What should I specify in a RayWu order - i.e. all wired the same

[melrob]

Hi,

We have decided the do the outline of the house in RGB this year and we have received our quote back from Ray Wu.

Even though we can solder, to save on time, we have asked Ray to put on the male and female ends to the RGB strips (see below for quote details)

However I did notice when I was trawling the forums that people said to ask specific things if getting Ray to do up the wiring, however I didn't note these down and now cannot find them (of course!).

Some suggestions I think were:

• Make sure you specify which end (male/female) has the data input/output (I don't quite get this as doesn't it depend on how you set it up in the software?).
  Make sure you specify the watts/amps/voltage the strip runs at.
  Making sure all the strips are wired up the same way?
  

Is there any other suggestions to the above?

Here is what we have ordered:

8 x 5 metre lengths - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/5m-led-digital-strip-DC12V-input-WS2811IC-256-scale-10pcs-IC-and-30pcs-5050-SMD-RGB/701799_568458133.html - with 3core 20cm long waterproof pigtails at both end - $17.50USD each

10 x 2 metre lengths of the same WS2811 strip as above with 3core 20cm long waterproof pigtails at both end $7.50USD each


2 x lots (20 pieces) of 3 core T type waterproof splitter - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/3-core-T-type-waterproof-splitter-BLACK-color-the-male-connect-s-diameter-13-5mm/701799_1019809897.html - $0.50USD each


4 x Null pixels http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DC12V-WS2811-null-pixels-to-regenerate-the-data-signal-with-13-5mm-3-core-black-waterproof/701799_32279633328.html - $1.00USD each

3 x 12V/350W switch mode power supply,LED power driver,AC90-260V input,DC12V/350W output - http://www.aliexpress.com/item/12V-350W-switch-mode-power-supply-LED-power-driver-AC90-260V-input-DC12V-350W-output-constant/1948832565.html - $19.00USD each


1 x Lot (500 pieces) Silicon end cap - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Silicon-end-cap-8mm-10mm-12mm-optional/701799_459153462.html - I think we would need 10mm to match the WS2811 strips - $18.00USD

3 x lots (30 pieces) of plastic end cap for the 13.5mm BLACK waterproof pigtail - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/plastic-end-cap-for-the-13-5mm-BLACK-waterproof-pigtail/701799_1019809775.html - $0.05USD


Just so you know, we are going with the pixlite 16 to control these and use LOR software.

Any help before I press the send button would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MikeKrebs]

I can't help with much but I think I can explain the specify wiring part.

Smart pixel strings are one way devices (there is sometimes a arrow to show direction) so there is a input (front - pixel 1) and output (back - pixel 50 or whatever). Most people wire male on input and female on output. You do want to get that right and consistent.

 

[ryanschristmaslights]

Hiya melrob,

I usually am pretty specific with the instructions for the pigtail connectors and this has worked for me so far. For example this is what I have instructed in my current order for some dumb strips (3-channel RGB and not pixels):

Wiring spec for​ 4-core connectors on 5050(no IC) RGB strip:

1 male white 20cm pigtail on input, 1 female white 20cm pigtail on output. ->male->strip->female-> (arrow points away from power source)

BROWN wire = red led
GREEN wire = green led
BLUE wire = blue led
BLACK wire = +V (common)

Of course, being this specific requires knowing the colours of the individual wire cores (and they may change in the future). Additionally, after the first time of getting the strip with connectors attached correctly I took a photo of it so that I can show ray in the future if needing more connectors attached to the same type of strip in the same way. The photo also identifies which 'pin' relates to which wire colour at that point in time.



MikeKrebs makes a good point. Whatever wiring order you choose you do want consistency. If you make another order in the future you would want the wiring to be the same as this order (unless you like the challenge ). I would recommend saving somewhere (in a document perhaps?) what pin on the connector and associated wire colour is for what purpose - V+? GND? Data? This will give you something to refer to both when wiring up a controller and ordering additional pixels in the future (but keep in mind wire colours may change for whatever reason the next time you order). If the wiring into a strip is a different order to how the connected, for dumb strips there's not a big problem other than that the dumb strip won't light up properly ... but when it comes to pixel strips (WS2811, etc) things can go pop with a mismatched wiring order (e.g. sending 5v/12v (+V) down the data line)!

 

[i13]

It was probably me who said to specify a current they run at. That is only relevant to 12V strings (not strips); I haven't heard of a case of anyone's strips drawing too much current.

This is also a good addition to the order for testing purposes
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/701799/search?SearchText=smart+pixel+controller

You can ask Ray for less than 500 end caps if you don't want that many; he's sent me WAY less. I think the minimum order quantity is just there in case you only want to order 5 end caps and no other items. Ask for ones that fit your strips because the strip width surprisingly isn't always the same.

You essentially want the wiring of the pigtails to be consistent so you can plug everything in without the data, positive or negative wires getting swapped. The pigtails and strips themselves have three coloured wires which aren't the same so you have to decide which pigtail wire corresponds to which strip wire.

Remember to be sure that your pigtail end caps fit the pigtails because you can get different sizes.

 

[melrob]

Thank so much for your help. Just waiting for wiring colours to come back, then i'll specify how I want them made up.

Can't wait!

 

[jerrymac]

I've found it is best to include a drawing when ordering. Although there English is OK some gets lost in the translation.