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JEC
09-27-2007, 04:03 PM
Hi Everyone,

Well, I'm happy with the sample batch of 30 pixels that the factory sent me early this week.

If you missed the beginning of this discussion, it's posted here:

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563

and here:

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=652

Source code, pictures, etc are here:

www.response-box.com/rgblights

Fabricated, assembled and tested pixels are $9.20 each. I don't get a break from the factory below several thousand units, so that's a fairly firm number regardless of quantity.

To make these bad boys run, you need to provide stable DMX and a stiff +12v power supply. Or, write your own firmware and use whatever serial communications method you find convenient. There's a programming port included on each PCB for your hacking pleasure.

You also provide CAT5 cable to jump between pixels. Google for many, many sources.

The schematic for the pixel is attached to this post. There are other schematics floating around. This schematic is most current and will be given to the factory.

I'll watch this topic until Saturday, October 6th.

Then, on Monday the 8th I'll contact the factory and place the order.

From the start time, they claim that they'll need 20-30 days to fabricate the order. It takes 3 days to ship FedEx from the factory to me in Utah.

If the order is delayed for some reason, all I can do is commiserate with you. Short of flying overseas doing the work myself, we're basically stuck. However, I (and several colleagues) have used this factory for other projects in the past. And my personal order wil be tied up in the same batch.

So know that the 20-30 days is the best time estimate I can offer, and that it may change. If it does, I'll certainly post an update here.

The current firmware has the DMX address hard coded. I'll program and test each pixel based on the address range you provide.

Shipments will be packed in antistatic bags, etc, to ensure a safe delivery.

Price:

$9.20 per pixel
$5.50 for USPS priority mail shipping + tracking number, per order.
$24.00 for Global priority mail shipping + tracking number, per order.
No charge for shipping if you send me your FedEx / UPS account number.
Delete $10 per order if you don't want your pixels programmed.


Payment Methods:

Personal checks / money orders are welcome (and possibly preferred). Send them to

John Chapman
PO Box 960
Lehi, UT 84043

Paypal is also welcome. Send funds to 'payment AT response-box.com' If paying this way, please add 3% to your total to cover what Paypal charges me.

The price listed above is so close to my factory price that I don't have much room for extra fees.

In either case, please post your name, order quantity, payment method and DMX channel range (if desired) below so I can get a final total. If you'd prefer to send your shipping address in a private message, that's great too.

Naturally, funds need to have cleared the bank before anything will be shipped.

Hopefully I've covered all the details here.

John

[EDIT: Drive resistors changed to 1K ohm in attached schematic.]

LRNeener
09-28-2007, 03:35 PM
I am in for 5 unprogrammed.
Thanks
Camron

A Marchini
09-28-2007, 08:04 PM
I am interested in 10 unprogrammed. Bout $95 should cover it right?
T. M.

JEC
09-29-2007, 11:09 AM
I am interested in 10 unprogrammed. Bout $95 should cover it right?
T. M.

No problem.

vulikox
09-29-2007, 11:24 AM
I'm up for 15 of these! Thanks for all your hard work!

cmurray
10-02-2007, 04:00 PM
A full set of 32 programmed for $335.00 for me please.

Unless Phil and Ernie rewrite your entire project in the next 4 days.:roll:

JOel

cmurray
10-05-2007, 09:24 AM
Paypal sent.

joel

JEC
10-06-2007, 11:56 AM
Here's what will be submitted to the factory on Monday, 10/8:

1. My personal batch
2. 5 for Camron
3. 10 for Tony -- check rec'd
4. 15 for Rubiksolver - check rec'd
5. 32 for jrock64 - paypal rec'd
6. 73 for RR (private) -- paypal rec'd
----------------
7. 10 for BrianT - paypal rec'd.


John

EDIT: Payment received from BrianT.

briant
10-22-2007, 12:40 PM
10 programmed please

A Marchini
10-23-2007, 08:41 AM
So know that the 20-30 days is the best time estimate I can offer, and that it may change. If it does, I'll certainly post an update here.


Out of curiosity , are we still go for the board are arriving at your house around Nov 8th?

Tony M.

JEC
10-23-2007, 09:38 AM
I chatted with the factory yesterday.

They said that the circuit boards are nearly done. For some bizarre reason, my price for the PICs on DigiKey was more than $1 better than the price they quoted me. So the PICs were shipped to me and I'm FedExing them overseas this afternoon.

DigiKey's price was the same as buy.microchip.com, but Microchip was out of stock until 11/8.

So the chips will arrive Friday and the factory says they'll begin assembling once the chips arrive.

So yes, I believe the first week of November is still very reasonable.

A Marchini
10-23-2007, 09:57 AM
So yes, I believe the first week of November is still very reasonable.

Well, thats a big COOL BEANS!
TM

JEC
11-02-2007, 09:07 AM
Just received word from the factory that everything should be done next Wednesday (11/7) and shipped to me.

I'll post more details as I have them.

Thanks for your patience!

John

JEC
11-09-2007, 09:36 AM
The pixels have shipped from the factory. FedEx's estimated delivery date is 11/13 (Tuesday).

John

A Marchini
11-09-2007, 01:36 PM
The pixels have shipped from the factory. FedEx's estimated delivery date is 11/13 (Tuesday).

John
Dont tell me when you ship them, I want it to be a surprise!
Tony M.

JEC
11-09-2007, 02:00 PM
The pixels have shipped from the factory. FedEx's estimated delivery date is 11/13 (Tuesday).

