BundyRoy
Dedicated elf
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,026
I've just read both Eddies and Devo's articles in the PC mag. I will read the rest but thought I'd ask some questions that came to mind before they leave. Article is http://www.planetchristmas.com/Magazine/April2014/#/14/ for those that haven't seen it yet.
Both articles were very good. I have very little understanding of the topic as yet and so I learnt heaps. Struggled with some of the bits about universes/channels and the power/current but I'm not sure how you can explain that in words without learning through trying. I'm just going to list the questions. Was going to ask in chat but thought others might learn if it was answered in the forum.
1) Dumb strip lights. They are either all on or all off and all one colour when on. You can't do a chasing sequence down the strip. Not sure that terminology is right but effectively I mean part of the strip is on and part is off at the same time.
2) The total voltage drop across a series of LED needs to be close to the total voltage input. For example. Say a LED has a voltage drop of 3.2V and I have 240V supply, I would need 75 LED in series (disregard No of channel issues), so 75x3.2=240V. If I only had say 50 LED in series I would need a resistor with a 240-50x3.2=80V drop across it. Did I understand this correctly.
3) Is there any pros/cons of Art-Net vs 1.31. What is the difference. Seem similar to me but not quite sure.
4) In the article it says you can see how a USB dongle becomes uneconomical in large shows. I don't know enough to be able to understand. I think from discussion I've had hear that with a dongle you are limited to one universe. If so I can see how 170 pixels/usb port would be a limiting factor.
5) I gather that the power supply units can be used to power multiple items (eg 2 banks of a controller, power injection) as long as the power consumption of all the things combined is less than 85% of the rated power of the power supply.
6) Whats the trick for isolating +ve power inputs when power injecting. I see you could just disconnect the +ve coming from the upstream lights but then you would have to resolder it back on next time you used it in a non power injection situation. Could become painful to change or do you find you basically need to inject all the time anyway so no hassles.
7) It said that if a pixel blows in a pixel string all the downstream lights stop working. I had a pixel stop working in my pixel strip and all the lights downstream still work. Are they wired differently.
Both articles were very good. I have very little understanding of the topic as yet and so I learnt heaps. Struggled with some of the bits about universes/channels and the power/current but I'm not sure how you can explain that in words without learning through trying. I'm just going to list the questions. Was going to ask in chat but thought others might learn if it was answered in the forum.
1) Dumb strip lights. They are either all on or all off and all one colour when on. You can't do a chasing sequence down the strip. Not sure that terminology is right but effectively I mean part of the strip is on and part is off at the same time.
2) The total voltage drop across a series of LED needs to be close to the total voltage input. For example. Say a LED has a voltage drop of 3.2V and I have 240V supply, I would need 75 LED in series (disregard No of channel issues), so 75x3.2=240V. If I only had say 50 LED in series I would need a resistor with a 240-50x3.2=80V drop across it. Did I understand this correctly.
3) Is there any pros/cons of Art-Net vs 1.31. What is the difference. Seem similar to me but not quite sure.
4) In the article it says you can see how a USB dongle becomes uneconomical in large shows. I don't know enough to be able to understand. I think from discussion I've had hear that with a dongle you are limited to one universe. If so I can see how 170 pixels/usb port would be a limiting factor.
5) I gather that the power supply units can be used to power multiple items (eg 2 banks of a controller, power injection) as long as the power consumption of all the things combined is less than 85% of the rated power of the power supply.
6) Whats the trick for isolating +ve power inputs when power injecting. I see you could just disconnect the +ve coming from the upstream lights but then you would have to resolder it back on next time you used it in a non power injection situation. Could become painful to change or do you find you basically need to inject all the time anyway so no hassles.
7) It said that if a pixel blows in a pixel string all the downstream lights stop working. I had a pixel stop working in my pixel strip and all the lights downstream still work. Are they wired differently.