Super Basic Question

[Itlan]

I have a bunch of these style LED lights: https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-StayBright-240-Light-19-6-ft-Multicolor-Integrated-LED-Plug-In-Christmas-Rope-Lights/1000525789?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-lia-_-157-_-trimatree-_-1000525789-_-0&store_code=1727&placeholder=null&gclid=CjwKCAiAtK79BRAIEiwA4OskBvVXO5aR6mu_IJbHHxC9KKBYuWLsAZKf_xFc7AenY8gQbh4ALpTgYBoCc8sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

When you plug them in the have a certain affect that they doo, namely starting at one end and going back and forth, then all on etc. If I hook these up to an LOR Controller such as the CTB16PC,  I get that I will be able to turn them but can I control them, so instead of it doing its default left to right sweeping motion all the LED's come on, or could I add shimmer effects to them? Dont really understand how far you cant customize and add effects to LEDs like these?

 

#SuperNoobieGreen ;) 

[k6ccc]

NO!

You can not do anything with that type of light except turn it 100% on or totally off - NOTHING in between, no shimmer, no twinkle.  Failing to follow that advise could result in bad - smoke or fire.  Don't do it.  You really should not use that type of a controlled light at all with a lighting controller.

 

[Itlan]

Copy, that's what I thought, but I was thinking turning on/off was fine, but your saying not at all! I guess I can leave them out. Or replace them with a bunch of other stuff I have for where they normally go. Is there any literature or good documentation I can read on what not to use with the controller. If I have other LED style star shaped lights, or spiral trees from Home Depot and such, I don't want to wire up things I shouldn't, but haven't seen anything on dos and don't for what light types to connect! What's a good LED versus Bad LED ;/

Thanks for the advice on those!   

[Orville]

5 hours ago, Itlan said:

Copy, that's what I thought, but I was thinking turning on/off was fine, but your saying not at all! I guess I can leave them out. Or replace them with a bunch of other stuff I have for where they normally go. Is there any literature or good documentation I can read on what not to use with the controller. If I have other LED style star shaped lights, or spiral trees from Home Depot and such, I don't want to wire up things I shouldn't, but haven't seen anything on dos and don't for what light types to connect! What's a good LED versus Bad LED ;/

Thanks for the advice on those!   

Actually YES, you can use these on an AC Controller as long as it is full on and full off commands.  I have used various lights with their own controllers that I've used with my CTB16PC Controllers, as long as the control box on the lights either has an electronic memory setting{usually a push button to set mode} or a rotary switch that sets the mode and RETAINS it, they can be used. 

That is, once you set what you want them to do, that's what they will do every time they are turned on and off.  But if they don't have either option to set them for what you want them to do every time they turn on, then they'll default to their default mode as soon as they are turned off, and will use that default mode when turned back on every time if they don't have a manual or electronic memory mode setting to prevent it.

Again, FULL ON and FULL OFF only, anything other than that and it could create some issues, such as overheating the built in control box and possibly start a fire.   But as long as you follow the ON/OFF rule, they should be fine to use with an CTB16PC Controller.

Been using lights with built in control boxes on my CTB16PC Controllers for years with no problems.

BTW: on the lights you refer, if they have a memory setting, on lights with a random mode setting is what I always used for my default setting, that way the lights could do their thing, but they can't ever really be sequenced to the music.   How I used lights like this was as an Animation File that ran in the background, so if there may be a delay between songs or shows, at least those lights would still be on to have some semblance of lighting going on.   I also used them more as background lights and used the sequence controlled lighting to be the forefront of the show.

No wrong or right way to do it, just matter of taste on how you want things set up and look you're going for.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2020 by Orville

[TheDucks]

In the HU (hardware Utility), set the dimming curve (on the advanced setting screen) for the port you will be using for No Dim items (I use 15,16 for my controllers and wrap a bit of RED tap on the dongles, and it does not hurt to do the same with the plugs to remind you 😛 )

[Dr_Aplet]

I am new as well and find this an interesting thread.  So for clarification on Dimming curves and such

I am all AC but have standard LED and incandescent light some have a little DC power supply (costco reindeer) some have a little push button to change settings but seem to all return to the last setting with out reverting.

should I be setting the dimming curves :

incandescent= no change?
LED= ???
little power supplies= Full on/ off

Is there a test that i can do to be checking what these can/should do?  it seems like some LEDs are dimmable and some are not.  Does the full on/off change to using PWM to dim or does it skip those parts of the sequence?  also i saw reference to dimming curves in the s5 software.  Where should all this be done Hardware or software? 

Edited November 18, 2020 by Dr_Aplet

[TheDucks]

Absolutely set the Ports for those deer to On/Off

If you are happy with the way the LEDs behave. leave it at the default (this is just to change the curve on how they react)

[Dr_Aplet]

16 hours ago, TheDucks said:

Absolutely set the Ports for those deer to On/Off

If you are happy with the way the LEDs behave. leave it at the default (this is just to change the curve on how they react)

I looked at them last night and there is some dimming that they do (75-100% maybe)  i wasn't sure if i should dim them.  Can I i use a dimming curve in HU to keep them at the top 25% but get a little bit if dimming out of them?  The on/off in the HU does not use any PWM to simulate dimming so i really don't like it.  i will just cut off when there is a fade or something.  

