"Smart" RGB LED Pixel Controllers

[USCS31]

hello. I just bought 15 coro stars and 14 coro candy canes. I want to purchase 250 units of square "smart" rgb led pixels (one pixel for each star and coro candy canes will have 16 pixels in each one. WS2801 chipset). my question is what would be a good controller or controllers for all this? I know I would need a power source for all this too but i'm not quite sure as to how much I would need? any advice would be great! thank you!

[Ron Boyd]

Coro Canes: 2 of these: http://www.holidaycoro.com/DMX-to-SPI-Smart-Pixel-Decoder-Controller-p/611.htm or 2 of these: http://diybllc.com/LED-Pixel-String-Controller-5-volt-DIYB-LCPC-01.htm or either one of these: http://sandevices.com/E681info.html

           http://sandevices.com/E6804Info.html

 

J1Sys pixel controllers also, but I have zero experience with those.

 

I would probably go with the Rectangle pixels for either of these projects. You'll need 3 each in the stars (group them in 3s) and of course 16 on the canes. I don't think you'll get as much light output on the single pixels. the rectangle ones light up 3 SMD 5050s at a time. Just my thoughts.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Ron Boyd

[USCS31]

thank you for the info! a great help! will definitely go look right now!

[USCS31]

ok, 2 of these ( http://www.holidaycoro.com/DMX-to-SPI-Smart-Pixel-Decoder-Controller-p/611.htm ) for the coro candy canes! would I need only one for the coro stars? thanks for the help and info!

[gc75067]

holidaycoro has a chat feature on the site. Might be able to catch him online. David is a really nice guy and is usually very helpful

[Tim Fischer]

That little controller will power up to 170 pixels and 45W (I believe, don't quote me on the wattage figure).  So you would need at least two to power 250 pixels.

The Sandevices controller can power up to 2040 pixels so you're good to go there for a long time.  I have 2 of them and they're awesome.