Lights

[S. Buckley]

Good day everyone,

I have just recently bought a LOR system and would like to use LED strip lighting in my display. Can anyone give me ideas on purchasing and installing these, and do I need RGB's?

Thanks,

Scott

[dibblejr]

Scott ` welcome to the addiction.

Can you tell us what LOR "system" you purchased? That will determine which lights and then everyone can add on from there.

JR

[TheDucks]

Yes, tell us more about what you bought and what S4 license level you have.

Monochrome / Dumb RGB  strips use one kind of controller.

Smart pixels use another

Cosmic Color Ribbons (or pixels )  come with a controller and PSU

Edited May 13, 2017 by TheDucks
wrong info, no strikout

[lightingnewb]

Read the following links, then provide us with a little more context about what you bought so we can help you figure out what's best.

http://www1.lightorama.com/smart-pixels/

http://www1.lightorama.com/dumb-pixels/

http://www1.lightorama.com/your-lights/

[S. Buckley]

Good morning everyone,

I purchased the ShowTime Central Starter Package. It comes with the S4 Basic Plus software. I have been looking at purchasing RGB LED lights, however, if I buy the 5 meters, I will need to cut it for certain places, and add additional length in different places, and not sure how to make all that work with power packs, etc. I am a bit overwhelmed.

[TheDucks]

The term I will use for that is: Daisy chain

How are your soldering skills? If you buy Smart Pixels, you will need to daisy chain (up to 100 pix//port  for) as they have an IN and an Out that must be observed

If you use Dumb RGB, the strips can be daisy chained or paralleled (up to the current limit of the port (typ 4A)

In either case, Strips are marked with 'cut points' that need to be observed or a section will not operate.

Your  strips need to be the same Voltage (and match the ports power supply. 5V or 12V are most common)

What controller?  Your Basic+ will just run a Pixie4 (smart RGB). It will run 4 of ANY 'dumb pixel' controller Boards

 

[dibblejr]

Yes, we need to know what controller. That's the key to what lights you can use.

JR

[S. Buckley]

I don't have a controller (at least I don't think so). I got the "starter" package due to it being a "plug and play", however, I am finding out that it seems that I would have to use strings of lights, instead of led strips.

[dibblejr]

2 hours ago, S. Buckley said:

I don't have a controller (at least I don't think so). I got the "starter" package due to it being a "plug and play", however, I am finding out that it seems that I would have to use strings of lights, instead of led strips.

You will need a controller to utilize the package.

See below, I think I miss read your original/ updated post.

.

JR

Edited May 15, 2017 by dibblejr

[dibblejr]

You can also buy any of the smart or dumb pixel controllers instead if that is the route but you may need other accessories. You just have to ensure they will work with your starter package. You will probably need at least the RS485HS adapter

 

JR

[dibblejr]

Let me rethink this. If you purchased the Showtime Central starter package it should have came with one AC 16 channel controller. All you would need to add pixels is a pixel controller pixie 4, 8 or 16 which are P&P into the LOR network.

[Mr. P]

Also, if you are going to use smart pixels you will definitely need to upgrade your software license. The Basic Plus license is good for up to four controllers but the Pixie's and Pixcon eat up the Unit ID's very quickly, I would highly recommend Advanced or just go ahead and get the Pro and be done with it.

You can compare the license levels here:

http://www1.lightorama.com/sequencing-suite-levels/

Edited May 15, 2017 by Mr. P

[S. Buckley]

OK, so I am not sure if I want to get into all of the pixels and so right now. I would like to use LED's for the different color variation, and just being able to make them one color is fine for the time being, so I will defiantly need a controller for this, correct?. I haven't really done any soldering, so not sure if I want to go that option. Is there anything else out there that I can use with out soldering? Also, where is the best place to buy LED lights, I am going to need about 100' total, with varying lengths.

