Newbie - First Order Ideas

[Kazza]

Hey All,
I am a first time pixel enthusiast and I was wondering if you could have any comments on the buy list below that I am missing/haven't thought of?
I am just trying to cover all bases as a first order, to ensure that I have enough to play around and see what I like. Some of the quantities may be excessive but its a first pass which I can build on later. Miscellaneous items include cat 6 cable, 12V DC fan, CR1225 Battery, heat shrink, mounting boxes + grommets/waterproof penetrations and mounting gear (any others) which I am hoping to get at Bunnings / Jaycar as required.

Parts List

Controller: Standard White Falcon F16v3 controllers
Link: https://www.pixelcontroller.com/store/index.php?id_product=48&controller=product
Comments: Darylc has some left over that I might be able to take one off his hands.

Lights:
18AWG wire 100pcs/string DC12V square type WS2811 addressable RGB led smart pixel node, with all BLACK wire,IP68 rated
50pcs/set square type DC12V addressable 12mm WS2811 RGB led smart pixel node; BLACK 18AWG)wire,IP68; 0.2m xConnect/13.5mm pigtail
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000827940470.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.9.6b9d33f2d14zA1
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32622651925.html
Comments: What is better, the square type or the bullet type? (I was going to get 5 x 50 and 5 x 100). I was thinking of avoiding the strip lights based on peoples comments around durability/reliability. Some prop sites say they prefer bullets, other say they they can fit both.

Mounting Strip: Plastic mounting strip for 12mm pixel nodes, 50m/roll,1 inch(25mm) hole spacing
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000340164510.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.1.567d45b3RqFFmw
Comments: Where is the best place to buy mounting strips? This is the only type that Ray Wu has, I think it will fit the square type lights above. I know that the lights have a 4" spacing, it just means there will be plenty of cable sitting out the back, is that too much?

Power Supply: LRS-350-12;12V/350W meanwell switch mode led power supply;AC100-240V input;12V/350W output
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32493366099.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.6.4d05552aX58YBL
Comments: I was going to get 2 of them, which based on the 101 guide is slightly underpowered for all 750 lights, so I may need to get more in future.

Plugs: 10pcs/lot xConnect 3 Core BLACK Waterproof pigtail,50cm long each;male and female;xConnect(HC);18AWG wire
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32901737170.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.40.37e47833SLUe5r
Comments: xConnect 3, I preferred the longer females for coming off the controller, the males will end up being spares.

End Cap: 10pcs/lot plastic end cap for the 13.5mm BLACK waterproof pigtail
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1019809775.html
Comments: Just to cover the exposed ends (if any).

Power Tee: 10pcs/lot (3-2-3) xConnect 3 core T type waterproof splitter(the middle is 2core);with 2 core male;BLACK color;for power injection use
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32947628043.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.54.7aea7ceaBlroWI
Comments: I am not sure what my voltage drop is going to be like, so I was planning on being on the safe side to make sure that if I have glitching issues, I can just inject more power when needed.

Null Pixel / Signal Booster: DC12V WS2811 "null" pixels to regenerate the data signal with xConnect 3 core black waterproof pigtails
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32920869031.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.42.7aea7ceaBlroWI
Comments: I read previous threads which suggested that other manufacturers of these pixels would be better quality, these should be okay for a first time user.

Cable: 10pcs/lot BLACK 7.6m(25feet)3 core waterproof extension cable,one end with male,the other end with female,male connector's diameter:13.5mm
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1343250586.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.28.37e47833SLUe5r
Comments: I was considering the cable rolls and terminating myself, but looking at the cost of the pigtails + cable, the pre-terminated sections were only a couple of USD more expensive. I may have excess cable, but it is a lot easier having them pre-terminated. Thoughts?

Pixel Tester: SP501E LED Wifi pixel controller;support Amazon Alexa Smart SPI Voice APP Control for Andriod/iOS DC5-24V;waterproof pigtials
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001299702938.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.10.e8e8392cNk4QKp
Comments: Was trying to get a tester with what looks like xConnext pigtails.

@Snitz87, did you have any thoughts mate?

In terms of light mounting designs, I will work on those for round 2, the idea for now was to get enough to have a decent play and can be built on in future.

Thanks so much for your help guys! You are all legends!

Cheers,
Kieran

 

[Snitz87]

It looks like you have covered the basics, things I forgot when I was 1st ordering is wire, if you are looking at doing power injection I would also look at getting some of the male and female 2 pin pigtails, the tee pieces have the tee piece and 1 pigtail to connect to it, but you won't have another pigtail at the end, this could be fine if you are wiring straight to the PSU but it you want to be able to disconnect it and make like a power lead I would recommend the extra pigtails.

With Bullets over Square nodes it comes down to preference and what you intend to use them for. If I could go back I would probably have liked to use bullets in my snowflakes so they have a flat back on them where the bullets it has the wire coming out the back so they don't sit as nicely against the wall.

