RGB 2801 Arches

**chicken** · 12-07-2011, 04:11 AM

Ok, finally got our arches built. We need to install them tomorrow and I'll post some video so this is just a tease for now

We built 5 arches with Ray Wu's 2801 RGB Pixel Strips. Each one is 10' and that works out to 96 RGB Pixels per arch or a total of 1440 channels for the 5 arches. We are powering it with a j1sys P12R and it is working rock solid. They look really sweet compared to the 6801 & CCR arches I have seen as its one 2801 IC per RGB LED so the segments are smaller and the fading is a lot smoother.

**wrongway** · 12-07-2011, 07:20 AM

Wow chicken, Sounds really cool!
Please do post video when you can.

**fathead45** · 12-07-2011, 08:28 AM

cant wait to see it. what are the spacing on them? was wanting to add that this year but no $$ but next year i will. i have 4 30ft archs across my drive way and im going to do each one but im torn on the spacing.

**chicken** · 12-08-2011, 02:46 AM

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/7...0-SMD-RGB.html are the strips I am using. Its 32 RGB LEDs per meter so about 1 1/4" center to center of each LED. The LEDs are 5050s so they are 5mm wide so the blank space between LEDs is almost exactly 1". We were playing around with them in the garage tonight and they are working great but it really pushes LSP with that many channels. For your 4 x 30' arches you are looking at 3456 channels which would be insane to try and sequence. I would go with the 6803 strips which are only 32 levels of dimming so the fades will not be as smooth but its one IC per 3 LEDs so you would cut your channel count in 1/3 so it would be a lot more manageable.

**cnbales** · 12-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by chicken

Ok, finally got our arches built. We need to install them tomorrow and I'll post some video so this is just a tease for now

We built 5 arches with Ray Wu's 2801 RGB Pixel Strips. Each one is 10' and that works out to 96 RGB Pixels per arch or a total of 1440 channels for the 5 arches. We are powering it with a j1sys P12R and it is working rock solid. They look really sweet compared to the 6801 & CCR arches I have seen as its one 2801 IC per RGB LED so the segments are smaller and the fading is a lot smoother.

I"m really interested in learning more about the rgb lights so, forgive my ignorance but I'm going to have to start from scratch and ask really stupid questions for quite sometime. You said that this would have a total of 1440 channels. My assumption is that you don't need a truck load of ren48LSD's to run these and I can't imagine sequencing 1440 channels in Vixen for leaping arches. I've seen Mr. PacketHead's Mega Tree and was really impressed. I'm sure this is all handled via DMX, but how does this translate with a control board and with Vixen?

**mschell** · 12-08-2011, 10:26 PM

Feel free to ask lots of questions - that's the best way to learn.

As for how this all works, I don't think there is too much in the wiki yet, but that will change.

These strips use chips embedded in the strips, similar to the pixel strings, so that one or more LEDs can be controlled individually. So you need a translator between DMX and the "pixel" protocol or language. The strips/pixels self-address themselves, which means that the first one takes the first bit of data, uses it as how to turn on the Red, Green, or Blue (RGB) LEDs in that pixel. It strips off it's data, and passes on the rest, and it goes on down the line.

There are several DMX->Pixel DIY controllers, or you can buy ones already made from vendors or China. There several different pixel chip types, and so different chips need different dedicated controllers or ones that can be customized for each type.

But you still have 3 channels per pixel/LED, and therefore do still have 1440 channels in Vixen. And that's where it gets interesting or more difficult to program/sequence. Changes in the software are coming, and commercial packages like LightShowPro or Madrix and others already do make handling pixels and RGB easier.

Hope this helps...

**schujk** · 01-15-2012, 03:17 AM

Hi Chicken, I was wondering how you mounted the strip, self adhesive tape, zip ties, etc.
Did you mount the strip on pvc pipe?
If so, did you mount the strip on the side and how did you get on bending the strip through the wide direction over 10'?
I might not be getting something here (missed the boat??), but worth the ask.
Thanks

**mkozik1** · 01-18-2012, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by mschell

Feel free to ask lots of questions - that's the best way to learn.

As for how this all works, I don't think there is too much in the wiki yet, but that will change.

These strips use chips embedded in the strips, similar to the pixel strings, so that one or more LEDs can be controlled individually. So you need a translator between DMX and the "pixel" protocol or language. The strips/pixels self-address themselves, which means that the first one takes the first bit of data, uses it as how to turn on the Red, Green, or Blue (RGB) LEDs in that pixel. It strips off it's data, and passes on the rest, and it goes on down the line.

There are several DMX->Pixel DIY controllers, or you can buy ones already made from vendors or China. There several different pixel chip types, and so different chips need different dedicated controllers or ones that can be customized for each type.

But you still have 3 channels per pixel/LED, and therefore do still have 1440 channels in Vixen. And that's where it gets interesting or more difficult to program/sequence. Changes in the software are coming, and commercial packages like LightShowPro or Madrix and others already do make handling pixels and RGB easier.

Hope this helps...

Mark,

This is Mark for Georgia and I have been working with LOR for some time and this year have chosen to move to something less expensive as well as work more with DMX. I found DIYLightAnimation.com and have been reading up on their stuff and find it very interesting and cost effective. They too use the LED strip that you have mentioned here along with one of their controllers. What controller are you using to talk DMX from Vixen to the strip?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

**mschell** · 01-18-2012, 08:45 PM

There are several pixel controllers. DIYLightAnimation (DLA) has the "Smart String" controller/hub method to control strips based on the 1809 or a similar chip. There are several controllers here on DIYC that will control both those 180x based pixels, as well as the WS2801, TM3001, GE Color Effects, 6803 and probably other pixel chips. The primary pixel controllers here are the E680 and E681. There are also some controllers from China that you can buy on Alibaba.com that will control pixel strips/modules/nodes. One more option is the PIXAD8/R12 from j1sys.com. All of these are DMX->pixel controllers. Some of them use the E1.31 protocol which is DMX over Ethernet.

Check out the DMX section of the forum to learn more about the E68x line or go to SANdevices.com, where Jim sells them directly. We did a group buy for the components for the E68x last year, and will be doing another one soon here on DIYC.

**Zeph** · 01-18-2012, 09:14 PM

Did you have any trouble with bending the strips to match the curve of your arch?

And did you inject more power in the middle of the strip? I read that the 5v strips @ 60ma tend to need more power every 50 pixels or so (but Ray's figures of 7.68W/M would imply more like 48ma). I haven't had a strip to test yet, so I'd love to hear how the power aspect works for you.