 

[Bill P]

Sounds like he just bought the software starter package


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dibblejr]

45 minutes ago, S. Buckley said:

OK, so I am not sure if I want to get into all of the pixels and so right now. I would like to use LED's for the different color variation, and just being able to make them one color is fine for the time being, so I will defiantly need a controller for this, correct?. I haven't really done any soldering, so not sure if I want to go that option. Is there anything else out there that I can use with out soldering? Also, where is the best place to buy LED lights, I am going to need about 100' total, with varying lengths.

 

You can make soldering simple by buying butt connectors that have a low heat solder. You make them water tight by placing some heat shrink tubing on the wires pre soldering and then put some silicone in the heat shrink tubing. As it shrinks it will push the silicone towards the outside making it waterproof.

You can use a cigarette lighter, heat gun or torch. I use my solder station with heat gun to melt it. There are videos on youtube with instructions if you are not used to soldering.

You can get the connectors at many places that sell holiday lighting, HC, Ray Wu, ebay

https://www.carid.com/dorman/dorman-butt-connector-326801468.html

JR

[Mr. P]

If you are going to start working with RGB either dumb or smart you really need to learn how to solder. Ribbons come standard at 16.5 feet so you will need to cut them shorter or solder extra on to make them longer. Strings are a little different as a length of 50 depends on the spacing. Bottom line is if you really want to get into  RGB then you will have to cut and solder, no way around it if you really want a trouble free connection.

They do make solder connectors that make it easier for the novice, you pretty much stick the wires in and melt the connector (for strings) but ribbons you need to know how to solder, at least the basics as the ribbon clamps really suck.

Edited May 15, 2017 by Mr. P

[S. Buckley]

OK, I think I can pick up the soldering thing fairly easy, how about powering them? Any special things needed for plugging them in? Also where is the best place to buy said strips and power supplies?

[Dennis Laff]

Buckley  if you look on Light O Rama website you can buy dumb strips and everything else you need this would be the easiest way for a new person in the hobby because it is made to connect to the lor system.

[dibblejr]

13 minutes ago, S. Buckley said:

OK, I think I can pick up the soldering thing fairly easy, how about powering them? Any special things needed for plugging them in? Also where is the best place to buy said strips and power supplies?

You just missed all of the sales.

There is another sale coming up sometime during the summer TBA.

 

Not sure if you can wait that long to learn the system though. Personally I use LOR, HC (Holiday Coro), Ray Wu (just google he's in China), ebay, Boyscoyo Studios, depending on what I need and how urgent. This is my first year of RGB as well. Its pretty fun but I am still in learning mode.

JR

[dibblejr]

2 minutes ago, Dennis Laff said:

Buckley  if you look on Light O Rama website you can buy dumb strips and everything else you need this would be the easiest way for a new person in the hobby because it is made to connect to the lor system.

Yes, very good suggestion from a man in the know. You may pay more however they stand by their products and nothing less than stellar customer service.

JR

[Mr. P]

I agree that a beginner may want to stick with the LOR products. The biggest benefit is the warranty, however, if you cut the ribbons it voids the warranty.

[TheDucks]

If you go with Dumb (RGB or Single color) , your license is good for up to 4 controllers (AC or DC),

I have 3 channels of White LEDS in candy canes, on 1 (CMB-24D) RGB connector (which is really 3 channels). I also use some of the other connectors with real RGB strips / strings

12V just means longer strings before worrying about power injection

 

?I thought a Starter package had to include a controller (of some type)

[dibblejr]

2 minutes ago, TheDucks said:

If you go with Dumb (RGB or Single color) , your license is good for up to 4 controllers (AC or DC),

I have 3 channels of White LEDS in candy canes, on 1 (CMB-24D) RGB connector (which is really 3 channels). I also use some of the other connectors with real RGB strips / strings

12V just means longer strings before worrying about power injection

 

?I thought a Starter package had to include a controller (of some type)

That's how I read it when he said "showtime central starter package". But then he said "no controller" so confused me, had to edit my posts. LOL

It then got me thinking "no" dumb or smart pixel cotroller. IDK

JR

[lightingnewb]

Let's do some clarification, for everyone.

http://prntscr.com/f8jfy4 It sounds like this was what you bought, OP, correct? If so, then this is what you get:

http://prntscr.com/f8jgp7 The "Base Package" includes a single 16 channel controller.

