Pigtails

cdallen

New elf
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
18
pigtails... how long are your pigtails typically? after watching a few videos here and there i'm guessing those of you with sizable displays have psu's/controllers etc at various spots around the display but i want to keep all the power and controllers somewhat centralised but that would mean pigtails of potentially a couple of metres (picture top story balcony to roof outline) which, doesn't sound right. do you have custom length pigtails or am I missing something?
 

OzAz

Senior elf
Global moderator
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
997
Location
Newcastle
pigtail length whatever supplier sells, then make or buy extension cables for distance required.
 

ryanschristmaslights

Senior elf
Administrator
Joined
Jun 30, 2010
Messages
951
Location
Adelaide, Australia
I have a mix of I think 20cm (standard) and 40cm (custom) pigtails - sometimes the 20cm isn't long enough to reach outside of my enclosures. For cable runs any longer then that, then I just connect a Ray Wu premade 1.5m/3.0m extension lead with matching connectors to the pigtail.

PS: These two items (pigtails & matching extensions) will be detailed in page 45 of a forthcoming update to the AusChristmasLighting 101 manual (oops did I say that? Stay tuned. :) )
 

darylc

404 darylc not found
Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
1,146
Sometimes I order the extension leads and cut them in half if I want a loooong pigtail
 

Roosta

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 8, 2015
Messages
202
Big mixture here... my first year i bought 20cm ones.... only buy the 50cm ones now.... found the 20cm ones just a smidgen too short, and easier to use the 50cm ones..

I tend to not use 'extension leads' but instead hard wire the element with a long bit of flex with a pigtail on the end...

However keep in mind that a centralised setup does require some thinking on your power and data out to the field runs...

My experiments have netted results of about 10m max of sending data down a 1.5mm flexible cable, but over 30m using cat5....
Generally i can get 7m between elements with flex if the voltage is good.., otherwise have to whack in a null pixel..

All my power and data is central, and spreads over a reasonable display.. check out my thread for lots of details..
 

tooms

12v4life
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
208
Location
Kalgoorlie
i want to keep all the power and controllers somewhat centralised

I did this, but coming out of controllers everything goes to a short pig tail first, then extension "lead" out to the prop. Main reasons being;

* What's planned out in the beginning of the season generally gets shuffled around, it's handy to be able to disconnect props and connect them to a different port because you want to move them to a different controller or you need to troubleshoot things

* I like to tinker around with the enclosures and what not during the year, having the short pig tails hanging out of the controller enclosure makes it easy to store and move it around if needed
 

cdallen

New elf
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
18
cool.. extension leads are a thing. Have found them on the Ray Wu...

perfect. thanks for the guidance
 

scamper

Dedicated elf
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
1,225
Location
collie
I did this, but coming out of controllers everything goes to a short pig tail first, then extension "lead" out to the prop. Main reasons being;

* What's planned out in the beginning of the season generally gets shuffled around, it's handy to be able to disconnect props and connect them to a different port because you want to move them to a different controller or you need to troubleshoot things

* I like to tinker around with the enclosures and what not during the year, having the short pig tails hanging out of the controller enclosure makes it easy to store and move it around if needed
I am the same especially the yard items. I tend to change it up year on year. so I made all of my props with pigtails and all are the same wiring, then just change the extension lead to whatever length I need.
 
This thread is very old. An answer might not be needed anymore.
Top