Quick way to hook up and test strings/pixels

[mararunr]

Just sharing in case it might help others...
https://youtu.be/ksVF-hUUKJU


(Always connect ground first and be sure your controller can handle hot-swapping).

 

[i13]

These might help too http://www.aliexpress.com/store/701799/search?SearchText=smart+pixel+controller
Thanks AAH for the link.

With some types of pixels, the first pixel can get damaged by hot swapping.

 

[Bill Ellick]

I bought a couple of the 5V controllers from AliExpress myself a couple years ago to test pixels as I was getting samples of different ones from China to look into them.
These little controllers work really well for testing to me. I did cut the connector off the end and installed three alligator clips instead since the strings I was testing had no connectors on them but it is easy enough to use the mating connector for the string and connect the alligator clips to it if necessary.
I could have 4 strings running at a time off one 5V power supply that I had wired up to the controller and to an AC plug which I would just unplug when changing strings around.


Pretty cheap and easy way to test.

 

[fasteddy]

Im not a big fan of hot swapping Pixels because as I13 suggested, you can damage the 1st pixel in some circumstances and I have witnessed this myself with the 12v 2811 chip in the past

 

[multicast]

Im not a big fan of hot swapping Pixels because as I13 suggested, you can damage the 1st pixel in some circumstances and I have witnessed this myself with the 12v 2811 chip in the past

Check out "parasistic powering".. If you are going to hot-plug it..


GND, then Power, then Any logic connections..

 

[Tonyf1949]

Sorry to sound dumb but what do you mean by hot swapping.

 

[fasteddy]

Sorry to sound dumb but what do you mean by hot swapping.

No such thing as a dumb question here, we learn by asking questions

Hot swapping means connecting and disconnecting the lights from the controller while the power is turned on

 

[Tonyf1949]

Many thanks. I thought as much but is always better to ask.