Flickering with RGB Strings

[ryebred]

I have a mega tree set up in my back yard with 24 WS2811 RGB strings and 50 pixels per string. They are being controlled by a J1-Sys ECG-P12X controller and powered by two Ray Wu, 5 volt - 60 amp power supplies. When I run the test pattern on the P12X, everything looks crisp and smooth with no flickering. When I run a sequence through LOR using the E.131 protocol and I get to a part of the sequence where I have a static color on the entire tree, I start to see a couple strings flicker a bit. It appears to be random as all strings flicker at one time or another but not at the same time.

 

I read that a possibility could be the network cable. So I got a nice new Cat 6 cable with some shielding but I am still getting the flickering. If it were a power issue I would expect to see it with the test pattern as well so it has to be something related to either the network or to LOR. I Have the LOR dongle plugged into the USB port but it is not connected to any lights at the moment.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions of things to try or know what could be causing flickering? It seems to be worse on red. Green desn't seem to flicker as bad, neither does blue but all have some noticeable flicker the length of the string.

[BillyT]

How about trying it through nutcracker?

[bob_moody]

If its just flickering on a couple of strings (ie.. not ALL of the strings are flickering...) then I would inspect the connectors going to those strings and verify that there is a good data ground connection.

 

I have had my RGB lights flicker and do some strange things when ground (DATA -) was lifted.

 

Bob

 

[ryebred]

I figured it out!! After much head scratching and mucking with things I lowered the data speed rate in the J1Sys ECG-P12X control panel and the flickering occured a lot less. Then I kept lowering it by 200 Kbps until the flickering was eliminated. I tried all my sequences again and they were much smoother without that flickering and I would occasionally get blue pixel flashes in the middle of quick movements of lights and those artifacts are gone now as well. The J1Sys board recomends 3000 to 4000 on the data rate for WS2811 and I had it set at 3500 but I have found the most stable setting for mine is 2400.

[bob_moody]

Did not know that .. Thank you ..

I have 2 of the P2's and 1 D2.... I've never really played the speed settings ..

 

Bob

[plasmadrive]

Interesting. I have 2 6804s and never had speed issues.. I have a 682 I haven't really used yet and a J1Sys PR12 that I haven't used either.. I guess I better watch out for that..

 

Thanks for posting.

[Max-Paul]

Plasma,

I dont think the OP was saying that the card is the problem, but the actual pixels are what cant take the faster data rate. I suspect that he had to go below the spec speed cause of noise, maybe on the DC power supply.

[bobschm]

Is there a way to set the data rate on a E682? I've got one universe that likes to wink at me.

[plasmadrive]

Plasma,

I dont think the OP was saying that the card is the problem, but the actual pixels are what cant take the faster data rate. I suspect that he had to go below the spec speed cause of noise, maybe on the DC power supply.

Yup.. got that..

 

You think maybe noise on the PS?  I know that caused me a lot of grief on my WS2812B Icicles from a bad DC-DC converter makin noise!  You could be on money with that one Max.

Is there a way to set the data rate on a E682? I've got one universe that likes to wink at me.

Maybe it thinks your cute!  

[ryebred]

Is there a way to set the data rate on a E682? I've got one universe that likes to wink at me.

 

 I am not sure about the E682 but the P12X allows you to set the rates on a per universe basis. I would think that the E682 would have similar functionality.

 

It is possible the issues were due to noise on the power supply. I have also read that the length of the run from your controller to your pixels can affect this as well. I use 5 foot lengths of wire between my controller and power supplies in the center of the tree to the start of the pixel strings. Lastly manufacturing inconsistancies can contribute as well.

[ShellNZ]

Regarding speed its all about distance from controller I have found.  The further away the first pixel on the universe is from controller the slower you need to send data.  My J1 products all range between 1800-3200 depending on where they are on my display.

[bobschm]

There's more. Changing to a shorter cable, different power supply, and different pixel string show that none of those matter. It's always universe 3 flickering. In fact, universe 4 is about ten feet further and it's rock solid. I've got some ideas from Jim at Sandevices to try tonite. I'll post results later.

Maybe it does think I'm cute?!

There's more. Changing to a shorter cable, different power supply, and different pixel string show that none of those matter. It's always universe 3 flickering. In fact, universe 4 is about ten feet further and it's rock solid. I've got some ideas from Jim at Sandevices to try tonite. I'll post results later.

Maybe it does think I'm cute?!

Wow! Even my posts are flickering!

[plasmadrive]

There's more. Changing to a shorter cable, different power supply, and different pixel string show that none of those matter. It's always universe 3 flickering. In fact, universe 4 is about ten feet further and it's rock solid. I've got some ideas from Jim at Sandevices to try tonite. I'll post results later.

Maybe it does think I'm cute?!

There's more. Changing to a shorter cable, different power supply, and different pixel string show that none of those matter. It's always universe 3 flickering. In fact, universe 4 is about ten feet further and it's rock solid. I've got some ideas from Jim at Sandevices to try tonite. I'll post results later.

Maybe it does think I'm cute?!

Wow! Even my posts are flickering!

LOL.. you know its bad when your posts start to flicker.. 

[plasmadrive]

Did you by chance try swaping the #3 and #4 universes out of the controller?  If the problem stays on #3 pixel string when plugged into univ #4, it would most likely not be the controller, if the problem moves then start looking at the controller and/or its setup and functions.

[htmagic]

<SNIP>

Maybe it does think I'm cute?!

Wow! Even my posts are flickering!

Well if your posts are wooden, you'd better check for pirates!

They'll shiver your timbers!  Arrrrgh! 

 

They are noisy as well. I'd check your grounds and make sure no water seeped in your connections...

[bobschm]

They're indoors so it wasn't water. It must have been a flaky connection though. I pulled it all apart, reinserted everything, then ran test patterns. It looked smooth and solid. It's now been running my off-show animation sequence for about an hour with nary a hiccup.

[Jeff Messer]

^{As far as I know the 682 does not have a data speed control. Flicker can be a data issue and then sometime just a simple reboot of the card and computer. I use both 682's and P12r's and p12"s and found each have features you will enjoy and need at one point.}

 

^Jeff

[godman]

I lowered my speed form 3500 to 2400 and the flickering stopped. YEAH!!!! 

[Jeff Messer]

After last year I was only 4 feet away from the string on a p12s and 79 pixels. All white flickered I changed power supply and ports and it did not clear. I changed my cable to the rgb style cable and it cleared. The thermostat type cable is good for power but not good for data.