What are you planning on using for your enclosure, in Darwin we get alot of rain and the controller is the brains of the show if it gets wet it's done. I use ammo boxes that can be found online from some fun shops, look at my behind the scenes or look at @LawrenceDriveLights videos he has made enclosures that I took inspiration from.

The black pixel mounting strip from Ray Wu is what I used in my display I used a lot like over 200 -250m of it. Don't worry about the extra wire behind you'll find that you will probably do spacing every 2 to 3 holes on the strip. It will be bright enough and you will get more out of your pixels.

2 PSU should be fine for the amount of lights you are planning, I would recommend getting a spare just in case, if one fails one day you can swap it out and your show will be back up and running quickly.

If you want PM me and we can work out a time and I can show you my set up and you can see how it's all put together.

 

[Cranzy]

Bullets vs Square nodes will depend on what you will be using them for. Certain props don't give you the option to use square nodes, for boscoyo candy canes. If you plan to drill holes into conduit, then bullet nodes there as well. I use square nodes for my house houseline as I use chromatrim attached to pvc, this makes it good for it as it doesn't stick out as far back as the bullets would. I also have some snowflakes that attaches to my walls, so I chose the square holes option when ordering those flakes as they sit inside the holes. I would suggest you get some of both and see how you can use them.

Plugs: 10pcs/lot xConnect 3 Core BLACK Waterproof pigtail,50cm long each;male and female;xConnect(HC);18AWG wire
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32901737170.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.40.37e47833SLUe5r
Comments: xConnect 3, I preferred the longer females for coming off the controller, the males will end up being spares.

Looks like these will be for coming from the controller. I would suggest you get 16 so when you build the controller box you have a plug for each port.
Also, rather than 50cm long, go for the 1m option, it won't really affect the price and you can cut it in half, to have your 50cm for the controller box build, but then you have 50cm ends for spare which you can attach to props rather than just a plug. For my megatree I actually got 1.5m cables I cut in half so the controller box for the tree can be in the middle against to pole and all the plugs are long enough to get to each connection around the base.

More end caps

Cable: 10pcs/lot BLACK 7.6m(25feet)3 core waterproof extension cable,one end with male,the other end with female,male connector's diameter:13.5mm
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1343250586.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.28.37e47833SLUe5r
Comments: I was considering the cable rolls and terminating myself, but looking at the cost of the pigtails + cable, the pre-terminated sections were only a couple of USD more expensive. I may have excess cable, but it is a lot easier having them pre-terminated. Thoughts?

Again, not sure your layout plans but I would probably get 16 cables just to cover the full controller. Maybe at 6 x 5M cables.

 

[Pavle]

Good thread and I’m following along as I’ll be going through the same process next year.

already some great bits of advice I’m benefiting from.

The only question I’ve got to add on this topic (rather than starting another thread) is about quantities of pixels. If you’re planning on using 2k in year 1 and growing to 4K in year 2, would you order the full amount up front to capitalise on pricing / shipping or is the discount irrelevant once you exceed a certain number say ~1,000 for example?

 

[Nojoy]

To give you an idea of what bullets look like drilled into pvc, versus using the strips zip tied to pvc:

 

[djgra79]

Good thread and I’m following along as I’ll be going through the same process next year.

already some great bits of advice I’m benefiting from.

The only question I’ve got to add on this topic (rather than starting another thread) is about quantities of pixels. If you’re planning on using 2k in year 1 and growing to 4K in year 2, would you order the full amount up front to capitalise on pricing / shipping or is the discount irrelevant once you exceed a certain number say ~1,000 for example?

If you can afford to buy more do so as it generally saves you money in the long run on postage. However, be wary that if the order total is AUD$1000 or above you will need to pay additional fees/taxes, so may end up cheaper to split up into smaller orders

 

[LawrenceDriveLights]

Good thread and I’m following along as I’ll be going through the same process next year.

already some great bits of advice I’m benefiting from.

The only question I’ve got to add on this topic (rather than starting another thread) is about quantities of pixels. If you’re planning on using 2k in year 1 and growing to 4K in year 2, would you order the full amount up front to capitalise on pricing / shipping or is the discount irrelevant once you exceed a certain number say ~1,000 for example?

As above what @djgra79 said about orders over $1k AUD (inc postage)
You may find some vendors who may offer slower but cheaper shipping options if you are prepared to wait say 6 to 10 weeks for them to arrive compared to say 6 to 14 days for the more expensive air freight. This also depends on quantity ordered etc.

 

[Pavle]

order total is AUD$1000

Generally speaking and from the loose costing I’ve seen floated around, isn’t AUD$1000 of pixels in the vicinity of 5,000 pixels? Obviously, pigtails and any additional connections you order would add to this.

 

[djgra79]

Will all depend on the price/vendor you get them from and the shipping carrier chosen. $1k based on total shipped cost after USD conversion.