New to all this.

[chockleyj]

Looking to start purchasing everything to get started playing with and understanding pixels and xlights.  Could you help me figure out what I am forgetting.

F16v2
Xlights
Nodes
Powersupply
Cat5

What else?
I know I am forgetting alot.
No answer will go unnoticed
Thanks in advanced!

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[Phrog30]

Looking to start purchasing everything to get started playing with and understanding pixels and xlights.  Could you help me figure out what I am forgetting.

F16v2
Xlights
Nodes
Powersupply
Cat5

What else?
I know I am forgetting alot.
No answer will go unnoticed
Thanks in advanced!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Enclosure (CG-1500?) and backpanel.
Fuses, wiring, connectors.
Possible cooling fan for enclosure.
Way to mount enclosure, the cheapest and easiest (assuming CG-1500) is hose clamps and 1/2 emt conduit.
Raspberry Pi (highly recommended)
Ethernet Switch
FM Transmitter
Electrical capacity (panel, outlets, etc.)
Way to mount nodes

When you say cat5, are you planning on using for data, power, or all?  If using for power be careful as there is a limit to how much current you can run through cat5.

There are several pre-sales going on, so now is the time to buy.  If you need links let us know.

James

[Gilrock]

Just remember some of the stuff you are buying isn't commercial it's in the DIY category which means you will need to build enclosures to house the power supply and F16v2.  I mounted one power supply and an F16v2 in a CG-1500 and it's a tight fit since I didn't want anything mounted to the door.  Depending on where you get your nodes they may not have any connectors on the end.  When I buy pixels in bulk it saves to get them without connectors and then solder on your own.  You'll need a little bit of wire (I use 14 gauge) and an A/C pigtail to wire up the power supply and board.

[chockleyj]

Plans for later
((((Raspberry Pi (highly recommended)
Ethernet Switch
FM Transmitter
Electrical capacity I will have 3 120vac 30amp circuits dedicated
(panel, outlets, etc.)
Way to mount nodes)))))

When you say cat5, data only
I have 16g lamp cord for power.

Am I good with
f16v2 (already ordered )
 power supply (ordered)
Cat 5   (I have a ton)
Home cpu  (own)
Pixels    (100 ordered)

To start learning?

Thanks for the quick response?

Looking to start purchasing everything to get started playing with and understanding pixels and xlights.  Could you help me figure out what I am forgetting.

F16v2
Xlights
Nodes
Powersupply
Cat5

What else?
I know I am forgetting alot.
No answer will go unnoticed
Thanks in advanced!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Enclosure (CG-1500?) and backpanel.
Fuses, wiring, connectors.
Possible cooling fan for enclosure.
Way to mount enclosure, the cheapest and easiest (assuming CG-1500) is hose clamps and 1/2 emt conduit.
Raspberry Pi (highly recommended)
Ethernet Switch
FM Transmitter
Electrical capacity (panel, outlets, etc.)
Way to mount nodes

When you say cat5, are you planning on using for data, power, or all?  If using for power be careful as there is a limit to how much current you can run through cat5.

There are several pre-sales going on, so now is the time to buy.  If you need links let us know.

James

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[chockleyj]

Just remember some of the stuff you are buying isn't commercial it's in the DIY category which means you will need to build enclosures to house the power supply and F16v2.  I mounted one power supply and an F16v2 in a CG-1500 and it's a tight fit since I didn't want anything mounted to the door.  Depending on where you get your nodes they may not have any connectors on the end.  When I buy pixels in bulk it saves to get them without connectors and then solder on your own.  You'll need a little bit of wire (I use 14 gauge) and an A/C pigtail to wire up the power supply and board.

I have a few  ideas  for enclosures. Pelican cases from my Army days and a covered porch with large shrubs to hide them behind. For the remote locations I was thinking more along the lines of a pvc junction box.

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[mararunr]

Not sure how granular you want to get but there's heat shrink, soldering iron, power cord for your PSU (nope, they don't come with one), zip ties......

[chockleyj]

Not sure how granular you want to get but there's heat shrink, soldering iron, power cord for your PSU (nope, they don't come with one), zip ties......

Waiting for the local harbor freight to open!!!! Thanks I didnt know they didnt come with a cord? Could I cut an extension cord?

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[chockleyj]

Just remember some of the stuff you are buying isn't commercial it's in the DIY category which means you will need to build enclosures to house the power supply and F16v2.  I mounted one power supply and an F16v2 in a CG-1500 and it's a tight fit since I didn't want anything mounted to the door.  Depending on where you get your nodes they may not have any connectors on the end.  When I buy pixels in bulk it saves to get them without connectors and then solder on your own.  You'll need a little bit of wire (I use 14 gauge) and an A/C pigtail to wire up the power supply and board.

