flomas Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Howdy, I searched around and was not able to find anything regarding this unless I just can't search right. The arrows on LED strips, I assume they are data flow, should the be going in any certain direction?? Say If I was using with a Pixie controller should they be going towards the controller or away from the controller Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Yes, they are the direction of the data flow. Data will only flow in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, the point of the arrow will be AWAY from the controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 The gold pads on most are labeled. DI connects to the controller or previous nodes DO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flomas Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 Got it, thank you both. I thought I read some we're that the arrows had to point towards the controller. What happens if the arrows are pointing towards the controller will the stips function correctly still, will it mess up my Left to Right orientation of data flow?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 7 minutes ago, flomas said: What happens if the arrows are pointing towards the controller will the stips function correctly still, It won't work at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flomas Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 Got it, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 It's hard to tell for sure, but the strip in that photo looks like a dumb RGB strip, which won't work with a Pixie controller at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimehc Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 It is a 3 conductor strip - thus it is a Smart Strip... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 I can see the confusion as it does look like there is a fourth copper strip at the top and the pixels are not grouped in threes. Definitely not ws2811, not sure of the pixel type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 I don't think that is a 4th copper strip at the top. And very likely is WS2811. Nothing says that they have to be grouped in 3. If they are 5 volt pixels they are almost never grouped in 3, and even 12 volt pixels can be single RGB LED per "pixel". Since you don't see a separate chip, the chip is presumably imbedded under the LED. I have some strips that are that way. Particularly common on high density strips - which these appear to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 I don't know, when you blow it up it looks like a four wire, white, blue, green and red with power injection wires. There also looks to be four copper strips with white writing beside them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 Agreed that it's a crappy photo. The arrows would indicate directional data flow, and I am going to gather that the extra two loose wires are for power injection. It would not make sense to have those for dumb strips. So I don't know, but I'm leaning towards smart strips. It would be best if the original poster gave us a link of what he bought, and / or a good photo. Then we can stop guessing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 (edited) 6 minutes ago, k6ccc said: Agreed that it's a crappy photo. The arrows would indicate directional data flow, and I am going to gather that the extra two loose wires are for power injection. It would not make sense to have those for dumb strips. So I don't know, but I'm leaning towards smart strips. It would be best if the original poster gave us a link of what he bought, and / or a good photo. Then we can stop guessing. I definitely agree they are smart strips just don't know what type. I was just commenting on the confusion where Steven may have seen they were four wire hence thinking dumb rgb. Edited August 13 by Mr. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flomas Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 My apologies for not giving the stats. these are BTF Lighting WS2815 12v. They are not listed as being supported by P16 , but they work just fine when choosing WS2811. Better Pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 OK, the WS2815 pixels have a backup data line that allows the string to continue to work when one pixel fails (the BO and BI pins). And yes, those work fine when sending WS2811 formatted data to them. The better photo makes that obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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