Understand Panel Controllers

[mccar]

Hello,
Sorry if this is a dumb question.
I have been trying to do some research on P5, P4 and P2.5 Panels.
Is there any reason everyone goes P5 panels?
Can xlights and controllers work with p4 or even p2.5 panels?
Are there any issues with using the small p panels?
Thanks

 

[Skymaster]

Is there any reason everyone goes P5 panels?

Size to cost ratio I guess is the biggest reason. They are also relatively easy to drive and standardised.

Can xlights and controllers work with p4 or even p2.5 panels?

xLights doesnt know what you have at the end. The Colorlight cards get configured and can work with pretty much any panel type. I run P6.67 for example.

Are there any issues with using the small p panels?

Nope. Just might need a bit more fiddling with Colorlight to set it up but ones they are done, it's all good.

 

[djgra79]

I guess the smaller the pitch and the larger overall matrix you want = more power required. My previous tune to sign was indoor P5 and i've replaced them with outdor P5 panels and I have to dial them down as they are much brighter

 

[Notenoughlights]

I went with p5, because it's what was for sale super cheap locally in an already made cabinet form. Would love to go higher definition, if cost wasn't an issue.

 

[Indigogyre]

It's really mostly cost driven. Smaller pixels, higher density more power supplies need along with more receiver cards to drive the panels.

Also, you need to be careful when getting things smaller than P5 due manufacturing differences. Some P4s work fine with Colorlight and some are more trouble and still have not been configured to work.

With any panel, make sure they can provide the Colorlight configuration files to make sure you can drive them properly.

The higher density panels can also come in different panel sizes. P5s are generally 320x160 but the higher density ones can be smaller or half size, so you need to be careful there also.