Connectors? Plans were to solder and heat shrink cat5 to pixel signaling and lamp cord to power. Then secure the signaling cat5 to the f16 and power to a buss. Am I thinking the wrong way?

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[mararunr]

needs to be 3-prong - watch along the side of the road for old extension cords, TVs, printers.  I carry a pair of snipping shears in my vehicles and just stop and snip off a lead whenever I seem 'em.  For starting you don't need real heavy gauge.  As you get into it, I would suggest finding 12awg if you can.  If you can't find by road, look at local good will and see if they have just cords (sold as PC cords or DVD player cords - just make sure 3 prong).  Last resort is to go buy at a Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart.

[chockleyj]

needs to be 3-prong - watch along the side of the road for old extension cords, TVs, printers.  I carry a pair of snipping shears in my vehicles and just stop and snip off a lead whenever I seem 'em.  For starting you don't need real heavy gauge.  As you get into it, I would suggest finding 12awg if you can.  If you can't find by road, look at local good will and see if they have just cords (sold as PC cords or DVD player cords - just make sure 3 prong).  Last resort is to go buy at a Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart.

Goodwill!!!! I like your style! Thanks

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[chockleyj]

needs to be 3-prong - watch along the side of the road for old extension cords, TVs, printers.  I carry a pair of snipping shears in my vehicles and just stop and snip off a lead whenever I seem 'em.  For starting you don't need real heavy gauge.  As you get into it, I would suggest finding 12awg if you can.  If you can't find by road, look at local good will and see if they have just cords (sold as PC cords or DVD player cords - just make sure 3 prong).  Last resort is to go buy at a Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart.

Goodwill!!!! I like your style! Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I also bought 100ft of 16g for ac use.... I will be returning it and getting 12g now! Thanks

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[mararunr]

needs to be 3-prong - watch along the side of the road for old extension cords, TVs, printers.  I carry a pair of snipping shears in my vehicles and just stop and snip off a lead whenever I seem 'em.  For starting you don't need real heavy gauge.  As you get into it, I would suggest finding 12awg if you can.  If you can't find by road, look at local good will and see if they have just cords (sold as PC cords or DVD player cords - just make sure 3 prong).  Last resort is to go buy at a Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart.

Goodwill!!!! I like your style! Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I also bought 100ft of 16g for ac use.... I will be returning it and getting 12g now! Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Don't take the 16g back  - use it on the DC side (power going out of PSU to the controller/pixels).  I was only referring to the input side of the PSU (supplying power from the wall to the PSU/ac side).

[Gilrock]

I've used 16g for my controller power.  You just need to know what your going to be doing.  I feel like I'm being over conservative when I use 14g.  I only have one 29A power supply and 14g could probably handle that for the short periods you have a max load but most controllers have 2 inputs so I have 14g going to each side so I'm probably never maxing over 15A per side and I doubt I ever come close to that because I rarely fully populate my channels and I rarely send full white to my display.  I guess being a EE I tend to push the limits more than others.

[chockleyj]

needs to be 3-prong - watch along the side of the road for old extension cords, TVs, printers.  I carry a pair of snipping shears in my vehicles and just stop and snip off a lead whenever I seem 'em.  For starting you don't need real heavy gauge.  As you get into it, I would suggest finding 12awg if you can.  If you can't find by road, look at local good will and see if they have just cords (sold as PC cords or DVD player cords - just make sure 3 prong).  Last resort is to go buy at a Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart.

Goodwill!!!! I like your style! Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I also bought 100ft of 16g for ac use.... I will be returning it and getting 12g now! Thanks

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Don't take the 16g back  - use it on the DC side (power going out of PSU to the controller/pixels).  I was only referring to the input side of the PSU (supplying power from the wall to the PSU/ac side).

Got ya!! I was thinking the dc side....

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[babybear]

First I would like to say is welcome to Xlights/NC.  Now have you read the manual to Xlights? I recommend reading it at least 2 times.  Also join the form AusChristmasLights. they also have a great manual that explains a lot of the basic wiring, power supplies and controllers.  Your list for getting started is not bad. The only thing that is light, is the nodes. a 100 may sound like a lot but it is not. A medium size mega tree would be 50 nodes high by about 12 wide  only going 180 deg. That's 600 nodes with out a topper. 16 gauge wire to supply each strand will be fine (DC) power.  12vcd at 29amps is just over 3 amps at 110vac. so 14gauge cord will be fine on the 110 side. 

    http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/index.php