Cheap wiring methods for RGB pixels

[jaywalk101]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone could offer suggestions on what type of wiring to use when connecting your pixels from the controller. I'm probably going to have a centralized Power Supply with my E681 and my strings will be running to display items such as my roof line and such. Could I connect with Cat 5 cable, or should I get something like this from Ray Wu's site? http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/7...100m-long.html

Or could I even use SPT1 wire? What are you guys typically doing?

Thanks!

[mmciver]

I am doing some RGB Pixels this year. You can run Cat5, in fact I will be, but you need to make sure not to put too much current thru them.
I am using 12volt pixels.
The pixels that look like rectangles, you can put about about 80 of them on a CAT5 they pull about 52ma each.
PIxels strings that look like mini lights, i can run 128.
Flexstrips allow me to run about 13 feet our about 120pixels.
Again, it depends on voltage and type of pixel.
I have seen others that are using 3 and 4 conductor security wire that can be purchased at Ray Wu's site. Heavier gauge and can pull more current.

hope this helps.

Mike.

[jaywalk101]

i'm going to be running 2801's and GECE's..... I'll test with cat 5e tonight on the GE's and see what happens... I have 32 nodes on each string.. I'll report my findings later tonight.. thanks!

[jaywalk101]

Used a 20ft cat5e cable to connect the gece icicles to the e681.. had pretty good results. i just have the wires twisted on, so hopefully after I solder it will be even better! Will probably be going this route when i start putting up my stuff this Christmas.. seems more economical! Will have to try a 50ft cable here soon...........

2012-02-19_19-26-46_799.jpg

[tfischer]

I was thinking of using speaker wire, or thermostat wire, or some-such. I'm nervous about current with Cat-5, unless you have only a small number pixels per string.

[dpitts]

I was thinking of using speaker wire, or thermostat wire, or some-such. I'm nervous about current with Cat-5, unless you have only a small number pixels per string.

I ran 100 pixel strings last year on Cat5E. No problems. Voltage and ground used 3 conductors each.

[MinionsWeb]

I have used sprinkler wire for 12v pixels and flex strip.
I an run at 10 meters of flex with no issues.
Biggest complaint, it is solid core not stranded.


BTW, glad to see the emailing notice issues is resolved!

[jaywalk101]

well after some more testing with a 20ft cat5e cable and 26 gece nodes, I have found that when the LEDs are all white, there are a some nodes that are not as bright (purplish white) in patches. it doesn't look too bad, and probably no one would notice, but I'm going to try some other things and see if I get better results (would dimming the white help?).... all the other colors look good (to my eyes).....

[MinionsWeb]

This is the problem with cheap leds.
There is a procedure called binning when manufacturing LEDs.
Binning ensures the leds are all within a very small percentage difference of each other imperceptible to the naked eye.
The mismatches are often sold off for one off type installations or used by companies to produce cheap crap hoping no one will notice.
You noticed.
I hope you remark on the seller feedback if these are from ray wu/ritaled.


You may try dimming but odds are this will not remedy the difference.

[jaywalk101]

the strand looks fine when i have it directly plugged into the controller at full white.. Its just when I'm carrying it over the cat5e cable... So I'm going to try a thicker gauge and see what happens.... thanks!