pixel flicker from short extension wire

[babybear]

Yes just make sure all grounds are connected together

[babybear]

Ok here is one. one of my previous post I said I could not go any father than 38 feet from my controller to my bullets. That was true running 14-4 speaker wire. That works fine as I only need 33 feet to run my mega tree. Oops I forgot my start on top another 20 feet up. I wire up 60 feet of 18-4 and it drives it just fine. Just goes to show data does not like the heaver gauge wire.  I need the heaver wire for the 600 nodes per run ver my star at 171 nodes.

[mrgimmeone]

ok so i tried 40ft of cat5 cable and can only get maybe two mini trees to work. i now have it set up with the controller right next to the trees with the longest run of cat5 at about 6ft and they all work fine. seems like an incredible waste of cat5 cable to use 1 wire per tree tho. so unless i can find a way to get data over 40ft without degrading, my controller will have to be right next to them 

[babybear]

The whole thing comes down to the E682. The only real test you have left is changing out the resistors. That was something I have never tried.

[mrgimmeone]

i did. i used a 33k ohm and it didn't do anything. nothing would come on at all. dunno why.

[babybear]

I have come to the end of my wire.... Wish I knew of something else short of switching over to a F16v2 or 3.

[MrChristmas2000]

At this point I would vote to see you switch to a Falcon F16V3 and just be done with it. Sell the other controller on the LOR board. 

[mrgimmeone]

it's just odd that i can get 1 40ft wire to work with 1 tree but if i use a second wire both trees start flickering. $200 per board is pretty pricey for me. if only they offered it in kit form i could probably swing it.

[Phrog30]

Kit form? Come on now. There is a reason the board isn't offered in a kit form. You are comparing apples to oranges (falcon vs everyone else). If you factor in the time you have wasted so far, $200 is a bargain.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[mrgimmeone]

i'm sure the falcon board is a very good board but i do have to ask what is different about the falcon board that would solve the issue of distance that i'm having. if it's that much better i'll buy 1 right now before i start building my 8000+ pixel matrix. i ask as you guys have more experience with this board than i do so i'm curious.

[MrChristmas2000]

The majority of the components on the Falcon F16 are surface mounted and not a typical kit form of product. The product comes completely assembled and TESTED for functionality ready for you to use it. It also comes with excellent direct product support direct from the designer. Wouldn't have any thing else even if you gave it to me.

The falcon has been tested to drive pixels as far from the controller as 60ft with no problem. If you have any further concerns about that just call David and he will walk you through using the F16 even before you buy it.

Oh, yes I do have 5 F16V2s right now and will be upgrading one of them to the F16V3 this year. It can support up to 48 outputs. The base board supports up to 1024 pixels per port (with power injection of course).

[mrgimmeone]

may have to take out a small loan then...lol. the E682 is running my 10ft mega tree great so i don't think i'll change that. but considering i MUST have a 40ft run from my garage to the mini trees and arches i guess this would be a better option. but this is what i did get out of the e682 close by the controller.