Mark's seed pixel mega tree - Smaller and cheaper!

[Kyle McC]

Hi @Mark M thanks for the awesome Vid and ideas. I’m in South Africa and am going to try pull this off next year.

We don’t get the Falcon controllers here but I’ll have to make one up with an ESP.

One question I have is, you are using 80 pixels per string but you are using alternate nodes, does this mean that your tree is 2m high or are you using 160 per string with alternating nodes making is 4m?

Thank you so much!

 

[Mark_M]

Hi @Mark M thanks for the awesome Vid and ideas. I’m in South Africa and am going to try pull this off next year.

We don’t get the Falcon controllers here but I’ll have to make one up with an ESP.

One question I have is, you are using 80 pixels per string but you are using alternate nodes, does this mean that your tree is 2m high or are you using 160 per string with alternating nodes making is 4m?

Thank you so much!

The pixels are 10cm spacing. So the 80 pixels is 8m in length.
The 8m strand folded in half for alternate nodes makes it 5cm spacing between nodes and a length of 4m.

 

[Kyle McC]

The pixels are 10cm spacing. So the 80 pixels is 8m in length.
The 8m strand folded in half for alternate nodes makes it 5cm spacing between nodes and a length of 4m.

Got you thank you so much!
I really appreciate your help, I will be sure to show you some pics once I’m done

 

[BigRedNole]

How tall is your galvanized pipe holding thias all up? I can only find 10's lengths locally. So for a 13' tee, that would mean a 10' and 5' section screwed in at least. Trying to figure out how to get started and do it the right way.

 

[Mark_M]

How tall is your galvanized pipe holding thias all up? I can only find 10's lengths locally. So for a 13' tee, that would mean a 10' and 5' section screwed in at least. Trying to figure out how to get started and do it the right way.

I have two lengths. The first one is from a netball hoop set someone threw out. The other one is a pole from my old garage door opening. Bolted together.
0:55 in the first video it briefly shows this.

 

[soparaolixo]

Hi Mark_M.
Considering this image, why do you inject power from the right if you are already passing power from the left junction box to the right one?
Also, where do you have your fuses, and what type did you use?
Thank you!
(forgive my poor English...)

 

[Mark_M]

Considering this image, why do you inject power from the right if you are already passing power from the left junction box to the right one?

Each junction box with 5 pigtails draws far more than 5A of current. I needed to use two separate cables for power.
The fuses are in my main controller box.

---

As of last year (2024), I now run my mega tree from a Falcon F16v4. Each junction box now has a single black cable running back to the power supply and F16v4.

 

[soparaolixo]

Thank you so very much for the fast reply and for sharing your knowledge.
I've downloaded your "2,400 Seed Pixel Mega Tree" video in 4K, paused it at 1:05, zoomed in, and I just can't figure out where you have your fuses... Did you use 5A automotive fuses?
I'm going to "copy" your design but at 360º, 5cm spacing, with a total of 60 strings = 4800 pixels. Do you think 4x 350W PSU will suffice?
Forgive so many questions...

 

[Mark_M]

I've downloaded your "2,400 Seed Pixel Mega Tree" video in 4K, paused it at 1:05, zoomed in, and I just can't figure out where you have your fuses... Did you use 5A automotive fuses?

Shh..... the fuses weren't installed when I did that part of the video . I filmed it after just putting the tree together. I was too excited seeing it setup for the first time.
Afterwards I used automotive fuses with a terminal block.

I'm going to "copy" your design but at 360 5cm spacing, with a total of 60 strings = 4800 pixels. Do you think 4x 350W PSU will suffice?

35mA seems to be the max most 5v seed pixels are.
0.035A * 4800 = 168A.
168A * 5v = 840W.
About 3 x 350w PSUs.
Assuming 5v seed pixels.... re-do calculations for 12v.

 

[soparaolixo]

the fuses weren't installed when I did that part of the video

Ahahahahah
I lost tons of hair scratching my head looking for fuses.

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They are 12v seed pixels. The vendor says "0.1W/LED" but hey, this is Aliexpress...

Thank you so much for your patience, once again.
I'll probably bother you again with more questions.

 

[Skymaster]

I'm going to "copy" your design but at 360º, 5cm spacing, with a total of 60 strings = 4800 pixels. Do you think 4x 350W PSU will suffice?

Yes that would be sufficient - and easy enough to implement.
I am running 4650 bullet pixels off 2x 700W HP power supplies for my megatree, and total it draws around 1000W from the 240V side, when on 100% white. I havent measured the explicit current of each strand, but it's 30x 150, with power connected to both the start and end of the string (alternate nodes).

The Server PSUs are another option as they are more efficient on the mains side, having much better PFC, and can often be quite cost effective too, with the right breakout boards.

 

[soparaolixo]

Thank you, Skymaster!