Just getting started

Hello! I have just purchased a Falcon f16 v4 . I am starting with a mega tree this year 24 strings at 83 nodes on each string. Can someone walk me through how to set up with a laptop so I can output the audio to an fm transmitter please?

How far along are you? Hardware all assembled? Have an xLights layout? Tested? Installed in yard? Etc?

For a laptop, use xSchedule and plug the audio cable from the laptop to the transmitter, easy as that.

I have the tree up. I am getting back to it Saturday. I have created a few sequences in x lights. A few concerns after watching too many videos: When connecting the power to the board. I am running 5v RGBs. I have a 12Volt power supply. Can I switch the Falcon to 5v but still connect the 12 volts to the board? I can also turn the voltage down on the power supply. Not sure If I can turn it down to 5 volts.
My original plan was also to run 1-3 ports-83x24=1992/3=664 per port-is this ok? I work in tech and have access to old computers power boards. Is it as simple as injecting every 300 with a positive and negative from the old computer power supply (5v)?

Im a little confused on the laptop and control board connection-From what I understand, the control board will be at the tree-25feet from house. Laptop is inside with me. I have a network connection Cat 6 going to control board. I can ip connect on my laptop after I have established a connection with the control board. Will the laptop and the control board play at the same time for audio to transmit? I was thinking that the control board operated alone?-Again, I have watched too many videos.

Kmac said:

Can I switch the Falcon to 5v but still connect the 12 volts to the board? I can also turn the voltage down on the power supply. Not sure If I can turn it down to 5 volts.
My original plan was also to run 1-3 ports-83x24=1992/3=664 per port-is this ok? I work in tech and have access to old computers power boards. Is it as simple as injecting every 300 with a positive and negative from the old computer power supply (5v)?

Click to expand...

No! No, it will probably go down to 10v. Yes, data wise 664 is OK but you could also divide i more, and probably not 300 between pixels, it will have to be more like every 100... you might go 83 up the tree, back down to power, and so on. Is there anyone nearby who could help in person?

If you have 5V pixels, do not connect them to 12V. The Falcon will not convert 12v to 5v to power the pixels. You need a 5V power source to power 5v pixels.

5V power injection is typically every 100 (50 in both directions). By turning down the intensity, you can get more. You need to test it.

Thank you!! Many of the videos just show connecting 12V and never talk about the Pixels. Can I use the 5v off of an old computer to power the board and use for power injection? I will spend the money if I need to, but i have access to old computers that will be thrown away and still have good power sources in them. If so, the guage of wire is very thin coming out of them?
Thanks for your help!

Most computer power supplies do not deliver that much current on the 5V line (Compared to older ones from the 90s/early 00s) - because the CPUs draw their power from 12V and step it down to the 1.0-1.4V they run off.
You might be able to get a few amps out of it, but certainly not enough for 2000 LEDs

So I will purchase a new power supply today. Is it possible to use the computer 5 volt for injection? I can get as many of these as i need and they are the larger ones in desktop computers, not laptops.
I only have Saturdays with my work schedule. From what i understand on the falcon F16 you can power 1/2 board with 5v and other 12. Would it be possible to power 5v with two power supplies and run port 1 and 2 on 1 side with 1328 lights and then run port 9 with the last 664 to get something going tomorrow?
If computers are not an option, how many power supplies do i need run the 1992?
Thanks for your help!

At full brightness, 100% white the theoretical maximum current draw is around 90A for 2000x 5V pixels.
Once you factor in brightness adjustments and the fact not everything is on at once or full white, you can probably budget 30A.

I have 1000 running off a single 350W/70A PSU in my controller, with a calculated load of about 43% factoring in the high brightness I run and full white running

Check the power supply output current on that voltage rail. It'll likely say something like 3.3V @ 3A, 5V @7A, 12V @ 60A for example.
Do _not_ work of "watts" because a computer power supply wattage is based off the total across all output voltages and rails, not what it can do per voltage.

You can definitely run dual power into the Falcon, 12 on one side, and 5 on the other. Remember the controller logic is powered from the V2 input so set the voltage switch to match whatever is on that input.

You can also run 2x PSUs of the same voltage into both sides, this is a pretty much standard setup.

Very helpful information! Thank you!