Rookie mistake

[George34]

Ok... Im running 1 falcon board.  14 out of the 16 ports are being used.   I wanted to keep it simple for my 1st go-around.  Im running 100 pixles or less on every port.  Ok..no problems so far.   I got xlights up and running and all the lights are talking and working. 
Now...here's the problem.   I bought 25ft extensions so i can reach my props and the ones that are abt 60pixles or more are going to need power injections.  Now 4 out of the 14 ports are 50 pixles so those are OK but the others are going to need to be injected.   
So knowing this...what are your suggestions?  Ive seen sum vids on youtube so i understand how it works but just looking for ideas and sugestions. 
Ready...GO!!

Thx
G

[babybear]

First why do you think you need Power injection? Test  hook up your lights and set to white. See if there is a color differance from beging to end. if not injection is not needed. There are a few differant ways of doing this. The basic idea is to get power at both ends. I use my last option for all my lights all power out of a fuse box and nothing out of the controllers. you do need the grounds all tied together.

 So why a rookie mistake???

[Gilrock]

My preference is to use T cables so that the actual string can have normal pigtails in case used in another way.  I break off the power pin on the input side so that it separates the power in case I'm using 2 different supplies.  Here's a drawing of what it looks like.  The green wire bridging the grounds is important...I forgot at first and the lights were flickering.  Just bridging grounds through the pixels strings is usually not enough because there is too much resistance between ground points.

[jnealand]

1. Move the controller closer to the props.
2. I'm assuming 5v pixels, since I have no problems with long connections and 12v pixels, so next time go with 12v if you cannot move the controller.

[George34]

Thx 4 the input . so let me try to answer bk.

I think its a rookie mistakes cuz i was setting everything up without using the extensions.  Thought i had it licked but e when i connected the extensions problems showed up.  But i do appriciate the info u shared.   And question...what type of wires do i use to get the pwr sourse from the front of the string to the end?  Just reg 12guage wire?

Gil..thx for helpn out again.   Show was coming along great till now.  Lol.   I saw couple vids on those Ts.   Just saw them avsilable at RayRu.   Anywhere else u can get them ?

Jn. I am running 12v and i am tryn to move my controller . i can't move the props cuz 2 are columns on the house and the other is the edge of the driveway.   Now as info the pixles that are 50 are just fine.  I'm haveing trouble with a 100pixles set conected to 25ft extension.   Mayb I'll do a scketch of the layout so u can see what I'm up against.  But thx for the reply. 

[Ebuechner]

If you didn't have problems until you hooked up the extensions, it might be one of two things if not both.
1. Cheap extensions without a heavy enough wire gauge .
2. Voltage on a power supply not high as it needs to be.

[babybear]

Ok ready to watch me get beat up.
   first you say the problems started to show up. What is the actual problem?
   My mega tree I ran 12 gauge wire but if I went over 35 feet all sorts of weird thing happening.
       Lights doing what ever they wanted   600 nodes per output. I inject at the 0,300,600 nodes.
I zig zag up and down every 150 Makes my injections points with in 9 inches of each other.
   also when using 12 gauge wire and my power is set over 11 volts the lights flicker when on all white.
when I run 16 gauge wire all is fine up to 50 feet.
  roughly 100 nodes on pure white is 3 amps
  16 gauge 4 wire speaker wire will work just fine
  I don't use any connectors/plugs I solider all my whips/cords/extensions to my lights and hook up directly to my controller/fuse box.
  I'm seeing running a too heavy gauge wire messes up the data.
Remember the wire going into the first light is 18 gauge at the most. 
     

[Ebuechner]

I had a ton of the green 3 wire 16 gauge extension cords left over from my LOR days that I now use to run pixels.
Just like babybear I solder my connections at the lights and run it all the way to the controller with only one plug at the base of the controller. I've been able to run up to 50 ft with no problem consistently.
Anytime I run more than 50 pixels I make as many direct connections with the power and ground to various points that are convenient within the prop. In the case of my mega tree strips the power and data enters the bottom of the first strip then the power and ground continues to the adjoining strips tying it together from beginning to end.  Most everything I have runs off of a single cable so I don't have to have a second wire coming from the controller for power injection.

[babybear]

Nicely put Ebuechner.
   How much is too much?
 My Bruno has 1 cable in but yet 15 injection points.
 The snow flake has 10, each strip lighting working its way out from the center.
  Where I'm way different I'm able to mount 90% of my electronics in the basement
    with only 3 receivers outside, 2 in the attic, and 1 in the garage.

[babybear]

Yes I have started to hang my roof nodes last weekend. 2 segments each night.

[George34]

Appreciate all the info.  I didn't even know the power sources had voltage choices.  There is a button on the side that says 110v - 220v and it is set on the 110v.  Moving it to 220v wont mess anything up ?

-G

[Ebuechner]

No no no no no don't do that.
Just to the left of where you screw on all the wires is a little thing called a potentiometer with an X in the top.
You would use that and a voltmeter to adjust what output voltage you want. It's always a good idea to use a voltmeter to check your voltages if you're going to stay in this Hobby.

[George34]

Whew....glad i asked abt that button.   Lol.   Ok...I'll go buy one of those volt things and I'll see if i can find that button ur talkn abt.

[George34]

Well...guess mine dosent have one of those things.  Do they all have it?

[algerdes]

All international power supplies usually do.  A bit off subject, but you should always check to see that it is set for the AC voltage that you use. 

The trim pot for the output DC voltage is what they are trying to point out.  It is usually located at the end of the power screw strip.