TREE model in Xlights vs actual TREE issue

[BirdingPix]

I am new to xLights and Christmas Light Shows.  I have a question regarding how to wire the PIXEL strings inside the TREE... please see photos since the xLights model looks great but my actual TREE seems to be not wired correctly. 

I simply ran the pixel string (from Ray Wu) starting at the bottom of the tree... up to the top, then over one column and back down to the base... then up again etc all the way around the tree. 

Yet the actual lighted tree acts like I would need to CUT the pixel string and add extension wire to start all columns at base of tree!?  (not as simple as I hoped).

Is there some model settings I am not doing right in xLights to match my actual tree wiring?

THANK YOU!   Eagerly awaiting the answer so I can continue to build all 10 trees!

Dave

[Gilrock]

Don't worry just keep building.  You wired up a zig-zag pattern so for the model cut the # of strings in half, double the number of nodes per string, and change strands per string to 2.

[Gilrock]

I personally wish xLights didn't do zig-zag this way because it confuses everyone.  We should have just had the user always give the real X/Y dimensions and then click a checkbox for zig-zag.

[BirdingPix]

Perfect!!    Thank You  Thank You  Thank You!

Your answer sure helped me!   Wonderful!

all the best,
Dave

[aknflyer]

Thanks for the post. I too had this question. I only saw zig zag mentioned, not explained. Now I have a better hope of it working correctly when I get it finished.

[Smerk]

What do I do if I have an odd number of strings in the tree?
I am building the Boscoyo mini trees - 50 pixel tree (5 x 10) and 20 pixel star. I can't put 2.5 for the number of strings.

I'm also trying to drive 4 of these off of a single port (with power inj). I couldn't figure out how to model in xlights, so I set the zig/zag in the e682 to start at 10 and then every 10. That works for the first tree, but since there are an odd number of strings (5), the next tree behaves as if it's upside down because it is starting on a zag. All trees are identical in build.

At this point I'm ready to just to a custom model. I really don't want to only have 1 tree per port.

Any help is much appreciated!

[keithsw1111]

Model each tree on its own in xlights. A 1 string 5 strand 50 node tree. Then add a star and chain its start channel to the end of the tree then another tree chained to the end of the star. That should work.

[Smerk]

Just tried that and it worked!\

Thanks, Keith!