HydroWVU
New elf
Good afternoon,
First let me say, Thank you. I spent all day yesterday reading and researching RGB, and related items. The Learning Centre was a treasure trove of information.
This is my second year with my light show, and I am at a crossroads. I only have one LOR 16CTB. This year I had enough time to properly plan and got a nice setup, but I don't enough channels for new items or the mega tree that I built this year.
I had planned on just adding more AC controllers, but I think that moving forward with Pixels would be better. Both for power, and the number of strings of lights.
I would like to switch my new 10 foot mega tree over to pixels. I will be able to get better effects with a Pixel Mega tree with less strings of lights and AC controllers. And it will be cheaper.
After my research yesterday, here is what I think I need (at least big items, I don't have a lot of the tools needed yet)
1 Pixel Controller (with at least 16 outputs) I was looking at SAN Devices E682
16 strands of Pixels (how many count do I need 50 or 100?) I current use 100 count 5mm LEDs
1 DC Power supply, I haven't worked out size yet.
I am not sure what I will use for sequencing yet. Plus cabling.
Now for the questions:
Should I use E1.31 over DMX or DMX512. I have a ton of old networking gear, and I am very familiar with UDP Unicast and UDP Multicast. My yard is not very large, but I would like to convert it all over to pixels eventually, and I have some more places I would like to put lights where I didn't have them, but I have been upgrading slowly.
Is the mega tree too big to start out with pixels? The thought of switching over to Pixels is exciting, however I am a little intimidated.
I would like to start out with maybe one string of pixels and a controller to get the feel of it before I make a huge investment like switching the mega tree over.
How many strands of pixels can you string together per output on the controller? Since the operate at lower voltages then AC strings, can you only have one string per output channel?
What else am I forgetting? Do pixel strings have any connectors or is it up to you to put them on? I see a lot of bare boards and open power supplies with screw in terminals do you have to worry about getting executed with the screw in terminals? Also what type of weather proof cases are there?
I apologize for the firehose of questions.
Thanks in advance
John
First let me say, Thank you. I spent all day yesterday reading and researching RGB, and related items. The Learning Centre was a treasure trove of information.
This is my second year with my light show, and I am at a crossroads. I only have one LOR 16CTB. This year I had enough time to properly plan and got a nice setup, but I don't enough channels for new items or the mega tree that I built this year.
I had planned on just adding more AC controllers, but I think that moving forward with Pixels would be better. Both for power, and the number of strings of lights.
I would like to switch my new 10 foot mega tree over to pixels. I will be able to get better effects with a Pixel Mega tree with less strings of lights and AC controllers. And it will be cheaper.
After my research yesterday, here is what I think I need (at least big items, I don't have a lot of the tools needed yet)
1 Pixel Controller (with at least 16 outputs) I was looking at SAN Devices E682
16 strands of Pixels (how many count do I need 50 or 100?) I current use 100 count 5mm LEDs
1 DC Power supply, I haven't worked out size yet.
I am not sure what I will use for sequencing yet. Plus cabling.
Now for the questions:
Should I use E1.31 over DMX or DMX512. I have a ton of old networking gear, and I am very familiar with UDP Unicast and UDP Multicast. My yard is not very large, but I would like to convert it all over to pixels eventually, and I have some more places I would like to put lights where I didn't have them, but I have been upgrading slowly.
Is the mega tree too big to start out with pixels? The thought of switching over to Pixels is exciting, however I am a little intimidated.
I would like to start out with maybe one string of pixels and a controller to get the feel of it before I make a huge investment like switching the mega tree over.
How many strands of pixels can you string together per output on the controller? Since the operate at lower voltages then AC strings, can you only have one string per output channel?
What else am I forgetting? Do pixel strings have any connectors or is it up to you to put them on? I see a lot of bare boards and open power supplies with screw in terminals do you have to worry about getting executed with the screw in terminals? Also what type of weather proof cases are there?
I apologize for the firehose of questions.
Thanks in advance
John