Use Classical light

[edroma]

Hi,

I'm starting with this new experience.
I want to decorate my home for the next Christmas, and I'm starting to learn now how to do it.
I'll decor with icicle to outline the roof, with smart rgb pixel, and for this lights I'll use th F16V2 controller.
I want use the classical christmas light, a standard led sting (no RGB), which controller can I use?
I see the LOR CMB16D, any other suggestions?
Is it difficult to control with xlights F16 and CMB16D together?
I want use Raspberry Pi3 like ShowTime.

Thanks

[garyh]

If you are using the F16V2 controller, you can use Port 2 to send DMX to the LOR CMB16D controller. 

In xlights you create your effects, just realize your LED lights are a constant color, so you'll have to make sure when you want to turn them on they are white blocks on the grid.  If you use any other color then the LOR/DMX won't work--at least it didn't this year when I was testing my strobes/falling meteor tubes.

[JonB256]

For the few remaining "non-pixel" items I have on DMX controllers, if I define them as Red, they will show Red in the Preview but the effect you apply to that model must be Red or at least have some Red in it (for example, Purple is Red and Blue, so it would give you some output). Or, don't select any color and it works.

[edroma]

Thx,

but I don't understand, if I want use the 24V sting like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Konstsmide-4611-103-Supérieure-Guirlande-Transparent/dp/B0034Z1SEU

Which controller I need to use? LOR controller or one DMX ?

[garyh]

LOR makes controllers that will do that.. just make sure you get the 220v version if that's what you use.  The LOR controllers can use LOR or DMX protocol.

They also make DMX boards that will do it like the Lynx Express, which uses the DMX protocol.

Looking at the wiring, you'd just plug that transformer into the controller board and either have it on or off.  I wouldn't try to fade or do anything else as I don't believe those lights were designed for that.

[Ebuechner]

A couple of things first put in your location on your profile because how we answer may depend on where you're at. (Like we don't know if you need a 110 or 220 volt controller) second I wouldn't suggest hooking up the lights that you show in that link to a dimmer capable controller bad things can happen. An example would be the problems people had with Martha Stewart lights starting on fire. Those kind of Lights you would use DMX controller between the Transformer and the light's not before, as a crude example. Do a little research and decide if you want to build a kit or you want something ready-made then figure out how many lights you want to hook up to it. The light O Rama controller is good but it may be Overkill amperage wise for what you want to do

[jnealand]

Better yet put your location in your signature so that we do not have to look at your profile.

[edroma]

Hi,

thx for the infos and tips.

This is a first idea:



I'll start to control 5 segments with classical sting light. This light is 24V.
I'll add other classical lights to have 16 channel and other RGB lights with Falcon F16.
I'd like to play the show without PC, I want use the Raspberry.

Can I do that, and increase my project year to year?
 

[garyh]

24v light, well I don't know controllers that deal with that--would need some sort of switching board so you could use a single 24v transformer for input, and each switch output would send it to each string.

The LOR boards or DMX board will either output 110v or 220v AC based on their input.  Perhaps you could modify the board to run off a 24v power supply--that would work, but a board outputting 24v is non-standard from what I've seen.

Another option would be transformers on each output that would lower the line voltage down to 24v, but you'd need 5 of them.