TOTAL cost considerations LED vs RGB

[bob ginn]

I plan on having 8 mini-trees. I will either light them with 3 LED strands (3 channels per tree, right?), or 1 RGB strand/strip (still 3 channels, but only 1 RJ45 line, as opposed to 3 with LED, right?).  My question is, is it cheaper to just go RGB?  I don't know much about which controllers/hubs/PS/etc that is needed for this...any suggestions would be much appreciated.  My pitiful show plan (thus far) is in my sig

[dpitts]

I would and did go with RGB for my mini trees. RGB bullet leds are about .40 an LED or $40.00 for 100. For good LED strings (non rgb) they are about $10.00+ per string. Four colors ill cost about $40.00. So just on the strings alone you are about even. Now I know you cn get cheaper led strings from Walmart but they are cheap and usually do not dim that well.

Then you have the AC cabling and AC controllers to consider. 

In my opinion go RGB from the start. The colors you will have will be many more than four.

[taybrynn]

+1 rgb

[Aaron Maue]

I still think you're right, Dave, but just wanted to add a little more detail. It likely will be a bit cheaper with RGB. You'd end to put a parts list together to know for sure, as there's lots of price difference in all the various controllers. For me, it was a choice between the two looks. Having the multiple strands of LEDs creates some extra "movement" that you don't get with a single set of RGBs. However, with the LEDs, you're limited to the three colors you choose instead of the limitless palette of color with the RGBs. I chose the "movement" over the millions of colors.

For completeness, consider this: Bob talks about 8 trees of 3 colors, so that's 24 strands of lights and 24 channels. So, the equation should include 24 strands of lights, enough controllers to provide 24 AC channels, enclosures, and whatever is needed to plug the lights in (zip cord, plugs, outlets, whatever your setup uses).

For RGB, he needs the lights - 8 strings of RGB. He also needs to control them. So, depending on the protocol he needs, he would either need 24 channels of DMX from a DMX dongle on his PC, or 24 channels of DMX from a port on his pixel controller, or 24 channels of DMX from a protocol bridge.  Or a DC controller with 24 channels. Also, power supplies are necessary for this approach. So, there are a few more things he'd need to buy.

[Steve Gase]

If you already have the controllers and strings -- use that.  Your visitors will not care.

Otherwise, if buying/building I'd go with RGB -- it gives you many more choices in color selection, and it also simplifies the build (fewer strings, fewer extension cords).

One 100ct string of RGB might be $20, and the SSC another $10.
Three strings of 100ct might be $30, and the cost of 3 of 16 channels of a 110v controller can be $15 for an LE to $50 for an LOR.

Then think about the effects... meteor shower, fire effect, chases, etc.  (no contest!!)

Sales prices, shipping, and time are other factors to consider.

[sean]

one of the biggest reasons i like the rgb is lots less cables.

24 channels, 24 spt2 cables.
 there are people with 100-200 channels of AC, 100-200 cables. if you had pixelnet you would have 8 cat5 cables (1000' for $75) vs 24 cables of spt2(1000' for $130)

storage of cables, having 110v in the yard instead of 12v.

i do like the fullness that wrapping three lights gives you, but it doesnt outweigh all the rgb advantages.

[taybrynn]

You save a lot with rgb because cat5 costs so much less than regular extension cords and rgb controllers are way less per channel than AC controllers.   But as Sean said, the cables for rgb are a lot cleaner, cheaper and lighter and less bulky.    The effects in rgb could be enhanced to simulate the common 2 and 3 color multi string looks.