New Project How-To for 2013

[bob_moody]

After the horrible weather year in 2012, we decided to get started right after the new year, stay focused and plan for a bigger, better display for 2013.

First thing we did this year was to update the under the mega-tree train. Got rid of the old Bachmann Annie and now a GREAT little LGB 2017.. Worlds aparts..

Next came the addition of 8 pixel based HolidayCoro CoroCanes. Already ordered and 90% built. A little delay with Chinese New Year, but the waterproof connectors are on the way...

Anyway .. wanted to share the How-To I'm working on. Its a 2 part series with a lot of pictures and a short video to give you an idea of what they will do...

Take a look the How-To page on our web site and let me know what you think.
Since there are SO many ligthing options, I thought I would post this so that others could see what I did right and ... YES... what I did WRONG... lol ..

http://moodychristmas.weebly.com/hol...rt-series.html

Bob

 

[Santas Helper]

Bob, that's a great idea on those candy (coro) canes. Looks great!!!

[MCas4380]

Not wasting anytime are you?

[bob_moody]

I have a tendency to let things get away from me.

With the display plans and programming involved, I'm probably already behind lol

[wmilkie]

very cool!

[jimswinder]

Hey Bob...

 

I purchased some "waterproof" 4 pin connectors from China last year for my CCR's...found out they were anything but waterproof...

 

hope you do better with yours...

 

here are the ones I got off of eBay:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Kit-4-Pin-Way-Waterproof-Electrical-Wire-Connector-Plug-/350699896274?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item51a757bdd2&vxp=mtr

 

Probably should have got these instead:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15cm-4-Pin-Waterproof-Connector-for-LED-Strips-Pixels-Male-Female-Cable-Pair-USA-/160814947464?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2571515c88

[djr]

Or these

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/White-19mm-4-x-0-5-mm2-Male-Female-LED-Strip-Lights-4-Pin-Waterproof-Connector/637244498.html

[bob_moody]

As for waterproof, I can only hope...BUT .. it has to be better than RJ45's in the open....

Although.. I will say that my 8 RGB North Poles from last year had DMX and power being fed to them via RJ45's and 3-way splitters and they never missed a beat...

 

I'll post when they get here and I can see how they perform...

 

Thanks for all the comments.

 

Bob

[PMC]

for me the best water proofing in the world is Duct Seal, I use that stuff for my RF connectors and any other weather sensitive connections from RG-59 to Cat5 connectors and electrical, and since it is waterproof and won't degrade in the weather I have used this stuff on a RF connector that was installed on a 800 ft radio tower and 18 years later I had that antenna removed and the duct seal peeled right off and the connector underneath looked as new as the day it was put on the tower

 

And on my light show, I use it on electrical connectors so no water gets through and freezes, covering my cat5 connectors, sealing up all open areas where water is a problem, and as cheap as it is its disposable, but you can reuse it if its just seasonal, but if its been in the weather for over 5 years then it gets hard to manage

 

Another great purpose is to seal around the spot light bulbs, no water gets into the base

Edited February 20, 2013 by PMC

[smeighan]

All of these should work.

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Kit-4-Pin-Way-Waterproof-Electrical-Wire-Connector-Plug-/350699896274?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item51a757bdd2&vxp=mtr

$4.95/pair

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15cm-4-Pin-Waterproof-Connector-for-LED-Strips-Pixels-Male-Female-Cable-Pair-USA-/160814947464?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2571515c88

$2.95/pair

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/White-19mm-4-x-0-5-mm2-Male-Female-LED-Strip-Lights-4-Pin-Waterproof-Connector/637244498.html

$1.47/pair

 

 

 

 

I used these 4 pair connectors from Ray Wu

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/50-pairs-4-Core-White-Waterproof-Line-15cm-long-each-male-and-female/323485474.html

$0.70/pair

Now if you include shipping the price jumps to $1.35/pair, if that is all you are ordering from Ray. The first 3 links had free shipping. Since i ordered the connectors when i was ordering my pixels, the shipping cost came way down and i paid $0.80/pair.

 

They worked fine. I had about a dozen connections using them.

 

thanks

sean

[Shubb]

I used about 20 pairs of the same connectors as Sean from Ray and had no water problems.

Although, we don't get the same amount of rain as others do so that might not say to much.

 

Scott

[bob_moody]

I have made 2 or 3 orders for AliExpress but have yet to order from Ray Wu.

I dont quite have a handle on shipping expenses with Ray. While the prices always look good, the shipping is a killer. Now, with that said, since I havent ordered anything from him, I dont know what he does on shipping vs. what it looks like on the web... I really havent had a large enough order.

