Power Injection Question

Bmac99

New elf
Joined
Jul 28, 2018
Messages
8
This is my first year working with pixel lights and got to a part of my setup that requires power injection. I’m using a Falcon F16v3 and 12V power supply. My garage outline requires 130 pixels and I’m about 25 feet from my controller box containing my power supply. I have 2 empty/unused ports on my F16. Can I simply plug in a pigtail into one of those ports (just positive and ground while leaving data unplugged) and run a line from that unused port connecting to the end of the pixel string to inject power? Or do I have to go directly from the power supply? Thanks for your suggestions.
 

Dreamin

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
382
Location
Sunshine Coast
This is my first year working with pixel lights and got to a part of my setup that requires power injection. I’m using a Falcon F16v3 and 12V power supply. My garage outline requires 130 pixels and I’m about 25 feet from my controller box containing my power supply. I have 2 empty/unused ports on my F16. Can I simply plug in a pigtail into one of those ports (just positive and ground while leaving data unplugged) and run a line from that unused port connecting to the end of the pixel string to inject power? Or do I have to go directly from the power supply? Thanks for your suggestions.
For only 130 pixels it should be fine on one port on 12V.
 

TerryK

Retired Elf
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
655
Location
West Central Ohio
Either will work. Most individuals I think would take it from the power supply through a fuse. Taken from the controller, the on-board fuse will handle the protection. From the supply not the controller would remove any wiring rearrangement if your display grows and the ports would be needed.
 

Srmorgan

Full time elf
Joined
Jan 26, 2020
Messages
100
I’ve got a string of 12v that is 192 pixels long and I run it at 30% without power injection. It gets scratchy when I test above 80% but I don’t go that high in the show anyway so I don’t worry about it.
 

Jay.S

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
221
Location
Narangba
For only 130 pixels it should be fine on one port on 12V.
I think, from reading the full description of the setup, there is only 1 power supply and there are only 2 ports on the F16 left. That indicates to me there are way more pixels running off that F16 than just 130. At 100% a 30A PSU (12V 360W) can power about 500 bullet nodes. Obviously, that's all on, all white... but you get the point.
 
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