zvacman Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 After a year and a half of research I pulled off my first show this past Christmas. 80 channels, nearly 100,000 LED's, and 1-1/2 miles of extension cords. This year I am getting into pixels and dumb RGB's. I pulled the trigger on 2 E682, and 2 CMB24D controllers. I'm certain I will have hundreds of questions for the resident gurus but my most immediate one is this. Where do I get the wire and waterproof connectors? I have never had good luck buying directly from China (Ray Wu is out). I would like to use 18/5 so I can run my WRGB dumb strips. What's the distance limitations from the controller to the pixels/RGB's? Ok so it was more than one question, sorry. Any help is as always much appreciated.Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wbaker4 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 For my dumb RGB strips, I used 14/4 - max run off any channel was approx 20 feet. I am building up sets of differential line drivers/receivers to handle the data transfer for the Pixels over the distance I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 All the waterproof connectors from different companies are not compatible with each other. If you're looking for waterproof connectors for pixels holiday Coro has decent connectors. The fit on the connectors is better than some of their competitors and they use 18 gauge wire instead of 20 gauge. I buy outdoor extension cords when they're on sale and cut those up to use on the pixels. 3 wires at 16 gauge can give you a pretty decent distance. Remember you can run further from the controller to your first pixel then you can between pixels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Laff Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 On your E682. They say no more than 20 ft from controller to first pixel more than that you need to add a null pixel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrymac Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I use jacketed speaker cable available from MONOPRICE. It is available 2 strand 3 strand 4 strand and from 12 to 18 gauge. The price is really GREAT. comes in 50 and 100 foot rolls. Waterproof connectors are NOT everything the name implies. Holiday coro and Seasonal Entertainment have them state side. Still should use some dielectric grease on the connectors before plugging together and water replant grease on the connections after together. Be careful of interchanging brands as there are a number of different styles that look the same at a glance unless you look closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zvacman Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Has anyone tried to use automotive style 4 pin waterproof connectors? I just had to check some connections under my truck tonight and every connector I checked was not only good but in pristine condition. And that's after 11 harsh Michigan winters.Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wbaker4 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I use these for my dumb RGB strips. They work great! ATM Series. http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=ATM04-4Pvirtualkey65450000virtualkey654-ATM04-4P http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/18/ATM04-4P-766810.pdf http://www.mouser.com/catalogviewer/default.aspx?page=1646&highlight=654-ATM04-4P&catalogculture=en-US&catalog=648 If you get these, make sure you order everything for them.. Socket, Plug, wedges and contacts. Walt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zvacman Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Thanks for the lead Walt, I think I'll give those a try.Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zvacman Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Has anybody tried 16 AWG 4 conductor speaker wire to supply power and data to their RGB's and Pixels? Should I be looking in the direction of some sort of shielded cable?Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebuechner Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Has anybody tried 16 AWG 4 conductor speaker wire to supply power and data to their RGB's and Pixels? Should I be looking in the direction of some sort of shielded cable?Z I've been using 16 gauge wire that I get from outdoor extension cords when they go on sale. I cut the ends off and use the wire and I've been getting up to 30 feet away from the controller on pixels with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Has anybody tried 16 AWG 4 conductor speaker wire to supply power and data to their RGB's and Pixels? Should I be looking in the direction of some sort of shielded cable?Z That is exactly what I use for my dumb RGB. Get it in 250 foot reels from Monoprice.comIn fact I have a box sitting on the living room floor that my wife keeps bugging me about moving... Need to get those floods installed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Boyd Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Has anybody tried 16 AWG 4 conductor speaker wire to supply power and data to their RGB's and Pixels? Should I be looking in the direction of some sort of shielded cable?Z Every year for 3 years running.I also use the flat RGB 18g wire from HolidayCoro and DiyLEDExpress. Works fantastic for 10-15 ft runs and it's easier to hide than the jacketed (WHITE) speaker wire. White sticks out like a sore thumb against the greens and browns in your yard. I use this stuff to do power injections and from controller to first pixel on my pixel trees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zvacman Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 My house has all white trim, facia, an soffits. As far as the yard goes, white blends in with snow just fine.Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_b Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Z- I use the 16awg 4 wire burial speaker wire for all my RGB strip lights and Pixels. It has worked great. I even used it to make some custom yard lights 3 years ago using strip lights and it is buried throughout the flower beds and still running fine. For the Strip lights around the roof line I ran it inside the soffits to the attic then down to the controllers in the garage. Most lengths are around 30-40 feet, a couple even longer, which is why I chose the larger wire to help with Voltage Drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxon Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I use 16 gauge landscape wire for power injection. It is designed to be buried, wet, and exposed to the elements. But that's not to say you really need that type of durability, I just got a great deal on it. My power injection stays up all year and follows the eaves so it is much longer runs than my pixel wire, which comes down every year with the lights. z -I use a 22 gauge 3 core cable wire from sandevice to first pixel. My longest run to a 2811 strip is 23'. I have successfully tested it at 48' with 50 pixels attached (strip). My show ran 44', data and power over 22 gauge wire, to 200 pixel nodes. It worked but once in a while I would notice pixels staying on so injected power and fixed that. These are numbers that I thought were beyond the limitations, but it worked. although I have had 100% success, If could do it again I would use 18 gauge, I personally like the 18/3 wire round cable wire HC is now selling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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