John

By the way --- if you've ordered 'unprogrammed' pixels, I'll load them with a test program which will fade through the red, green and blue LED banks.

This program will run automatically if power (+12v) and ground are applied properly. No DMX / data stream required.

That way you'll know that the electronics are stable before you add your own firmware.

A Marchini
11-09-2007, 04:23 PM
The pixels have shipped from the factory. FedEx's estimated delivery date is 11/13 (Tuesday).

John

By the way --- if you've ordered 'unprogrammed' pixels, I'll load them with a test program which will fade through the red, green and blue LED banks.

This program will run automatically if power (+12v) and ground are applied properly. No DMX / data stream required.

That way you'll know that the electronics are stable before you add your own firmware.

Very cool, thanks a ton there...

JEC
11-10-2007, 10:09 AM
One more thought...

If you've ordered *programmed* pixels, please reply here and let me know which DMX addresses you'd like.

If I don't hear from you, I'll default to channel 1 in 3 channel increments.

IE, 1,4,7,10,13,...

Thanks.

JEC
11-12-2007, 08:03 PM
The FedEx fairy plopped a 10.5 Kg international air freight parcel on the doorstep today...

More soon.

:)

John

JEC
11-13-2007, 03:19 PM
1. My personal batch
2. 5 for Camron
3. 10 for Tony -- check rec'd
4. 15 for Rubiksolver - check rec'd
5. 32 for jrock64 - paypal rec'd
6. 73 for RR (private) -- paypal rec'd
----------------
7. 10 for BrianT - paypal rec'd.
8. 30 for DG (private) -- paypal rec'd


Status:

Camron: Ready for Pickup
Tony: Shipped 10/13 - rec'd

BrianT: Shipped 10/14 - rec'd
Rubik: Shipped 10/14 - rec'd

DG: Shipped 10/16 - rec'd
Joel: Shipped 10/16 UPS - rec'd
RR: Shipped 10/16 - rec'd

This will update as things change.

EDIT: All pixels from this co-op batch have been shipped and received. Thanks!


John

JEC
11-14-2007, 03:52 PM
*Don't* use a cheap 'wall-wart' type power supply. Unless it's a 'switching' design.

The pixels assume that the +12v supply, which feeds the LEDs, is smooth and constant.

You need a stable switching power supply to run these effectively. If you do lots of fast flashing, you'll want a power supply which can rapidly respond to these surges in current.

For that reason, I'd recommend using a surplus power supply for a computer.

Tons of power, stable designs, short-circuit protection, etc.

www.weirdstuff.com has good prices and fast shipping. Sometimes these computer supplies require a certain load on the output before they'll power up correctly. If that's the case, just hang a 12V light bulb off the 5V rail and you'll be fine.

I bought a supply rated at 12V, 18A continuous for about $18.

Here's a good link for instructions / assembly:

http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply

JEC
11-16-2007, 03:55 PM
Here's a shot of about 100 pixels, freshly programmed and waiting to be shipped.


EDIT: At this point, everything ordered by folks here on the board has been programmed, tested and shipped out. Thanks again, and best of luck!

John

tconley
11-16-2007, 06:54 PM
ok this coop is for rgb led's and the picture is in black and white. that just seems funny to me.

cmurray
11-22-2007, 01:26 AM
DAMM those pixels are bright.

Had to run down the ups man at 7:30 but finally have them.

Well worth the wait.
The enttec software and the Vixen plugin came up the first time.


Thanks for your efforts John.

JOel

JEC
11-22-2007, 11:00 AM
DAMM those pixels are bright.

Well worth the wait.


Indeed. :)

Glad they arrived safely.

John

wbuehler
12-12-2007, 10:47 AM
JEC

I would like to get some of those nice looking pixels.
Will you be doing a co-op again any time soon?

Thanks

Bill

JEC
12-12-2007, 01:09 PM
JEC

I woudl like to get some of those nice looking pixels.
Will you be doing a co-op again any time soon?

Thanks

Bill


Yes, I'm planning another factory run. The factory typically takes 20 days to turn an order completely around, so I wouldn't expect them before Christmas.

How many are you interested in?

John

wbuehler
12-14-2007, 08:13 AM
JEC

I sent you a PM but can you put me down for 10 on the next order?

Thanks

Bill

JEC
12-14-2007, 10:15 AM
Will do - thanks!

Factory is running several hundred more pixels for me as we speak.

John

Trepidati0n
12-14-2007, 02:20 PM
JEC,

1. Compared to your 2005 pictures...are the pixels as bright or brighter? I have the wife drooling just a bit...but she was hoping for a bit more light.

2. What company are you working with? PM if you feel inclinded to do so. Fully assembly of SMT boards at the price you seem to be getting makes me sorta excited.

JEC
12-14-2007, 02:31 PM
JEC,

1. Compared to your 2005 pictures...are the pixels as bright or brighter? I have the wife drooling just a bit...but she was hoping for a bit more light.

2. What company are you working with? PM if you feel inclinded to do so. Fully assembly of SMT boards at the price you seem to be getting makes me sorta excited.

I'd say they're much brighter, but I don't have any of the old ones to compare against.

The first design was 2 LEDs per color, though they were 'high brightness' spider LEDs. Now I'm using a wide-angle LED, 6 per color, and sourcing them from the manufacturer. Cutting out a handful of US distributors certainly helps with the price!

A few weeks ago I put two of them on the roof above my garage and let them cycle through different colors. The roof is about 12' above the ground, and the two pixels were throwing clear shadows of me against the grass. :)

Here's the order for the third batch:

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1771

John