Converting a ropelight star to pixels

[vk3heg]

HI Guys,
After many years of service (6+ in use, 4 in storage) my 90cm wide, 8 spoke ropelight star has developed a fault with one of the spokes.
As it's a decent size, and ropelight is annoying to work with, I'm thinking about converting it to pixels. (That's the easy time consuming bit).
The hard part is using 12mm Bullet node's or Square nodes so they all face outwards.

Has anyone converted a large item like this, and what was the result?

Stephen

 

[Robbo]

assuming it is a wire frame? You can get some wire frame clips to clip the pixels to the frame...

 

[JPB]

I have changed some of my wire frames to pixels using square pixels. Attached using a thin cable tie on the diagonal, works well.

 

[vk3heg]

Here is a picture of the star. Clips wont work as the wire frame isn't round.

 

[JPB]

Here is a close up of one of my wire frames with square pixels.

 

[Robbo]

Here is a picture of the star. Clips wont work as the wire frame isn't round.

Interesting...I'm sure someone can 3d print a clip for that too

 

[djgra79]

Black cableties (usually uv stable) for the win!

 

[vk3heg]

Here is a close up of one of my wire frames with square pixels.

How much do the pixel nodes move?

 

[franky_888]

How much do the pixel nodes move?

On our star this year, quite a bit - particularly if you haven't tied back the excess wire between the nodes and you rest that wire against a wall after lining everything up perfectly

We didnt bear down too hard on the ties as the holes in the sides of the square strip seemed quite flimsy and likely to tear open.

 

[JPB]

How much do the pixel nodes move?

They move while being handled during setup but once the wireframe is mounted it takes less than a minute to roughly straighten any that are way off.
Not really an issue.

 

[algerdes]

Another possibility is to use rope light channel, placing the 12mm bullets inside of it. We use this on all of our permanent mounted lights (eaves, windows, etc.) and it is great. No movement, constantly pointed in the 'right' direction, and easy to repair if a pixel does go bad.

 

[bretheron]

If you have bullet nodes you can simply tie them to the frame "end to end" you will not notice that they are not pointing out. Also you can do it so everything is double the same way it is now on the "Snowflake". That way you can get better groups when you break it down for sequencing.

 

[DavidJ247]

HI Guys,
After many years of service (6+ in use, 4 in storage) my 90cm wide, 8 spoke ropelight star has developed a fault with one of the spokes.
As it's a decent size, and ropelight is annoying to work with, I'm thinking about converting it to pixels. (That's the easy time consuming bit).
The hard part is using 12mm Bullet node's or Square nodes so they all face outwards.

Has anyone converted a large item like this, and what was the result?

Stephen

Hi Stephen, I did this with my ropelight star and am really pleased with the results. You can replicate the original ropelight effects for a vintage look which is fun but also pixels allow you to do so much more with the prop. You could consider simply laying bullet pixels end to end, they produce a very wide field of light so there really is no need to have them face outwards. I simply attached mine to the frame with a black (UV stable) cable tie on each bullet, nice and tidy. Been in use now for 4 seasons with zero issues, still going strong. Some pics and a piece from one of my walk-through vids attached below. Good luck with your project, keep us posted.