD. AUSTRALIA
HI all,
I have a lot of dumb Big W lights with a MFC. I would like to get rid of the power pack that comes with it and use a PSU. This will save me a lot or power boards and extension cords!!
I am not sure of the following:
  1. What type of controller I need, if needed at all?
  2. Can I just plug the wires from the LED into the PSU?
  3. Can I use the MFC that comes with it to ensure the light changing pattern? Or Do I need something else?
  4. What size PSU would I need? I am thinking 30V and winding it down. I have read on this site that although the power pack that comes with the lights might say 24V - they actually run at a higher voltage
The power pack/plug that comes with the dumb lights have the following information: photos also supplied
AC-DC adaptor
model KMD-240-01000-48SA
input 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 24V=10VA

AC-AC Adaptor
model KMA-220-01000-41SA
nput 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 22V=10VA

AC-AC Adaptor
model KMA-220-00800-41SA
nput 230-240V-50-60Hz
output 22V=8VA

Power supply
model: MKV-C-300-130-AU
PRI: 220-240V-50/60Hz 0.16A
SEC: 30V - 0.43A 13W

Aah has said the MFC is:
It's a 3 wire 2 channel controller assuming that it's both power and lights that are coming in the bottom.

I currently have a Falcon F16v3 and a Raspberry pi 3B+. I will run a 12V PSU to the Falcon for some led strips I have purchased.

Sorry about the long message - just trying to give as much information as possible. I am really new to all of this :)
Hello. Would you have any of these transformers laying around
Power supply
model: MKV-C-300-130-AU
PRI: 220-240V-50/60Hz 0.16A
SEC: 30V - 0.43A 13W

Thanks

Jeff
 
Top