Jump to content
Light-O-Rama Forums

Power Injection issues


MattJ

Recommended Posts

Hi folks

I'm running into a few issues with power injection and I'm looking for a few pointers.

Here's the set up:

  • DIY Pixie 8 powered by a 12V 600W Switched mode power supply
  • All 8 ports running between 50 - 100 pixels - there's about 600 pixels hanging off this pixie.
  • When the pixels are connected to the pixie directly... all is good. 
  • To get them where I want them... 3strands (270 pixels) are on the end of 25' of pixel extensions (Hooray for stars at the roofline!)
  • When I add in the 25' extension and the pixles are at full power (white) they flicker.
  • I think "low voltage" and add a 12V Constant voltage LED power supply (this one) for power injection following the instructions for multiple power supply injection here
  • The +ve wires are NOT connected between the power supplies. The -ve connectors are.

It's a mess - the pixels flicker and jump all over the place - it's like the power injection is adding noise on the data line of the pixel string and acting like a random controller.

I will continue to troubleshoot but my question here is... have I purchased the wrong type of power supply for power injection... or should this work?

Open to any ideas!

Thanks in advance.

Cheers MattJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, MattJ said:

Hi folks

I'm running into a few issues with power injection and I'm looking for a few pointers.

Here's the set up:

  • DIY Pixie 8 powered by a 12V 600W Switched mode power supply
  • All 8 ports running between 50 - 100 pixels - there's about 600 pixels hanging off this pixie.
  • When the pixels are connected to the pixie directly... all is good. 
  • To get them where I want them... 3strands (270 pixels) are on the end of 25' of pixel extensions (Hooray for stars at the roofline!)
  • When I add in the 25' extension and the pixles are at full power (white) they flicker.
  • I think "low voltage" and add a 12V Constant voltage LED power supply (this one) for power injection following the instructions for multiple power supply injection here
  • The +ve wires are NOT connected between the power supplies. The -ve connectors are.

It's a mess - the pixels flicker and jump all over the place - it's like the power injection is adding noise on the data line of the pixel string and acting like a random controller.

I will continue to troubleshoot but my question here is... have I purchased the wrong type of power supply for power injection... or should this work?

Open to any ideas!

Thanks in advance.

Cheers MattJ

If that is all of the distance you shouldn't need PI. I have a plethora of pixie controllers and some are 120' distance to the first pixel. I have built 100% from my beta pixie to current. I have no PI

In S5 you can turn down the intensity.

Remember all white is usually not used that much.

Are you making of buying the extension?

Check your green terminal lugs to ensure they are properly secured with the wires sandwiched between the metal tabs and not resting below.

JR

Edited by dibblejr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, dibblejr said:

In S5 you can turn down the intensity.

Remember all white is usually not used that much.

Are you making of buying the extension?

Check your green terminal lugs to ensure they are properly secured with the wires sandwiched between the metal tabs and not resting below.

Fair call on the intensity - white is not used much and I can turn it down in the sequence - this would likely solve my issue! 

Buying the extensions (Ray Wu) making the power injection Tees.

I will check the terminal lugs tomorrow (right now it's cold & dark! :) )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, MattJ said:

Fair call on the intensity - white is not used much and I can turn it down in the sequence - this would likely solve my issue! 

Buying the extensions (Ray Wu) making the power injection Tees.

I will check the terminal lugs tomorrow (right now it's cold & dark! :) )

You can turn down the intensity on the controller for good. Prop Def, under title drop down. That way you dont have to change the sequences.

JR

Edited by dibblejr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, dibblejr said:

Prop Def, under title drop down

OK yes, that sounds like a plan but sorry - I don't follow. Which application?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK I think I have it - Set the dimming curve option to Pixel Curve 90% in the prop definition in preview design window of sequence editor?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, MattJ said:

OK I think I have it - Set the dimming curve option to Pixel Curve 90% in the prop definition in preview design window of sequence editor?

You may want to try 40% all of mine are 40% and plenty bright. I have a video posted in the Christmas show section of the forums.

Edited by dibblejr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks JR - I'll play over the end of this week and if I can make it work I'll happily leave the power injection stuff for now! Appreciate the help. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, MattJ said:

Thanks JR - I'll play over the end of this week and if I can make it work I'll happily leave the power injection stuff for now! Appreciate the help. 

My longest run on my roof 152 pixels no pi and 120' from the controller. My cable goes through the wall, up through 3 stories of joists , in to the attic, around the 14' ceiling , out the vent and to the first node. I do use at least 700 watts  in my pixie 16's and 500 in my 4's and 8's. 

Best of luck and update your findings.

JR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MattJ said:
  • To get them where I want them... 3strands (270 pixels) are on the end of 25' of pixel extensions (Hooray for stars at the roofline!)
  • When I add in the 25' extension and the pixles are at full power (white) they flicker.

I would agree that this appears to be a power problem.  One easy test.  With the pixels at full white, measure the voltage at the far end of the strip.

Are those 270 pixels connected via the extensions to the Pixie or are they at the end of other strings?  In other words, is a controller directly driving them or is another pixel driving those pixels?

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/14/2020 at 11:21 PM, dibblejr said:

update your findings.

Ok - here's the update. It would appear that I also had a water issue... that was not making anything easier to troubleshoot!

With the water gone... the flickering was still there when using PI (but not as bad - not anywhere near as bad) I took JR's advice; I removed my power injection and cranked my longer runs down to 70% max brightness. 

That solved my flickering problem. I never measured the voltage and at this point I don't need Power injection, so I'm leaving that for now. 

 

PS - Jim:

On 12/14/2020 at 11:47 PM, k6ccc said:

Are those 270 pixels connected via the extensions to the Pixie or are they at the end of other strings?  In other words, is a controller directly driving them or is another pixel driving those pixels?

Extension/Direct - no other pixels. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...