Rain and Flickering Pixels - Data Issue? or Power?

[derektoews]

Just wondering if any of y’all have run into this and found a more substantial understanding as to what is going on so I can better address the problem.

All of my display works literally perfect, rain or shine except my bigger mega tree. It seems like (could be coincidence I guess?) whenever it rains a lot, most of the strands (10 out of 16) start to just randomly flicker…not all at the same time, and some of them stop and clear up, but at some point usually that many do. However, it’s also only when anything below 100% intensity is being sent, because they’ll flicker up to the full intensity. Sometimes they’ll even do the colors they are supposed to do and then do all kinds of random colors as well before turning off when they are supposed to. I should mention, it's not a constant flicker as if there's Xlights data being sent as well as FPP data sending at the same time, it's much more subtle than that. This flickering is happening once every 5 seconds or so to random strands.

I have been able to fix this issue 2 different ways.
1. Cutting the connector off at the controller end and just redoing the connection with the same connector and it works. No idea why - connections were dry as a bone
2. Replacing the first pixel - the connections here were dry as well
But the fact that either of these solutions work is why I’m confused.

Are the actual pixels themselves getting wet and sending bad data down the line? Did I just get a bad batch of (600 ish) waterproofed pixels? (SIDE NOTE) So the only odd thing I have found to all of this when trying to really troubleshoot this on my own, is whenever I’ve replaced the first pixel, ON OCCASION, I’ll have made the connection of the first pixel to the second pixel already, and then I’ll connect the + - Data and it’ll still flicker… BUT then on the IN side of the pixel from the controller, I’ll unhook the just power, not - or data and the flickering stops. That really confuses me because I feel like this is a data problem.

Is it a waterproofing issue? Here's how I make the connections:
Both at the pixel end and the connector end from the wire, I always solder everything, then do heat shrink on the individual connections (+ - data) as well as a big one that covers all the individual connections. So I’m not sure if it’s a waterproofing issue at these connections.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated! Hope everyone's displays are going well!

[Gilrock]

That was a really long post to not include the controller type.  I'll guess its not a Falcon so you were embarrassed to tell us?

[derektoews]

haha, well, it's an e682. All of the controllers I'm using are Sandevices currently. HOWEVER, I have purchased 2 of the new Falcon F16v3's for next year, but that's beside the point for this.

[babybear]

Also what size wire and how long. I had this issue the first year I was doing lights. once everything froze it was all good. I'm not going to put down a controller type. Some have great luck with them I had to shorten the wires as much as I could. remove connectors at the tree. Put the controller right under the tree. I had posted the same with no true answer 3 years ago. I now only run F16v2-3 never had to look back. With the F16 I have them mounted in the basement with 35 feet of 14gauge wire.   

[Gilrock]

haha, well, it's an e682. All of the controllers I'm using are Sandevices currently. HOWEVER, I have purchased 2 of the new Falcon F16v3's for next year, but that's beside the point for this.

Well reason I ask is I had flickering issues a couple years ago that were solved when I switched to a Falcon.  It has resistors that are better matched for longer cables.   You can switch out the resistor packs on the E682 I believe and possibly get the same improvement.  I have one model that works fine and then goes all white at some point.  I know it needs a null pixel but my point is sometimes things are right on the edge so maybe a little humidity is enough to push it over the edge.

[derektoews]

Very interesting, I guess I never would have been thinking it could be a controller... my other tree is (well I never really measured but it's gotta be relatively within a foot or so of cable length) hasn't had any issues and is also a e682. The cables are 16 gauge and the controller is right under the tree mounted to the center pole so, again, a guess but no more than 8-10 feet at most.

It's still raining so I can't air out the inside of the box but I'll definitely give it a shot when it stops and maybe that'll work! I'm upgrading my trees from 180 degree 16 strand 3 inch spacing to 180 degree 32 strand 1 inch spacing next year so I'll be a Falcon user from here on out! I appreciate you guys reaching out. Thanks!

[Gilrock]

My issues were with running a megatree using a J1SYS P12S controller.  I was only going like 6 feet to the first pixel.  I was using 5v pixels and had 168 pixels with power injection in the middle.  I kept getting what looked like noise flashing in the data and never could figure it out.  I finally got one of the original Falcon demo boards and the problems disappeared.  I have another J1SYS P12R that runs my 12v ribbon tree great so I was thinking maybe that board just doesn't work well with 5v pixels.

[derektoews]

Gotcha. Yea these are all 5v pixels as well. These are 60 pixels per strand and power injecting each strand at the top, individual connections at the bottom running to the e682. Noise flashing seems like a perfect description actually. I guess from what I've tested so far it has gotten worse when running more power to them. I'll try to suss it out more. I wanna figure it out! ha.

[stampedeboss]

Having similar problem in the past, over 10ft swap out the resistor packs.  Additionally, I’ve had significant issues this year which was related to strings of ws2811 nodes where the wires with my 3 core connectors having corroded where I found the ground wires cover in white powder.  Bottom line the flickering is due inconsistent signal or power due to resistance of some feature.  I have replaced every lead on my strings.


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[stampedeboss]

I forgot to address the rain, water will bridge connections and cause the same issues.  Please keep in mind that water vapor / humidity can have the same effect even if the connections seem dry.  When it’s raining humidity is 100% and it is possible the bridge if the wires are not fully isolated.  I learned that lesson before switching to adhesive shrink tube exclusively.  Since the switch, very little issues with noise.


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[babybear]

In my set up because of the amount of rain, snow, and ice we get, first very little connectors but where I do have them I use a marine grade jell in the connectors to keep the water out. 

[derektoews]

Babybear - I'm going to look into that marine grade jell! I was wondering about something like that...

I also wasn't going to post again too early because I didn't want to put my foot in my mouth, but looking at the tree was just getting frustrating, so on the 20th I ended up switching out the e682 for the F16V3. Instantly no flickering. But, I knew we were about to get about 5" of rain over the next 3 days so I figured that would be the true test. Still not flickering. I guess in this situation, it really was the controller. To be clear, I didn't undo any 3 core connections from the tree to controller or at the controller itself, I just unhooked all the green connectors at the e682, ethernet and power and swapped the controller. I wanted to do a true to test to see.

[babybear]

It's hard to help at times. There is a lot of small things that can add into some issues. The way the F16v2/3 push data is so far superior than others. I also at one time ran 682s and had all the same issues but at that time I could not switch over to F16v2. So you learn all the tricks.  As for the jell I need it for just after thanksgiving we seem to get 2 weeks of rain just before the freezing weather hits.

[brianowenby]

I have a Falcon F16v3 and have started having flickering and random colors.


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[babybear]

A little more info please. Is it all lights or a couple strings here and there. All effects or something like twinkle only.  but a quick thing to try and for what ever reason it works on mine. turn the power supply all the way up leave it for 2 seconds and then turn it all the way down. It only works on bullets, not strips.