Power Injection on 12v WS2811 & SanDevice e682

Hi all,


My first project will be a 20' mega tree w/star on top. Please help me test what I've learned so far.


I'm using:


Tree - 32 strands of WS2811 12v smart pixels. 80 pixels per strand
Star - 1 strand of ws2811 12v smart pixles. 31 pixels
SanDevice e682 controller. The e682 has "16 On-board individually-fused pluggable screw-terminal connectors for connecting up to 16 separate pixel strings or
strips. "


I've read the 101 doc, 12VDC Strings or 5VDC Strings, what is best to use, Understanding Voltage Drop using Pixels and what is Acceptable, And had long conversation in chat


Problem: 12v pixels need to be power injected minimum every 120 pixels.


Option #1 - 3 e682's Use 32 terminals on 2 controllers and run one strand per terminal. 1 controller for the star.


Option #2 - 2 e682's. Use 16 all 16 terminals and 16 strands of 160 pixels up/down the tree. Power inject at the start and end of each strand. Use 1 terminal on 2nd controller for the star.


Option #3 - 1 e682. Use 8 terminals and 8 strands of 320 pixels up/down/up/down the tree. Power inject at the start/middle/end of each strand. Use 1 terminal for the star.


I'd like to use Option #3. Each power connection would be responsible for ~107 pixels. That's well within the 120. That leaves extra terminals if i decide to put some globes on the tree as well.


Have I thought this out correctly?


Thanks,
Steve

 

Thanks Fasteddy. I'm going to mount the controllers right at the base of the tree. Try to keep the run from controller to lights as reasonable short as possible. That will help with the wire.


I'd like to connect the tops of the strands with a disconnect of some kind to make it easier to remove when the time comes. I want to my local electrical supply store, but they are pretty basic, dealing with cars, home and audio/visual. Not much choice in connections. Any recommendations?

 

The "Ray Wu" plugs are what most people are using for most of the joins in pixels. These may or may not be what you are looking for but they are cheap and waterproof. There's links to them in the ACL 101. The come in black or white and 13.5mm and 15mm I think are the 2 sizes.

 

Hi,
If you are buying the lights from ray Wu , you and ask him to connect pigtails to the strands after the number of pixels that you want (for a small bit extra) .
Then u just connect them together and can easily remove. For the lower ends where you power inject (as per Eddy) , buy the T shaped pigtails. Buy them all in one lot with enough extras to ensure that you have the best chance of them all being correctly aligned and wired together.
How do you plan to mount the pixels ?

 

Thanks all.


I swear, someone needs to go to China and help Ray Wu categorize his site and search so it makes sense.


I searched for Pigtail T's and got nuttin'. I searched for Pigtails and didn't see a Tee.


I'm planning on using 1/2" PVC drilled 3" on center to mount the pixels. Working on a "crown" to hang the PVC from and a PVC circle to attach to, at the bottom. Thoughts?


Thanks,
Steve

 

Hi FastEddy,


I found that while following up the injection questions here, but assumed I had to wire the T myself. Sounds like there's one that is already created. Just not sure what to look for in Rays place.


Thanks,
Steve

 

[attachimg=1]hey Steve that's how I built mine except it's only 15ft tall and 50 pixels at 3.25in between each pixel
By the way where are you located?


Scott

 

Thanks Scott. Thats pretty much what I've decided on. Thanks for the image it will help a lot.


I'm in So Cal, USA. Southwest Riverside county. Specifically 9 miles east of Temecula.


Thanks,
steve

 

No Problem Steve if your interested here it is in action, the video is from last year haven't redone them for 2014 yet


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6uf2gHKDQo

 

Scott,

Thanks for sharing the video. Nice job. I like it's clean, crisp. Looking forward to seeing this years and the changes.


Steve

 

A member on another forum noticed an issue with #3. Too many pixels over all for the controller.



San Devices E682 supports 12 Universes of Unicast or 510 X 12 = 6120 Channels which is 2040 pixels.

I need to buy a second e682 as the number of pixels I have 8 strings X 4 strands X 80 pixels + 30 pixel Star = 2590 pixels.

Looks like it's back to option #2. with 2 controllers.

Total 2590 pixels (Tree and star)

Controller 1 - 1920 pixel

Group 1 - 160 pixel (640 pixel)
Connector 1-1 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-2 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-3 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-4 - 160 pixel

Group 2 - 160 pixel (640 pixel)
Connector 2-1 - 160 pixel
Connector 2-2 - 160 pixel
Connector 2-3 - 160 pixel
Connector 2-4 - 160 pixel

Group 3 - 160 pixel (640 pixel)
Connector 3-1 - 160 pixel
Connector 3-2 - 160 pixel
Connector 3-3 - 160 pixel
Connector 3-4 - 160 pixel

Group 4 - Empty
Connector 4-1 -
Connector 4-2 -
Connector 4-3 -
Connector 4-4 -


Controller 2 - 670 pixel

Group 1 - 160 pixel (640 pixel)
Connector 1-1 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-2 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-3 - 160 pixel
Connector 1-4 - 160 pixel

Group 2 - 30 pixel (30 pixels Star)
Connector 2-1 - 30 pixel
Connector 2-2 -
Connector 2-3 -
Connector 2-4 -

Group 3 - Empty
Connector 3-1 -
Connector 3-2 -
Connector 3-3 -
Connector 3-4 -

Group 4 - Empty
Connector 4-1 -
Connector 4-2 -
Connector 4-3 -
Connector 4-4 -

 

How this last config work out for you. I was thinking of doing something similar.