First controller setup and ready to roll!

slw2206

slw2206

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Jan 8, 2026
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Got my 1st controller setup with a 600 watt PSU. All 16 ports are wired and sealed along with the 4 expansion CATs 😀

Still have to mount my Pi4 in the box, but keeping it out until I have the FPP configured and running properly.

VLS pixels arrived (well 2k out of the 3k I ordered, the last package is stuck in New Jersey) and I hope by the end of the night I'll have them all tested.

Thought I'd post a few pics of the workspace I've created in the basement.
 

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Must be too early in the morning, the pixels look like xConnect and the controller looks like Ray Wu pigtails. 🙃

Also highly recommend adding 2 external ethernet ports, these would either be 1 for the Pi and one for daisy chaining controllers, or if you leave the Pi out of the box, just direct to the 2 controller ethernet ports.
 
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Congratulations! The first controller box is always exciting as it gets you ready for putting a show together and you get to use it for testing also! Your pictures brought to mind a few questions and then also a couple comments.

Questions!
1. Which controller box is that? It's similar to a Bud Box a lot of us are familiar with but is not. Wondering where you bought it.
2. Did the attachment grid come with the box or is that something you might have 3d printed?
3. Where int he US are you located? I don't want to assume your in PA just because you like Penn State. (I'm partial to Alabama and Ole Miss since I paid tuition to those schools :D )

Comments (?)
1. What gauge is the wire from the power supply to the controller? It's hard to tell in the picture.
2. MerryOnCherry mentioned you might want to add in 3 network ports for the PI and the Controller. I'd suggest just using 2 of the four you already have for that instead of adding more to the box. Unless you know for sure you are going to be using all those expansion ports, they tend to be more effort than they are used for. They do however make quick extra network ports if one goes bad since you can just move the port over if needed.
3. The one thing I did notice was that your pigtails seem to be rather short. While longer pigtails might be unsightly they are a lot easier to work with individually if you have more room at the end when working with them. If you need to swap them out my suggestion would be to use longer pigtails.
4. You might consider sticking the pi into a different case or enclosure. If you need to get to the PI for any reason during bad weather I would not want to be opening my controller box to get to it. I run my show in the Midwest from Halloween until after the new year so I deal with a wide range of good and bad weather.

Now, feel free to ignore everything I said because we all have our own preferences on how we want our controllers built. Your controller is neat, orderly and perfectly functional!
 
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