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WS2811 strips flashing when not supposed to.


kj11856

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I have a string of 32 China wS2811 strips. Using a pixie16 controller. Each channel is 2 strips, each strip is connected ton one another following the arrows. The strips are connected the the controller by common 3 wire wire that you can get on eBay. Some strips are around 50ft from the controller. Some are only 5ft. (It’s a roof). Some strips are the wrong color. Some are flashing when they are not supposed to. I can provide a link to the eBay listing so you can see the specs of the strips. I did setup the pixie16 to 100 pixels per port with wS2811 800khz. My question is, is there any other settings on the pixie16 that I need to change. And other suggestions you could provide. 
 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F264347640998

 

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What is the network speed setting? Are you using the red USB485HS adapter and are you on a enhanced network? Also, are your issues only on the long runs such as where the lights are 50' away?

Edited by Mr. P
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Yes. I am using the red network adapter at 500k enhanced network. So far yes on the strips that are the furthest away from the controller. I am also using the connectors in the line that are for the strip. One connected the the controller. The connectors are soldered onto the wire extensions. 

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I’m new to these smart pixels. I have a grid with 3 pixcon controllers I been using for years. The pixel were bought though light I Rama

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Distance is the enemy of pixels as the data is very limited in range and needs to be regenerated. The older controllers would need a null pixel after about 15-20 feet but the new controllers extend that range a bit. A null pixel is just a pixel place in the extension to regenerate the data signal and send it down the line. The null pixel isn't used for lighting and I am not sure if the Pixie controllers have a way to identify a null pixel.

I always recommend a few smaller controllers instead of one large controller to cover a large area such as a house. This lets you spread the controllers out to cover a larger area and keeps the runs shorter.

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I will try it if anyone knows how to insert the null pixel into it.  I believe the hardware utility has a option to add a null pixel in the setup but I’m not sure. 

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I found a site that has Falcon F-AMP signal boosters you can use to insert into the line. I’m gonna see if that solves my problem. 

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34 minutes ago, kj11856 said:

I found a site that has Falcon F-AMP signal boosters you can use to insert into the line. I’m gonna see if that solves my problem. 

The Falcon F-Amp does exactly what you need.  It does not appear to be be a pixel as far as pixel count is concerned, so you don't need to account for a null pixel.  And I agree that long distance is likely your problem.

 

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My question now is can the data cable be hooked to both ends of the strip as long as it follows the direction of the arrows. For example 2 strips beside each other. Can the green data line be connected to from the beginning of the first strip to the end of the second?

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Boy that question is hard to read.  I think what you are asking, is if you can have the data from the controller connect to one strip, and at the end of the fist strip, then connect to a second strip (paying attention to the directional arrows).  If that is what you are asking, then the answer is yes..  If that was not the question, please re-state.

 

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Yes. That’s what my setup is. I need to connect like this. 

                                                        /—-s1

ctrlr———booster(if needed)<

                                                       \——s2

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16 minutes ago, kj11856 said:

Yes. That’s what my setup is. I need to connect like this. 

                                                        /—-s1

ctrlr———booster(if needed)<

                                                       \——s2

IMHO Not a good plan. S2 is a duplicate of S1.

It might work with a strong drive (and a very short cable)., but, then it might have difficulties.

  Best is to use 2 ports, even if the second port just runs a copy of the other track

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Let me redo that. 
                                        /<<<<<s2

ctrlr——-booster——-

                                      \>>>>>>>s1

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The only thing you can supply at the far end is Power and Ground (AKA power injection)

Data flows 1 way only. (and also needs the ground) to be continuous between strings 1 and 2

There is no address in the data. It is a 'take mine off the top' and forward out the rest of (bit) stack

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