Thread: RGB LED rope light with controller hacking

very cool thanks

Your Welcome

It appears there is an adress programmer for those little cheap white DMX controllers.

http://www.holidaycoro.com/docs/DMXProgrammer.pdf


The only issue I can see based upon my limited knowledge is there is no through point for the data stream. This unit would be a for a single item, or on the end of a string of items. If it had an in and out data port for the cat-5 cable then it could be run in a chain of items, like multiple RGB items.

I also found this: If this is right, its a good visual on how everything hooks up to the 512 controllers.


What I don't understand is it refers to having 4 channels. This shows only one channel of lights per controller.

Following this thread as I have the exact same questions.

There's some good training video's at Holiday Coro, I was specifically interested in Viedo #4 about controllers. It cleared up a lot of questions. KB Results

If you follow david on holidaycoro.com he has some awesome video's on RGB and controller basics.. They are well worth the time to sit down and watch.

David has indeed used these white controllers in a chain of around 90 I believe with just a simple "Y" connector between them carrying the DMX signal and the 12V power required to run the RGB LEDS. You put a terminating resistor on the last one in the chain on the DMX signal lines.

Check out the vid's. It will help.

Mike.

David's video's helped a lot, especially #4 talking about controllers. That was my hump that I couldn't get over...where all these different light (with connecters) plug into.

The type you get would be based on what you need. i.e. RGB controller or pixel-based controller. I'm going with pixel-based lighting like Smart Strings, so I'm looking at Pixel Strings from DiyLightAnimation - Index. Or the E680 controller from Sandevices, although they are currently out of the E680's.

ydeardorff, have you made any progress on your goals ? here is another link that might help... http://www.lightuplawrence.net/Home/...rgb-dmx-wiring

slowly,
I have one teensy controller, and two RGB DMX controllers, with a string of RGB LED's.
Depending on the finances Ill at least get a couple of floods, and the roof line done for next year, plus the Teensy controllers 16 channels of LED lights.
From what I had from last year that would be a significant upgrade.
I'm thinking that diving in with a hundred or more channels might be too overwhelming especially at the sequencing end of things. It might be better if I slow down, and reduce things a bit, and work my way into the larger display channel counts.
It would be better to have a better looking display, than a poor sequenced one with a bazillion channels.

With LSP, you can use transitions that make the sequencing easy....well easier. Last year I jumped in with 1000 RGB LEDS and the transition from LEDs (4 strings r g b w) to RGB was almost seamless. I did have a few bumps to contend with but with all the help around here it was more a wobble than a bump


You can have an entire string of RGB change as though they are 1 LED fading from colour to colour. OR you can do individual pixel control. I have different effects where I use a combination of both.

You can add considerably more than you are considering and still achieve a reallly eye stopping display. LSP made easy work of that.

500 bucks would land you a considerable RGB count and a big change to your display.

Yes I know.

Thanks

My plan was to use a 20 meter strand for the roof-line. And if I can afford it, use some more strips to line the windows.

But arches and other items require more money and time I don't really have.

Ill keep working on what I can when I can. But each subsequent month/year allows me to improve the show. so no worries. heck this last year I had only 6 channels and my display was one of the best in my town.