LED string lights - Higher quality and brighter

[djgra79]

Toni,

Last order I placed with Ray I waited 2 weeks before following him up regarding shipping, after this follow up email the items were sent in ~48hours.

Same here @Toni - I placed an order and after 2 weeks sent a friendly reminder and it was another week to make up and ship my order, which was received 2 days ahead of expected delivery.

 

[MrX]

My Ray order stayed as awaiting shipping for about a week then when it was sent arrived in 4 days.

 

[Toni]

Thanks everyone for your help!

Items arrived in only 2 weeks and they look fantastic.

Already I'm thinking of buying more, but this time more custom! Also the dumb nodes hooked up to a controller get boring real quick! ...keen on smart ones.

Do you guys think Ray could make the following?
RGB 12v smart pixel nodes with 20 - 30cm spacing, AWG18 in green wire, 5m per strand, terminated ends ready to plug into a controller.

It looks like the price from dumb pixels to smart pixels jumps significantly? From $2 to ~$25 a strand. Is this right?

Also when looking for a matching controller, am I correct in saying if the strand is WS2811, then I should be seeking a WS2811 controller?

 

[LightsOn81st]

Thanks everyone for your help!

Items arrived in only 2 weeks and they look fantastic.

Already I'm thinking of buying more, but this time more custom! Also the dumb nodes hooked up to a controller get boring real quick! ...keen on smart ones.

Do you guys think Ray could make the following?
RGB 12v smart pixel nodes with 20 - 30cm spacing, AWG18 in green wire, 5m per strand, terminated ends ready to plug into a controller.

It looks like the price from dumb pixels to smart pixels jumps significantly? From $2 to ~$25 a strand. Is this right?

Also when looking for a matching controller, am I correct in saying if the strand is WS2811, then I should be seeking a WS2811 controller?

Ray can do custom strands like you are wanting. Just send him as must detail as possible on what you want and he'll come back to you with details on what it will cost to make.

Smart strands are more expensive to build because they require IC chips for each pixel as opposed to dumb strands that only need a single IC chip.

Regarding WS2811, most smart controllers support a range of chip types and WS2811 is one of the most common types. The controllers on Ray's site, and other sites, should list what chip types they are compatible with.

 

[David_AVD]

Smart strands are more expensive to build because they require IC chips for each pixel as opposed to dumb strands that only need a single IC chip.

Dumb strings / strands / modules / strips contain no chips (ICs) at all, just LEDs and resistors.

 

[marmalade]

without a pic of what you are trying to do, why not use ws2811 strip? I sell a fair amount of lasered edge lit acrylic and it's pretty much the standard thing to use...

 

[LightsOn81st]

Dumb strings / strands / modules / strips contain no chips (ICs) at all, just LEDs and resistors.

Pardon, you are correct. Basically, my point was that dumb strands / strips are cheaper to make because they are less complex than smart strands / strips.

 

[Toni]

Thanks guys!
What controllers are compatible with this strand?
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...l?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.43.3b256c8815wgVU

I'm after something incredibly basic and cheap but allows for full functionality of the smart pixels.

 

[MD389]

Toni,

The strings linked are dumb RGB nodes so you will not get the individual control of smart pixels. With this string each node will be the same colour for the entire string whereas with smart pixels like these (https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...l?spm=2114.12010610.8148356.15.5a3639a0FpK9Wf) you can control the colour of each individual node.

I don't have any personal experience with them but I think if you want to control dumb RGB string you'll need a DMX controller like this http://www.hansonelectronics.com.au/product/dmx36/

 

[Toni]

Thanks what do i need to tell Ray to ensure he makes smart pixels?

 

[LightsOn81st]

Thanks what do i need to tell Ray to ensure he makes smart pixels?

Similar to what you typed before should be good:

"- RGB 12v smart pixel nodes
- WS2811 IC
- 20 - 30cm spacing
- AWG18 in green wire
- 5m per strand
- terminated ends ready to plug into a controller
- X number of strands"

Ray should reply back confirming if he can accommodate the request as well as cost and time frame.

 

[Toni]

Similar to what you typed before should be good:

"- RGB 12v smart pixel nodes
- WS2811 IC
- 20 - 30cm spacing
- AWG18 in green wire
- 5m per strand
- terminated ends ready to plug into a controller
- X number of strands"

Ray should reply back confirming if he can accommodate the request as well as cost and time frame.

Thanks mate,

Sorry guys - still learning here.

I presume this controller would be ideal for this setup?
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...l?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.57.616654ff00TdQw

The connectors on this controller are exactly what I'm after. I just want a controller that is cheap but allows for full functionally of the smart pixels - changing colours, modes etc etc.

 

[maxamber]

you can find some commercial grade string lights whose cords are made from heavy-duty wire and have special weather-proof sockets that form a seal around the light bulb to keep water out.

Commercial grade string lights are recommended for permanent installations intended to be left up year-round and are suitable for hard-wiring. So they’re great looking, are long lasting and add a professional look to the backyard.