Meteor Lights

chickda

New elf
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
47

Mark_M

Annoying Elf
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
918
Location
Christmas Light world
I bought some meteor tube lights from eBay in 2017. About $13nzd per set of 8 tubes at the time.
In 2019 they all died. The wires on them was bad that the insulation stretched and broke the internal conductors inside. Re-wiring 48 tubes was too much effort.
I have since changed to bullet node icicles hanging in the tree.

My display video:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dos39scqpbw



I saw this video from BigCliveDotCom about the wiring of them, mine seemed to be the same:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCrMn_240Ms


BigClive also has an updated video:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdPyuIehDyE
 

David_AVD

Grandpa Elf
Community project designer
Generous elf
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
4,681
Location
Victoria Point (Brisbane)
I have some of the 5V pixel meteor tubes from Ray Wu. Overall they are ok but I did have some issues with water ingress and condensation.
 

merryoncherry

Senior elf
Joined
Apr 2, 2022
Messages
634
Location
Cherry St., Hudson MA USA
I have some of the 5V pixel meteor tubes from Ray Wu. Overall they are ok but I did have some issues with water ingress and condensation.
Same. I had a 1m, 12V xConnect version from Ray and they got water ingress. (Then again, they did only say IP65...) I put a lot of glue around the top wire where it enters the tube and this fixed it, at least on most of them. So if you try it, I would preemptively goop the top of them, the more the better.
 

TerryK

Retired Elf
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
655
Location
West Central Ohio
I have a fair number of them; 8 boxes. Not sure at the moment if 5 or 12 volt or if 8 or 10 in a box. I didn't get them up this year but I've had them out for 4 seasons I think and so far they are doing rather well. Moisture is a bit of a problem but quite a few of them at this point no longer have the plug in the bottom. I figure hanging the water will either drain out or evaporate.

Only real gripe is no rhyme or reason I can tell on plus/minus on the connector. I have to plug them together by trial and error. From a 3rd party Amazon seller and judging by looks very similar to the BigClive ones above.
 

merryoncherry

Senior elf
Joined
Apr 2, 2022
Messages
634
Location
Cherry St., Hudson MA USA
Moisture is a bit of a problem but quite a few of them at this point no longer have the plug in the bottom. I figure hanging the water will either drain out or evaporate.
I am tempted to drill a hole in the bottom of the tube next year. At least if water gets in, it won't form a beautiful blue-green puddle at the end of the strip.
 

chickda

New elf
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
47
I bought some meteor tube lights from eBay in 2017. About $13nzd per set of 8 tubes at the time.
In 2019 they all died. The wires on them was bad that the insulation stretched and broke the internal conductors inside. Re-wiring 48 tubes was too much effort.
I have since changed to bullet node icicles hanging in the tree.

My display video:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dos39scqpbw



I saw this video from BigCliveDotCom about the wiring of them, mine seemed to be the same:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCrMn_240Ms


BigClive also has an updated video:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdPyuIehDyE

I really like this Clive bloke, never heard of him before but he definitely makes interesting videos. I don't have a strong background in electronics per say but he explains it really well. Thanks for sharing.
 
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