Is there a way to sequence DMX RGBW RGB+CW+WW 4/5 in 1 chips?

[jerrywolfer]

Is there a way to sequence DMX RGBW RGB+CW+WW 5 in 1 or RGB+CW 4 in 1 chips?
Attached photo of 4 and 5 in 1 string chips.

My plan is to use xLights and F48 DMX output to 12 each DMX string decoders that either do 4 or 5 in 1 chips.
The plan is to custom color Under/Above cabinet locations lighting to be on and off daily and special events with a scheduler. I found a product that allows DMX in parallel with RF remote and Smartphone input to the DMX string decoders.  That way a family member can override the xLights program if they wish for their event with either the RF remote or Smartphone app.

Why 5 in 1 RGB+CW+WW (sometimes RGB+CCL) can mix Clear White and Warm White to create natural light. More even lighting per meter for example all 60 LEDs in 4 or 5 in 1 LED chip gives 60 LEDs per meter versus using a 60 LED/m string with separate RGB and W LEDs that provides 30 RGB and 30 W per meter.

Help! 

[keithsw1111]

Xlights will handle 4 channel well. There is no Support for 5 channel.

[pngaudioguy]

My plan is to use xLights and F48 DMX output to 12 each DMX string decoders that either do 4 or 5 in 1 chips.

First off - I realize this thread is very old, but it is the only one I've found through searching where someone has an actual plan for implementing RGBW strings. This is the first Christmas I've actually used pixels, and one of the frustrations for me is trying to get a good white. I use RGBW LED fixtures at work all the time, and can get a really nice looking white from them, but without that extra W channel, it doesn't come out right. Xlights supports RGBW, but my Falcon F16V3 seemingly only has the option for 3 channel RGB in various orders. What DMX string decoder are you using to get to the 4 in 1 chips? I've got the 3 expansion ports on board that can drive various DMX fixtures, and that might be just the ticket for the areas I want true white.

Thanks in advance, and I hope you're still floating around!

[jerrywolfer]

The way I did it in the Layout - see photo - I used 5 channels of DMX since I was testing with RGB WW + CW
But now really use 4 in 1 RGBCW strips.
Notice I used Universe 17 for DMX RGB floods while I used a Dedicated Universe 18 for the 4 in 1 strips.

The way I did it in the Sequencer - see photo; this photo show turning on Channel 4 that is the White only LED on the strip. Normally I don't have any channels programed as ON since I use my smartphone or the RF remote to do the LED strips that are in the house (Z1 to Z3), but can use xLights for special occasions.
These guys doing xLights are world smart! my guess is they will give us a layout and sequence for 5 in 1 strips when they get to it!

the xLights program you see in the attached photos are running on the Falcon F48 that has three (3) DMX out ports. One would actually work good for me. When not in the xmas show mode, I turn the show on with xLights with the F48 in E131 mode then exit xLights and let F48 stay on 24/7 that gives me a static (always ON LEDs), then use my home automation to turn the 12VDC and 5VDC strings, RGB floods and strips on and off per schedule. 

[pngaudioguy]

@jerrywolfer - Thanks so much for the clear Layout info. That part makes a lot of sense, I guess my question wasn't very good. Let me attempt a rephrase:

From the F48 output, what device are you using to convert the DMX output off the differential port into a usable signal for the lights? Everything I've seen on Falcon guidelines is that they're very much setup for 3 channel mode, so I'm assuming there's some other hardware in play to convert the DMX into the RGBW 12V/5V signal that the light strand needs, right?

[jerrywolfer]

Maybe the attached will help?
My system is up all year and run Pixels, DMX RGB flood lights and DMX Decoders.
Pixels use the remotes off of F48 (12VDC strings and 5VDC stings on the mega-tree for holidays)
F48 DMX output go directly to 21 DMX RGB flood lights (24VDC) each Flood has its own DMX decoder inside.
   I use a DMX hub mostly for convenance on the F48 output on the Flood lights so they all don't have to be in
   series and share wire a cat5.
F48 DMX output to Eleven (11) LED DMX decoders for each 4 in 1 LED strip currently in the house for cabinet lighting.
My opinion is you can use a F16V3 to do the same thing, especially if you use a DMX hub.

[pngaudioguy]

That picture cleared up perfectly what I wasn't understanding. Thank you. Unfortunately, I don't think that will quite work for what I want to do. I'm hoping to find pixels that are RGBW, and be able to put them in series like regular RGB pixels. I don't want to have a bunch of the DMX decoder boxes floating all over the display to get the strands to work... I'm thinking I might need to ask over at the Falcon forums and see how to utilize 4 channel modes - I see some 4 channel pixels listed on the support pixel types page, but don't see them in my list to select from, so I'm thinking this is very much turning into more of a Falcon question than an xLights question.

I really appreciate the insight you've put here, though!

[jerrywolfer]

I think your right, you may not find any DMX Pixles STRINGS that have the DMX decoders per Pixel?
For sure you can purchase DMX RGBW strips including outdoor weather prof that have DMX decoders on the strip for each 4 RGBW LED.
The cost is quite high yet, but hope they will continue to come down so we can get rid of the Decoders.

[Gilrock]

Those photos of the pixel strips do not contain a control chip so they look like what we call "dumb RGB".  There is an input to control each color.  I'm pretty sure the Falcon controllers are only for running smart pixels.  You need a dumb rgb controller.