KeysNole Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Looks like we are making the jump to pixels on our mega tree for 2018. Trying to emulate uncledan's tree at approx 100-110 pixels per strand, and approx 32-36 strands for a 270 degree tree. Brian at HLE is saying that his 16 output controller with 700 watts won't power a tree like that. HC claims the Alphapix 16 can do it (we have an Alphapix running our 16 ribbon tree and like it). The run from controller to pixel string will be a several feet at most. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Laff Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Look at Falcon controllers you can have 32 ports and with power distribution boards they sell it would be easy to do . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncledan Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I wouldn't recommend how I did mine.. Caused me some issues when a pixel died. I used 6 outputs on a F16v3 with 880 pixels each output last year for mine. I think a better alternative and my plan for this year is a F16v3 with two expansions. This will give me 48 outputs of 110 pixels. I run 40% intensity on my tree which will be less than the 180amps the F16v3 and two expansions is rated for. Even on white which is never used. As far as powering it I have 3 Meanwell RSP3000-12 running in parallel which powers the tree and approximately 5,000 more pixels in close proximity to it. 9000w 600 amp 12v power supply basically Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caniac Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 also remember if you reduce the intensity to 50% you can power up to 170 pixels per output with no power injection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 On 2/4/2018 at 8:04 AM, caniac said: also remember if you reduce the intensity to 50% you can power up to 170 pixels per output with no power injection. I power 170 pixels at 100% on many different props without any power injection. In fact I just built the Boscoyo spider web with 324 pixels and no power injection all off of one port. If you use the right wire and no how to wire it properly it's not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince4xmas Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Distance from the controller/ps to the prop is the key. Ebuechner.......how close is your controller/power supply to your 324 pixel prop? What gauge wire are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 3 hours ago, Ebuechner said: In fact I just built the Boscoyo spider web with 324 pixels and no power injection all off of one port. That is failing my sanity check. 324 pixels at full white would be almost 20 amps. No way either a single output from any pixel controller can drive 20 amps, and even if it could, the wire of a pixel string could not handle it. That or you are massively restricting what you can do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncledan Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 42 minutes ago, k6ccc said: That is failing my sanity check. 324 pixels at full white would be almost 20 amps. No way either a single output from any pixel controller can drive 20 amps, and even if it could, the wire of a pixel string could not handle it. That or you are massively restricting what you can do with it. I've powered 300+ pixels off a board at 10% intensity. Just for testing. No way are you doing that at 100% intensity. That would be about 15 amps and blow a fuse on any pixel controller I know of. That is failing my sanity check as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, k6ccc said: That is failing my sanity check. 324 pixels at full white would be almost 20 amps. No way either a single output from any pixel controller can drive 20 amps, and even if it could, the wire of a pixel string could not handle it. That or you are massively restricting what you can do with it. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Io9szn7nrbwnbtcgjQT63KU4ttGhL41F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 26 minutes ago, Ebuechner said: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Io9szn7nrbwnbtcgjQT63KU4ttGhL41F Permission denied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry72 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 4 hours ago, k6ccc said: That is failing my sanity check. 324 pixels at full white would be almost 20 amps. No way either a single output from any pixel controller can drive 20 amps, and even if it could, the wire of a pixel string could not handle it. That or you are massively restricting what you can do with it. I could see running the power directly from the power supply with an inline 20 amp fuse, but the wire would need to be 12 gauge, however , no way does the power run from pixel 1 to pixe 324 and stay anywhere near white. Last year, i ran 300 dumb nodes off one SSR, no power injection, at 75%, on all white, the last 100 nodes were way off white, almost pink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 8 hours ago, k6ccc said: Permission denied. Fixed. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Io9szn7nrbwnbtcgjQT63KU4ttGhL41F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 And how much are you restricting the outputs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibblejr Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 4 hours ago, Ebuechner said: Fixed. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Io9szn7nrbwnbtcgjQT63KU4ttGhL41F Love it, is there a vis for that webb yet? I have BB's huge webb but these will go in my windows. They will be my new addition to 2018 Halloween, not that I needed anything but always adding. What controller is that? I have to venture away from pixies this year. What I have now is what I will use but need more control that the pixies do not support. "dimming" to be one of them. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 8 minutes ago, dibblejr said: Love it, is there a vis for that webb yet? I have BB's huge webb but these will go in my windows. They will be my new addition to 2018 Halloween, not that I needed anything but always adding. What controller is that? I have to venture away from pixies this year. What I have now is what I will use but need more control that the pixies do not support. "dimming" to be one of them. JR Falcon controller with four 400 watt power supplies. I'm not sure about the visualizer but in xlights it will automatically download the model and all submodels right from the manufacturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 23 minutes ago, k6ccc said: And how much are you restricting the outputs? I have the web running at 50%. I intended on doing that right from the beginning otherwise with the pixel density it may overpower the spiders that I'm putting next to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibblejr Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 29 minutes ago, Ebuechner said: Falcon controller with four 400 watt power supplies. I'm not sure about the visualizer but in xlights it will automatically download the model and all submodels right from the manufacturer. Thanks, I was going to start pixels with the F3 however it sounded too complicated for starts. The F3 still sounds complicated but I may pull the trigger on one for learning and testing. Thoughts. JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caniac Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, dibblejr said: Thanks, I was going to start pixels with the F3 however it sounded too complicated for starts. The F3 still sounds complicated but I may pull the trigger on one for learning and testing. Thoughts. JR Setup is easy, once you set the IP address then you can config everything else from your browser. I bought a Falcon V2 from Mark at the OKC mini last year and it's been one of the best purchases I have made. The big thing about the Falcon V3 is all the pixels it can push and the number of expansion boards you can add (plus you can go LOR dongle free with a cable from HC). Fully loaded it can support 48 outputs on one controller with each output supporting up to 1,024 pixels. That's a lot of blinky flashy. I may be wrong but I think the Falcon V3 also has built in wifi. Edited February 8, 2018 by caniac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 15 minutes ago, caniac said: Setup is easy, once you set the IP address then you can config everything else from your browser. I bought a Falcon V2 from Mark at the OKC mini last year and it's been one of the best purchases I have made. The big thing about the Falcon V3 is all the pixels it can push and the number of expansion boards you can add (plus you can go LOR dongle free with a cable from HC). Fully loaded it can support 48 outputs on one controller with each output supporting up to 1,024 pixels. That's a lot of blinky flashy. I may be wrong but I think the Falcon V3 also has built in wifi. Yes it has WiFi that is for the future firmware update where it can work as a standalone player or be run as a slave with a Raspberry Pi as the master or Xschedule. The V3 has an SD card slot as well as the USB port to output sound. Edited February 8, 2018 by Ebuechner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 27 minutes ago, dibblejr said: Thanks, I was going to start pixels with the F3 however it sounded too complicated for starts. The F3 still sounds complicated but I may pull the trigger on one for learning and testing. Thoughts. JR The Falcon controller is far from complicated and has the most features and expandability for the price on the market today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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