Author Topic: Wiring up a Spinner  (Read 2955 times)

Offline Bokines

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Wiring up a Spinner
« on: July 15, 2016, 12:33:43 AM »
Hi,
I have just made a 10 arm spinner.
I need some advise on the best way to wire up my pixels so I can use the spinner model in XLights.
The total number of pixels will be 160, giving me 16 pixels per arm.
I am planning to use one continuous string of pixels, extending the wire between the tips of the arms where necessary and injecting power if needed.
Any advise would be appreciated.

Offline keithsw1111

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2016, 05:34:40 AM »
Generally I would start the string in the middle out to the end and jump back to the centre for each arm. But to be honest the model is pretty flexible.

Offline Phrog30

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2016, 05:47:52 AM »
The way Keith explained is the way I have mine and the way most I have seen are done.

So, there will be soldering involved.

James

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Offline babybear

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2016, 06:48:56 AM »
Yes start your data line in the center then bring that wire back from the outside back to the center and start the next arm.  The power all I did was take all the leads in the center connect them together.  At the ends just cut them off flush.  As for the models I made 2. One custom and one with just lines.   Each one will give quite different effects.  Last week I posted 2 videos showing the different effects of each model. 
JimmyG
Rochester, New York

Offline Bokines

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2016, 06:54:45 AM »
Thank you all for your advise. 

Offline Phrog30

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2016, 08:49:02 AM »
Like babybear, I use custom models as well. One, I did mine before the spinner model was created. Two, I have a center pixel and the new model won't work for that.

If interested, I would be happy to share what I have.

James

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Offline arw01

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2016, 07:50:52 AM »
This is similar to how porcupine balls are done, come back from each end of the arm and go back up from the middle.

As James said you can easily power inject from the middle out to every arm.  If you are using 12v pixels back feeding from the end should do it also, I made it to 170 nodes on a strip before I needed to backfeed power, pixels typically need it about 50 or more earlier, but back feeding from the end has worked for me on those too.

Alan

Offline gerry

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2016, 06:32:40 PM »
  Last week I posted 2 videos showing the different effects of each model.

Hi,

Could you please post the links of those videos here ?
Gerry

Offline Bokines

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2016, 02:50:27 AM »
Yeah,

My spinner is working.  I went with using a data line coming back from the end of each arm with power going into each arm from the center.  In my model I have defined it as a 10 are spinner with 17 LEDS per arm and number of strings as 1 with a total LED count of 170.

Is there any way to make my spinner actually spin.  So far I have been able to use the standard effect but can not seem to create a spinning effect.

Any ideas?

Offline flyinverted

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2016, 10:38:54 AM »
Use the fan or pinwheel effect.

You could also create a second custom model with a horizontal matrix layout using the same channels and use the bars and morph effect. That will spin nicely.
Steve Giron
Maricopa County, AZ
xLights user with a boat-load of channels.

Do not ask to know all the answers, but ask to understand the question.

Offline Phrog30

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2016, 12:37:46 PM »
I think I have a few "spinning" effects.  I don't use the native spinner model and I don't really know anything about it.  I still like the custom model approach.  Also, most of this was done before they added the buffer and render options.  There are many more, better, options today.

James

Offline keithsw1111

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Re: Wiring up a Spinner
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2016, 01:18:32 PM »
 Use the bars or single string effects. You may need to change the direction to get it to spin.