Frustrated - Need an answer

[kentd]

Gil on initial power up fuses 2, 3, 4 blew. I then pulled the fuses and clipped the Amp Meter on the buss side and placed the probe on the fuse output side which then allowed power to flow. Fuse 2 was the first I did this with and got lights on the corresponding trees. I then placed a new fuse into the circuit all OK. I next did the same thing on fuse 3 with the same result, replaced with a good fuse no problem. Repeat with fuse 4 same result.

Now if I power on no problem and can run the sequence just like it is supposed to work all trees doing their thing.

Again Thanks for your responses

[Gilrock]

I can't quite piece together how many pixels you have on each output.  Most 12V pixels are about 30ma power draw so since you are listing 5.44 I'm assuming you don't have more than 180 pixels per output?

[kentd]

Gil
Each one of those circuits contain total 60 Pixels, 50 tree 10 Star - Two Trees combine @ 5.44 so this would make 5.44 Amps per fuse for a total of 21.76 Amps plus Two trees on Controller = 5.44 for the power supply total of 27.2 Amps.

[kentd]

Just so you can get a better idea of how I am using the Hella Fuse Blocks I am posting a picture of the controller that will run my large matrix.

Matrix is 42 x 50 pixels using the 100 pixel 2811 strings from Ray Wu so each string occupies two rows. Each set of two rows will be grouped together for four rows of 200 Pixels. Total amp draw for 200 pixels should be 9.07 Amps, thus the 10 Amp Spade Fuse with three rows of 200 per power supply for a total of 27.22 amps per power supply.

Only the first four plugs on the controller are used being set at 600 Pixels for the first three and 300 pixels for the last group. No power will come from the controller only the Fuse Blocks.

I hope this picture without the wiring will help to visualize what I somewhat did on the Mega Tree Controller.
Thanks
Kent

[Gilrock]

Wait did you buy the 12V fuses or the 5v ones?

Just kidding...sorry I don't have much else to offer.  As long as all grounds are connected and the power injection positives are kept separate I don't know.  Maybe those main power wires to the board need to be bigger.  All these current values are any of them measured or just calculated?  You said you got it working with the ampmeter inline so did the actual currents match what you thought.  Are slow blow fuses an option?  Can you fade up the lights to start instead of blasting on full white?

[kentd]

The estimated currents are actually higher than the measured ones as they do not start at full white. The Dalek trees only use 50 pixel strings and measuring full white they draw about 2.25 amps but each tree has a star with 10 pixels so they make a total of 60 pixels each.

The wire from the power supplies is #10 so that should not be a problem. I think when I fire the matrix up I will leave all the fuses out and fire through the amp meter until it starts then move down row by row.
Thanks for all the help

[Steamyrotter]

I'm still a little concerned with you being close to max current on the PSU.
Full current demand immediately may cause the surge that's affecting you.

Have you tried / can you try a bigger PSU??

[kentd]

I understand what you are saying however max current is not reached on startup it is only about maybe 60% because the pixels do not go all white nor are all of them lit up. The display begins with a twinkle effect and in the test mode the lights were not put at full brightness only about 30%. When I have measured total amp draw it has not exceeded 20 amps at 12 volts.
Thanks for your concern and your input that really helps.