xx HRHS Marching Band Phobias Show, 8200 lights

[sean]

In case some of you are not on facebook: Last night was the grand reveal of the Highlands Ranch High School marching band show Phobias. It was the Homecoming football game. The HRHS band has 78 members. We were performing John Fannin's Phobias. Fear of Spiders, Snakes, Water, being alone, wide open spaces, noises, fire, heights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSufUaKXEks

We built 7 props. (6) of them are 1152 lights on 2" spacing on a 4x8' wooden frame. Frame is 4' off the ground making the top 12' high.  Each of these six props has a Raspberry Pi 3 running FPP 1.8. Controller is a Falcon F4 (4 data line outputs) and a Falcon power distribution board to power 8 more strings. Stairs are 12 strings of 96 ws2811 12v lights. The 7th prop is a stair that is  6 feet wide and 9' tall. Each stair step has a 4x36 matrix on the riser. 1296 lights on stairs. Stair is powered by a Falcon 16. STair has FPP setup as Master unit.

7 props, 8208 lights. These lights came with connectors on both ends.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/18AWG-wire-100pcs-string-DC12V-square-type-WS2811-addressable-RGB-led-smart-pixel-node-with-all/701799_32622651925.html


Each of the 7 props is battery powered by a 12v , 45AH battery. We are able to run the 8 minute show at least 3 hours on this, $88 battery.
http://www.batterysharks.com/12-Volt-45-Amp-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Battery-p/12v-45ah_b12-45.htm

The Wifi access point is run from an ubiquiti wirelesss access point, $79
https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-PicoStationM2HP-Wireless-Access-PICOM2HUS/dp/B00HXT8L4S. This signal covered the entire football field.

8.5 minute show was divided into 8 sequences, each segment was triggered using the big button plugin on FPP. This draws 10 buttons on a web page. Press a button and it triggers a playlist on the master, the six remotes all follow suit. We used an ipad to access the screen. It worked perfectly. There was a 1 to 1.5 second delay from the push of a button to the first note of music. Student running board just marked music to take this into account.


Video of Lilia's sequence for the show https://vimeo.com/182807346
Band parent video from sideline https://vimeo.com/183110475
Lilia video from sideline, better colors and closeup of effects. https://vimeo.com/183141751

[Phrog30]

parent video doesn't work...

[sean]

fixed link. added new link to video lilia shot from sideline.

[markrvp]

Does each of the six 4x8 panels have a Falcon F4?  So 6 total Falcon F4s? 

If that's correct, did you consider just using a PiHat and power injection?

[sean]

yes, i have six F4's, each driving 1100 lights. 1 f16 driving 1400 lights.
7 FPP's.

I did not consider a pihat for this. i like the setup control on the f4. For example i order 72 strings of 96 lights. 12 strings, folded in half for each prop. When mounting them we ran into an issue that we couldnt get all to fit inside the matrix. So we used 94 lights. With the F4 i just setup 2 nulls, problem solved. i am comfortable using the screens on the falcon boards.

maybe next year ill look at using the picap if i expand.

[mikewlaymon]

Would it be possible to get some detailed still photo shots of the props, front & back?

[sean]

ill take some at the next practice saturday.

Basically 7 props

everything is made of 1 1/2" square steel tubing .083 wall thickness.
Apollo Casters for wheels. 8" wheels, all have brakes. Flat Free
http://apollocaster.com/store/8-x-234-swivel-caster-with-a-flat-free-black-wheel-top-plate-connector-and-ball-brng-67666-p-67666.html

bottom frame is approx 4x8'. vertical frame is also 4x8'.
Lights our mounted on 2x4 frame. centerline of frame is exactly 48x96". This allows 3/4" from abs matrix to be screwed into wood. 4x8 frame is mounted 4' off ground so top of lights are 12' in the air.

7th prop is staircase, 6' wide, 9' high. 9 steps of 2"x10"x6' boards. welded frame of 1/4" steel for stair risers with lights.
ill take pictures and dimensions this weekend.

[sgibbons2]

Sean,
These look great!
One comment from personal experience. We had similar sized props a couple of years ago. During the state championships, the wind moved all of them to the north end zone during our show even with the brakes on.

[sean]

Sean,
These look great!
One comment from personal experience. We had similar sized props a couple of years ago. During the state championships, the wind moved all of them to the north end zone during our show even with the brakes on.

we have had them up in 50mph winds and they didnt move. each prop, made of steel, weighs over 100lbs. the stairs weigh 450lbs,

wind from the back should be fine, wind from the front should be ok, but we will see

[mikewlaymon]

have you had a chance to get any detailed photos yet?

ill take some at the next practice saturday.

Basically 7 props

everything is made of 1 1/2" square steel tubing .083 wall thickness.
Apollo Casters for wheels. 8" wheels, all have brakes. Flat Free
http://apollocaster.com/store/8-x-234-swivel-caster-with-a-flat-free-black-wheel-top-plate-connector-and-ball-brng-67666-p-67666.html

bottom frame is approx 4x8'. vertical frame is also 4x8'.
Lights our mounted on 2x4 frame. centerline of frame is exactly 48x96". This allows 3/4" from abs matrix to be screwed into wood. 4x8 frame is mounted 4' off ground so top of lights are 12' in the air.

7th prop is staircase, 6' wide, 9' high. 9 steps of 2"x10"x6' boards. welded frame of 1/4" steel for stair risers with lights.
ill take pictures and dimensions this weekend.