E682

[Steelers95]

Planning on getting the sandevices e682 controller but I have a couple of questions that I havent been able to find the answer to.

 

1) what kind of power supply do I need,thinking about using one from an old computer---will that work?

 

2) Want to use the ws2811 pixels through seasonal entertainment but those pixels have a 3-pin jst connector--- can I just cut that off and attach a pig tail?

 

3) what pigtails should I use--- will any work?

 

Thanks for any input that anyone can give me

[DSMJuggalo]

1. I used a computer power supply all last season with my 682 and about 500 pixels and didn't have 1 issue at all.

2. Yes

3. I get all my pigtails from diyledexpress.com. Todd has great customer service and products.

Edited May 28, 2014 by DSMJuggalo

[sax]

So cutting and soldering new ends is easy enough. You can of course use any pigtail you wish but by using the 4 pin type you allow more versatility later. I like having only 1 type of RGB cable in the yard that is interchangeable. The below referenced page shows the common pin layout used. This is especially nice for sharing extension cables.

For $23 the below referenced power supply is compact and more reliable than a PC supply IMHO.

Assuming 12v pixels, If you are wanting plug and play, here are some pixels that are ready to go. Includes both pigtails:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/100pcs-DC12V-input-IP68-WS2811-LED-pixel-light-all-black-wire-input-end-with-2m-long/701799_1603691720.html

Power supply that I am using (again assuming you want a 12v pixel setup):

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/400W-switch-mode-power-supply-size-215-115-50mm-led-driver-led-power-supply/701799_584050961.html

Contact Ray for cheaper prices on shipping. He always upgrades to fedex for cheaper than Ali lists standard shipping but I find DHL to actually be faster and so I request that.

These are the pixels sans devices worked with Ray on to allow a plug and play experience for sans devices cards as mentioned on their web page. You can order the components separate and save a few pennies but this set comes soldered and ready to go.

If you don't trust china then these 4 pin plugs are available at several sites including holiday coro and creative lighting displays. Seasonal probably sells them too. Same for a similar power supply. I show a 400 watt but the 350 watt version is sold more commonly. The 400 watt version is the same physical size. But for a pin layout, check out the link for the pixels above....red is power, green is data and black is ground. Blue is clock but not used on 2811 pixels.

[jerrymac]

If you go the computer power supply route Seasonal Entertainment has a great breakout board that works great so you don't have to cut off the plugs  and has the additional feature of an on and off switch.  DIY LED express also has a board somewhat like the one from Seasonal Entertainment.  BEST way to go if you use computer power!

[Ron Boyd]

Planning on getting the sandevices e682 controller but I have a couple of questions that I havent been able to find the answer to.

 

1) what kind of power supply do I need,thinking about using one from an old computer---will that work? Match the power supply voltage to the pixel voltage is the main thing to remember here. Don't hook up 5v pixels to a 12v power supply

 

2) Want to use the ws2811 pixels through seasonal entertainment but those pixels have a 3-pin jst connector--- can I just cut that off and attach a pig tail? No problem here. I just use the JST connectors myself.

 

3) what pigtails should I use--- will any work? Make sure and do a continuity test to make sure all pins and wires match up. This took me a week or so to find this culprit last year.

 

Thanks for any input that anyone can give me

 

Assuming 12v pixels, If you are wanting plug and play, here are some pixels that are ready to go. Includes both pigtails:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/100pcs-DC12V-input-IP68-WS2811-LED-pixel-light-all-black-wire-input-end-with-2m-long/701799_1603691720.html

 

Make sure the pigtails are attached on the "IN" side of the pixels. I read somewhere that thethey ordered these and they came attached to the "OUT" side. Again do a continuity test to make sure the wires line up. You won't be able to do it through the pixels themselves. As I understand it, the IC on the pixels will not let this happen.

 

Edited May 28, 2014 by Ron Boyd

[Steelers95]

ok, if I were to use the 12v ws2811 lights from seasonal entertainment I could just plug those lights directly into the e682 because it comes with a 3 pin jst connector but if I wanted to use a pig tail I would need to cut the jst connector off and solder the pig tail on. 

[Ron Boyd]

The JST won't fit the E682. Pigtails or, just cut the JST off, solder on a length of 3 conductor wire and attach the new wire to the 682. It's what I do. Pigtails are my Achilles heel.

[Steelers95]

oh ok sounds easy enough, will the solder connection be waterproof? also If you don't mind me asking why do you dislike pigtails so much. 

[Ron Boyd]

I would still use shrink wrap.

 

Last year, i spent over a week trying to find out why half of my display wasn't lighting. The pigtails I bought from Ray Wu were the culprit. All had a Blue, Brown and a Yellow with Green stripe wires. I did not do a continuity test on each one (my fault). Come to find out, not all wires matched up to the opposite side. I found blue on Male side matched with Yellow/Green on the female side. not all of the ones I ordered, but I had about 20% bad wiring. I trashed about 10 of 50, give or take a couple. They will all be removed this year. I'll wire straight to the controller. I'll just zip-tie the extra wire to the string at tear-down this year.

[Steelers95]

Thanks, youve been a big help. I have two more questions about the ws2811 pixels

1) can you cut the 50 ct pixel strings into something like two 25 sets

2) what type of piftails should I use- 4 pin, 3 pin, 2 pin.....Im not really sure what the differnce is

Edited May 30, 2014 by Steelers95

[Steven]

1) can you cut the 50 ct pixel strings into something like two 25 sets

Yes.

 

2) what type of piftails should I use- 4 pin, 3 pin, 2 pin.....Im not really sure what the differnce is

WS2811 pixels use 3 wires (ground, power, data), so you need 3-pin pigtails.

[Max-Paul]

I also bought some 4 conductor water proof pigtails from Ray. It was only 10 pair, and only one pair gave me any problems. Seems that there was a short between two of the conductors in one half. I did not have any problems with mismatched wire colors as Ron did.