 

So most of the time, I shop and search and search and shop and I find what i'm looking for, from a vendor with good feed back and usually free shipping.. No complaints .... yet ..

 

For example, here are the connectors I bought.

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-Waterproof-4Pin-Female-Male-Connector-Cable-5050-3528-RGB-Led-Strip-Black/651269648.html

 

I bought 4 sets for 9.99ea (each set is 10 pairs) and free shipping... buck a piece..

 

Bob

[jimswinder]

All of these should work.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Kit-4-Pin-Way-Waterproof-Electrical-Wire-Connector-Plug-/350699896274?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item51a757bdd2&vxp=mtr

$4.95/pair

 

 

These are the ones I bought,,,and even though I did not get that much rain last year, they already shows signs of corrosion after just one season...

Edited February 20, 2013 by jimswinder

[Santas Helper]

I dont quite have a handle on shipping expenses with Ray. While the prices always look good, the shipping is a killer.

 

Bob

Bob, I'm the same way with Ray. I just can't take the high shipping charge compared to others.

Not knockin his products, just that high shipping price.

[Shubb]

Have you guys emailed Ray with your order?

He will correct the shipping charges from the online store and send you amount.

Mine has always been much cheaper than the cart calculated.

[Santas Helper]

Have you guys emailed Ray with your order?

He will correct the shipping charges from the online store and send you amount.

Mine has always been much cheaper than the cart calculated.

Now you see, nobody should have to do that.

How is the shipping price different than listed? I mean why not just list the correct shipping price to begin with?

I won't place an order "thinking" the shipping price will be lower. I mean who does that?

[MCas4380]

Now you see, nobody should have to do that.

How is the shipping price different than listed? I mean why not just list the correct shipping price to begin with?

I won't place an order "thinking" the shipping price will be lower. I mean who does that?

I had the same concerns, but from the people that i have talked to about this. If you Email Ray before placing your order with a speedsheet of the items you want with links and desriptions he is able to combine shipping. which is why it's cheaper. just like buying items from the same seller on Ebay if you ask they may combine the items in to a single box bringing the shipping cost down. He has been know to give better deal for larger orders if possable. I also know that he will have custum wire lenghts if you have a certain style if light with a certain spacing. Also Alliedexpress Doesn't do PaypAL anymore but Ray will still takes it if you let him know that's how you want to pay for it. 

[Shubb]

Now you see, nobody should have to do that.

How is the shipping price different than listed? I mean why not just list the correct shipping price to begin with?

I won't place an order "thinking" the shipping price will be lower. I mean who does that?

To simplify the answer he will combine shipping.  The shopping cart will adjust shipping for multiple quantities, but not for different items.  Even though they will fit in the same box.

 

I have learned it is always best to email him the list and quantities you want, with a link to the actual item, and confirm availability.

He will email you back with pricing and shipping times.

That way there is less chance of a wrong item or a delay due to one item being out of stock.

[Santas Helper]

I had the same concerns, but from the people that i have talked to about this. If you Email Ray before placing your order with a speedsheet of the items you want with links and desriptions he is able to combine shipping. which is why it's cheaper. just like buying items from the same seller on Ebay if you ask they may combine the items in to a single box bringing the shipping cost down. He has been know to give better deal for larger orders if possable. I also know that he will have custum wire lenghts if you have a certain style if light with a certain spacing. Also Alliedexpress Doesn't do PaypAL anymore but Ray will still takes it if you let him know that's how you want to pay for it. 

 

 

To simplify the answer he will combine shipping.  The shopping cart will adjust shipping for multiple quantities, but not for different items.  Even though they will fit in the same box.

 

I have learned it is always best to email him the list and quantities you want, with a link to the actual item, and confirm availability.

He will email you back with pricing and shipping times.

That way there is less chance of a wrong item or a delay due to one item being out of stock.

I can understand a discount for LARGE orders but alot of us are just getting into the new RGB stuff and other things/devices so purchasing 1 item is common to do tests without going out on a limb with something new to us.

I still can't wrap my head around the shipping price for one item when other similar items from the same location/area has at least half the cost of shipping (if not more than half), which makes a big difference when experiementing with something new IMHO.

[bob_moody]

I did just add another how to.

This one is on building my DMX bridge and pixel controller boxes.

While specifically a "How To", its more of how my mind put it together.

However, all testing up until now has been very promising.

Its in the same section with the pixel candy canes.

Bob