Fing
Full time elf
what kind/size was your welder? did you use an Al spool gun?
Cheers
Fing
Cheers
Fing
My First MegaTree
- Thread starter fmt1962
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #17
I brought a UniMig 205MTS from Hare & Forbes http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W1785
The CigWeld Transmig 175I would also be an excellent unit.
Did not use a spool gun and had no problems at all with feed etc... awesome bit of gear.
The CigWeld Transmig 175I would also be an excellent unit.
Did not use a spool gun and had no problems at all with feed etc... awesome bit of gear.
- Thread starter
- #18
Just an update on my progress.....
Just finished cutting and welding up the star for the top of the tree this weekend, this took several weeks with all the small angled cuts and welds.
Anyway, it is now on top of the tree, just need to add some paint and I am ready to start putting on the LED strips
When finished it will be mounted on the top of the roof ridge cap seen in the photo above the tree.
Just finished cutting and welding up the star for the top of the tree this weekend, this took several weeks with all the small angled cuts and welds.
Anyway, it is now on top of the tree, just need to add some paint and I am ready to start putting on the LED strips
When finished it will be mounted on the top of the roof ridge cap seen in the photo above the tree.
Fing
Full time elf
That looks really neat and precise, can't wait to see it lit up.
Cheers
Fing
Cheers
Fing
- Thread starter
- #20
It is finally 'lit up'.
I have finally finished attaching all the LED strips and the wiring looms on the base of my first mega tree.
I gave it a first test run tonight and I am really pleased with the results.
https://youtu.be/UNp8AIjvZIs
I have finally finished attaching all the LED strips and the wiring looms on the base of my first mega tree.
I gave it a first test run tonight and I am really pleased with the results.
https://youtu.be/UNp8AIjvZIs
Pircy
Full time elf
That looks awesome!!!!!
killaralights
New elf
That is amazing! What software are using to control the pixels? I am very impressed!
- Thread starter
- #23
I am using Vixen 3, this is my first time using pixels and I am still trying to come to terms with the software.
I have tried LOR and LSP but found them both painful, Vixen 3 just seems to make sense to me. But when I get more elements and start work on my full display, I may try them all again.
I have tried LOR and LSP but found them both painful, Vixen 3 just seems to make sense to me. But when I get more elements and start work on my full display, I may try them all again.
killaralights
New elf
Thanks. Did you wire the strips from the bottom of the tree? I made some meteors and used Vixen as well, but effects like meteor moved from the bottom of the meteors up. I assumed this was because pixel 1 was at the top of my meteors, whereas I think the effect assumed pixel one was at the bottom...if that makes sense
- Thread starter
- #25
I have used 8 x 5 mtr strips, cut in half.
The feed started on the left from the bottom, the strip is cut in the middle at 2.5mtr and a small wire link soldered (and sealed) in. Then the signal travels back down from the top to bottom on the second strip. At the bottom of the second run I then injected additional DC power and the feed then goes up on 3 and back down on 4 and so on.
At the end of string 8 I finished with a final power injection, this was fed from one port of the Pixelite 4 (600 pixels in total, one port will only support 680 pixels).
The whole things was then repeated for the second side for another 8 strips using a second port on the pixelate 4.
I will take some close up photos of the wire links and feeds tomorrow and add to this thread, a couple of close ups might be of interest to some people.
It does not matter if you feed from the top or bottom, in my design the signal is zig/zaging all the way across, I just map the pixels to the controller using Vixen so it knows which way the feed is, each vertical strip was mapped individually and on the downward strips I just checked the "reversed" box and bingo, all done, easy
The feed started on the left from the bottom, the strip is cut in the middle at 2.5mtr and a small wire link soldered (and sealed) in. Then the signal travels back down from the top to bottom on the second strip. At the bottom of the second run I then injected additional DC power and the feed then goes up on 3 and back down on 4 and so on.
At the end of string 8 I finished with a final power injection, this was fed from one port of the Pixelite 4 (600 pixels in total, one port will only support 680 pixels).
The whole things was then repeated for the second side for another 8 strips using a second port on the pixelate 4.
I will take some close up photos of the wire links and feeds tomorrow and add to this thread, a couple of close ups might be of interest to some people.
It does not matter if you feed from the top or bottom, in my design the signal is zig/zaging all the way across, I just map the pixels to the controller using Vixen so it knows which way the feed is, each vertical strip was mapped individually and on the downward strips I just checked the "reversed" box and bingo, all done, easy
brianvernon
New elf
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2014
- Messages
- 21
you make it sound so simple LOL
killaralights
New elf
Thanks for the detailed reply...I must have another look at the reversed checkbox!
- Thread starter
- #28
Here are a couple of photos of the business end of my new tree.
Image 1 shows the top of the tree, the LED strips have a short wire loop going from the top of the first strip to the top of the second and so on as previously noted, so the power and signal travel up on the left and down on the right for each alternate pair of strips.
Image 2 shows the cables on the bottom, the left socket accepts power and data in, the next 3 connectors are power injection points with the data passing through. The last socket on the right also receives one final input of power injection.
The cables are soldered and sealed with clear heat shrink and silicon. The cables appear long but are now cable tied to the frame and very neat. The use of all the sockets allows me to change out a faulty strip pair quickly should it be required during the xmas display, I have made up 1 pair of strips pre wired as spares, so it is only a 5 minute job to completely replace a strip pair if required.
This last photo shows the reversed option I use in Vixen 3 for all the downward strips when they are mapped to the controller.
Image 1 shows the top of the tree, the LED strips have a short wire loop going from the top of the first strip to the top of the second and so on as previously noted, so the power and signal travel up on the left and down on the right for each alternate pair of strips.
Image 2 shows the cables on the bottom, the left socket accepts power and data in, the next 3 connectors are power injection points with the data passing through. The last socket on the right also receives one final input of power injection.
The cables are soldered and sealed with clear heat shrink and silicon. The cables appear long but are now cable tied to the frame and very neat. The use of all the sockets allows me to change out a faulty strip pair quickly should it be required during the xmas display, I have made up 1 pair of strips pre wired as spares, so it is only a 5 minute job to completely replace a strip pair if required.
This last photo shows the reversed option I use in Vixen 3 for all the downward strips when they are mapped to the controller.
- Thread starter
- #29
Finished attaching all the LED strips to the "Star" tree topper, I am very pleased with the result.
I still have to finish the wiring looms, but the hard part is done.
60 pixel/m 5v strip.
Big star 240 LED
Middle star 160 LED
Small start 80 LED
Starburst 245 LED
Also finished my forest of 8 spiral trees, 2 pixel trees done, 6 to go....
[attachimg=1]
I still have to finish the wiring looms, but the hard part is done.
60 pixel/m 5v strip.
Big star 240 LED
Middle star 160 LED
Small start 80 LED
Starburst 245 LED
Also finished my forest of 8 spiral trees, 2 pixel trees done, 6 to go....
[attachimg=1]
