DMX 5VDC vs 12VDC

[Ralph A]

I'm thinking of using 5vcd dumb pixels for my lawn grid. I've found a good source on the power supplies and the lights. http://www.diyledexpress.com/ but it seems like most of the controllers are 12vdc, such as holiday coro and others.

I do not really want to build my controllers. Can anyone please direct me towards a decent 5vdc controller. Looks like I will need approximately 72 channels of control.

Thanks Ralph

[Dave H1]

Ralph,

If you check the end of the specification sheet, it lists the voltages available. Note - 5v is only rated to 30w. You just need to specify when ordering. The last time I heard from Ray, he will accept a mixture of voltage ranges when ordering.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DMX-512-Module-decoder-DC12V-input/701799_307297826.html

[k6ccc]

From everything I have seen, the major difference between 5V and 12V LEDs is that the 5V pixels are a single RGB LED and the 12V configuration is 3 LEDS in series. Like so many things in life, there are advantages and disadvantages of each. If you are trying to do a matrix of single light sources, then 5 volt would have the advantage that each individual pixel is addressable whereas 12V pixels would result in 3 light sources for each addressable pixel. For the same amount of power, the current draw is 2 1/5 times higher with 5V pixels so wiring size needs to be larger and voltage drops looked at far more carefully. In your original message, you said you were going to use dumb pixels. For that purpose, there is essentially no advantage to 5V devices. Different story if you are using smart pixels. My Pixel tree is using 5V RGB pixels.

[Guest wbottomley]

Before a lot of misinformation gets out there... this will help clear up 5V vs. 12V pixels.

[pixeldigger]

I used controllers similar to those with 5V dumb RGB strings using an old PC power supply. I ran the 12V and ground tothe controller, and connected the 5V to the string (and taped off the 12V output from the controller) since they use the same ground, and the controllers switch the ground ( - ) side this worked great.

[Jeff Messer]

Digger,

I see you are located right next door. I am in Pensacola and will get into the pixels stuff this year. I may ask for some help if you have time.

Jeff

[Ralph A]

Ralph,

If you check the end of the specification sheet, it lists the voltages available. Note - 5v is only rated to 30w. You just need to specify when ordering. The last time I heard from Ray, he will accept a mixture of voltage ranges when ordering.

http://www.aliexpres..._307297826.html

Thanks Dave. I will be ordering these light from DIY Express http://www.diyledexpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=65

I've talked to several people that have ordered them from last year ahd they are very happy with the quality and the shipping is much lower tha Ray's. However it this fails Ray would be my seconed choice. Thanks for that advice I did not know that!!!

[Ralph A]

Hey k6ccc, In my first post on this I wanted to use 5050 dumb LED 5m strips from DIY LED Express. They were 12vdc. Since that post after reading and talking to many of you that have used this stuff. I have decided to use LED dumb strings (pixels) .

http://www.diyledexpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=65

They will be much easier to work with and since I will no longer be making long runs, I believe these will be better in the long run. It's just that I have not yet seen as many 5vdc controllers as I have 12vdc controllers.

I see several advantages to 5vdc as long as I can find an affordable dumb controller. Thanks you for your help.

Hello pixeldiger. What was that. Come again??

[Scott Cockroft]

There are 5volt controllers in the same pre-sale. http://www.diyledexp...products_id=186

Edited January 3, 2013 by Scott Cockroft

[Aaron Maue]

There are 5volt controllers in the same pre-sale. http://www.diyledexp...products_id=186

Use of this controller would require some sort of DMX dongle from the PC, right?

[harrison0550]

Yes, there are several options on the market.

http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products∏=70304&show=description

or

http://www.enttec.co...how=description

or

http://www.diyledexp...products_id=157

or

http://shop.martinxm...p?id_product=46

or

http://www.j1sys.com/ecg-d4/

or

http://www.j1sys.com/ecg-d2/

You will also need a way to address those little controllers because they dont have dip switches. Look here............

http://www.holidayco...duct-p/54-2.htm

or

http://www.holidayco...-p/54-hw-v1.htm

K6ccc, that post has a couple of inaccuracies in it. 5v or 12v makes no difference on whether they are grouped into series of 3. They come in both configurations on both voltages that is only dependent on how they were manufactured and has nothing to do with 5v or 12v. You are right on voltage drop though. The 5v pixels or dumb rgb products are more efficient in how they use the power than their 12v counterparts. For more details on that check out Williams link above.

The ops original question was on dumb rgb control though, Dave and Scott hit the nail on the head there. State side diyledexpress has the 5v controllers in their presale and over seas ray wu has them as well but be sure to specify what output you need i.e. 5v or 12v when you order from Ray.

And dont forget the DMX Module Address Programmer Cable+Software or you will have a whole stack of controllers all assigned to channels 1,2,3.

Hope that clears some things up and helps out.

Good Luck!

Edited January 3, 2013 by harrison0550

[pixeldigger]

Hello pixeldiger. What was that. Come again??

I used a converted PC power supply. +12V is yellow wires, +5V is red wires, Ground is black wires.

attached is a picture.

connect 12V to the module, connect 5V to the string the ground is made through the module, that switches the ground legs. the white or yellow wire on the output side of the module just passes the +12V through. I cut it off and tape it up.

[MCas4380]

Great Info thanks

[Ralph A]

Andy, William, thanks again for your advice and input. What makes this complected in the beginning is all the different ways on can reach the same objective. I tend to ask many questions based on what I read, so I can avoid costly mistakes. You help is greatly appreciated!!!

Scott, Thanks for pointing out the controller on DIY EXP. I did see that but since I will need 24 of those for each grop of squares I wanted to try and get a more centralized (cleaner) approach if possible. This one fro Ray http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Easy-DMX-LED-controller-dmx-decoder-driver/701799_378111925.html

is 27 channels. I would need three of them @ $153.65 not to bad the some weather proof boxes. If I went with the individuals controllers that would be $190. plus shipping, also not to bad

The only problem I foresee whit the 27 channel controller is it is listed from 7vdc to 24vdc. So if I did what pixeldigger suggested It would work!

I used a converted PC power supply. +12V is yellow wires, +5V is red wires, Ground is black wires.

attached is a picture.

connect 12V to the module, connect 5V to the string the ground is made through the module, that switches the ground legs. the white or yellow wire on the output side of the module just passes the +12V through. I cut it off and tape it up.

OK I see what your saying. A picture is worth a thousand post. Thanks for the help!!

[pixeldigger]

You need to make sure on the 27 channel controller. This only works if the module switches the ground.

[Ralph A]

You need to make sure on the 27 channel controller. This only works if the module switches the ground.

Outstanding point. Thanks for pointing that out. I would have missed that. I've been reading and studying the above links and you just saved me a lot of grief!!!