Plasma Icicles 2.0

plasmadrive

Full time elf
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
248
Location
Elk Grove, CA
I have Ray making me some Plasma Icicles 2.0.

The originals I made a few years back curl to the back and that really annoyed me. So now I have come up with these. They are rigid PCBs that have the DO return out the same end as the DI and power. So no longer do you need to run the wire up the back side of the PCB in the silicon sleeve.
I also wanted to change to all one length..

So here is the prototype. Ray will be making and selling them. I had him use JST connectors because of the size and ease of use. For my personal set, I will be using dielectric grease on the connectors and they will be under the eves of the house, so no direct rain.

I also have an extended sleeve at the top to help with the mounting so they will all hang at the same height..

I also found out that the DC converters I use from Prodcdc are able to stand being all on the same output buss using the same input supply. What that means to me is that I can put as many of these as I can support in a line and feed the data as required and pop power in any place I want using the 2.5mm plugs.

I will post more in the coming weeks if anyone is interested.
QQ图片20170607193418.jpg QQ图片20170607193422.jpg QQ图片20170607193429.jpg
 

plasmadrive

Full time elf
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
248
Location
Elk Grove, CA
that cool as 2weeks ago i go him to make me 30/60/90 cm 30 of ea
Did you ask for this using the rigid PCB? I have been working with him on this for months.. The first two rounds he made them wrong. This time he did it just right..
 

plasmadrive

Full time elf
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
248
Location
Elk Grove, CA
A couple of days ago the New Plasma Icicles 2.0 arrived. (Very well packaged). I tested all 200 of them and they are great!
Something unexpected however. When testing I noticed that the current draw was not as high as expected. Each pixel only draws 33-38mA (full white using a little tester to drive them) instead of the 55-60mA I was expecting. This means approx 2.2amps per group of four icicles. I don't really notice any brightness issues, but I haven't put them side by side with the original Plasma Icicles. Being that everyone turns them down anyway, I see this as a very positive thing.. It helps my current budget substantially. For all 200 of them plus the burn from the DC converters, I only need about 625 watts total from my main 24v supplies.
These strips were made so that they could be single sided or double sided. I chose single sided. Could be they use that lower current setup to accommodate the two sides without killing the current budget.. I don't know, but I like em this way just fine.
 
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