To make things easier for everyone, I've broken the language down to simple words. A standard controller is a NON-RGB controller. It can run traditional lights only. (LED or incandescent)
This package you bought is a standard controller - it can only operate traditional lights.

You can buy other controller types as well though. You can buy dumb or smart RGB controllers.

DUMB RGB CONTROLLERS: control the whole RGB strip at once - one color for the whole strip at a time.
SMART RGB CONTROLLERS: control each PIXEL of the RGB strip...individually.

There are other products that fall in the RGB category, but thinking of the RGB strips for right now is a good way to have a working understanding of the difference. Each RGB product is different, thus having different abilities to be chained together. DUMB RGB Strips, for instance, have two different options:

1) Put two full-length strips together and run the power cord (under 50 FEET) without experiencing any drop in power.

2) One full-length strip run with up to 100 FEET of power cord without running into a power issue. There ARE ways to fix power issues, though. This is a bit more advanced, however.

To add these controllers to your show, you buy them from a vendor and DAISY CHAIN them to each other via an ethernet or ELL connection. Each controller needs to have it's own power and it's own connection to the chain.
The ORDER they are connected in doesn't matter, so long as each one is given the proper ID. (We can talk about this later.)

Does this make sense to everyone?

[dibblejr]

1 hour ago, lightingnewb said:

Let's do some clarification, for everyone.

http://prntscr.com/f8jfy4 It sounds like this was what you bought, OP, correct? If so, then this is what you get:

http://prntscr.com/f8jgp7 The "Base Package" includes a single 16 channel controller.

To make things easier for everyone, I've broken the language down to simple words. A standard controller is a NON-RGB controller. It can run traditional lights only. (LED or incandescent)
This package you bought is a standard controller - it can only operate traditional lights.

You can buy other controller types as well though. You can buy dumb or smart RGB controllers.

DUMB RGB CONTROLLERS: control the whole RGB strip at once - one color for the whole strip at a time.
SMART RGB CONTROLLERS: control each PIXEL of the RGB strip...individually.

There are other products that fall in the RGB category, but thinking of the RGB strips for right now is a good way to have a working understanding of the difference. Each RGB product is different, thus having different abilities to be chained together. DUMB RGB Strips, for instance, have two different options:

1) Put two full-length strips together and run the power cord (under 50 FEET) without experiencing any drop in power.

2) One full-length strip run with up to 100 FEET of power cord without running into a power issue. There ARE ways to fix power issues, though. This is a bit more advanced, however.

To add these controllers to your show, you buy them from a vendor and DAISY CHAIN them to each other via an ethernet or ELL connection. Each controller needs to have it's own power and it's own connection to the chain.
The ORDER they are connected in doesn't matter, so long as each one is given the proper ID. (We can talk about this later.)

Does this make sense to everyone?

Actually your first link is incorrect. It provides a picture of just the mini mp3 player and FM transmitter. However if you would have posted the link to LOR which I did he would have received an AC 16 channel controller and S4 basic plus software.http://store.lightorama.com/shcestpa.html

Well he said "posted" two different comments. One, he said " no controller" and one he is looking into RGB.

You have made quite a few assumptions instead of awaiting his reply to your question of which system he purchased. Also we don't know if he purchased used or new which maybe he didn't receive any controller.

I am pretty sure those of us who replied are familiar with the difference.

Though, thanks for you clarification.

JR

Edited May 16, 2017 by dibblejr
changed FM coverter to transmitter