[TheDucks]

LOR includes a LED dimming curve. But the manual also tells how to roll your own.

Also: HU can put % Limits  on how full a port goes.

 

 

[Dr_Aplet]

On 11/19/2020 at 9:39 AM, TheDucks said:

But the manual also tells how to roll your own.

Specifically what manual are you referring?  I have been using http://www1.lightorama.com/PDF/CTB16PC_Man_Web.pdf that came with my unit and I don't see any section about dimming.  Perhaps  you are referring to an index found in the software.  I will play around with it again tonight.  Documentation seem to be an issue, I just don't know where it all is because the manual should be around 150 pages or more with the amount of stuff this can do.   

[TheDucks]

1 hour ago, Dr_Aplet said:

Specifically what manual are you referring?  I have been using http://www1.lightorama.com/PDF/CTB16PC_Man_Web.pdf that came with my unit and I don't see any section about dimming.  Perhaps  you are referring to an index found in the software.  I will play around with it again tonight.  Documentation seem to be an issue, I just don't know where it all is because the manual should be around 150 pages or more with the amount of stuff this can do.   

Start at P14 for using the HU feature for Dimming curve setting. I'm a bit embarrassed, I thought there was more there.

The curve file (LDC) included for led IS REALLY A TEXT FILE (you can view with Notepad) with numbers  from 0 to 1024, and 1025 lines long (the first is a comment)  This file lives in the Dimming Curve folder where sequences are. You can use the HU to load this file  (or yours) into the controller, then assign it to ports

[Dr_Aplet]

On 11/20/2020 at 4:50 PM, TheDucks said:

Start at P14 for using the HU feature for Dimming curve setting. I'm a bit embarrassed, I thought there was more there.

The curve file (LDC) included for led IS REALLY A TEXT FILE (you can view with Notepad) with numbers  from 0 to 1024, and 1025 lines long (the first is a comment)  This file lives in the Dimming Curve folder where sequences are. You can use the HU to load this file  (or yours) into the controller, then assign it to ports

I'm sorry that i am not that sharp but this is all greek to me.  What is P14? what is this curve file for and what do i do with it?  I think what you mean is that you can open this table (file) and and manually overwrite the settings found for the the top (full on) and bottom (shut off point) in the curve in values from 0-1024.  I think for me i will need to get this deep after the season to not risk destroying my display.  I would love to see more in depth documentation for each element of the product or maybe some, after the season, Zoom training.  These could be recorded and viewed anytime.  

[TheDucks]

4 minutes ago, Dr_Aplet said:

I'm sorry that i am not that sharp but this is all greek to me.  What is P14? what is this curve file for and what do i do with it?  I think what you mean is that you can open this table (file) and and manually overwrite the settings found for the the top (full on) and bottom (shut off point) in the curve in values from 0-1024.  I think for me i will need to get this deep after the season to not risk destroying my display.  I would love to see more in depth documentation for each element of the product or maybe some, after the season, Zoom training.  These could be recorded and viewed anytime.  

Page 14 in the manual

[Dr_Aplet]

I Think you have a different manual than i have. where is what i have LOL.

[TheDucks]

Wrong manual. That is the Assembly one

[Dr_Aplet]

This shows as the CTB16PC user manual.  If you have access to the correct manual or link to it would you drop a link in here or Email it to dr_aplet@hotmail.com. 

Itlan- I apologize for hijacking your thread.  You raises a great question for me.  I am also a novice. 

[TheDucks]

The LOR doc sit has (assembly) after the name

You want:   Sorry about the Gap, I tried to past the text only)

CTB16PCg3

Residential light controller, Generation 3, 16 channels. 30 amp in PVC enclosure

[k6ccc]

All the equipment documentation:  http://www1.lightorama.com/documentation/

 

[Dr_Aplet]

So the manual i have been using is different.  This one is more helpful.  Thank you. 

Lighting Curves Page 5

The g3 firmware supports lighting curves. These are used to allow different types of lights to behave similarly when dimming. LEDs tend to go from off to full brightness over a much narrower range of voltages than incandescent lights. This means that a fade going from 0 to 100% voltage with an incandescent light will not produce the same results with LED lights. The LED lights will come on later and reach full brightness sooner than incandescent lights.

[TheDucks]

28 minutes ago, Dr_Aplet said:

So the manual i have been using is different.  This one is more helpful.  Thank you. 

Lighting Curves Page 5

The g3 firmware supports lighting curves. These are used to allow different types of lights to behave similarly when dimming. LEDs tend to go from off to full brightness over a much narrower range of voltages than incandescent lights. This means that a fade going from 0 to 100% voltage with an incandescent light will not produce the same results with LED lights. The LED lights will come on later and reach full brightness sooner than incandescent lights.

The manual you showed is the one that ALSO comes with the DIY kit . It is not wrong. It was the one to assemble. Then you wee to use the USERS Guide that comes with both versions (This is not the same if you solder the board parts)