Author Topic: What do you use to test your pixels?  (Read 2533 times)

Offline Greg.Ca

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What do you use to test your pixels?
« on: January 24, 2015, 05:24:22 PM »
I use exclusively 5V WS2811 & WS2812b pixels because I like the fact that I have individual control of each & every pixel. I have used this little $20.00 tester in the past and it has worked great for me. I simply plug it into the wall, connect three wires and I know if my pixel strip is working. It has push button switch on it which allows me go through quite a few of the built in programs & patterns. I don't believe it can test 12V pixels. Not sure.


Not sure how many pixels it can drive as it only has a cheap 1 amp 5 volt wall wart type power supply that came with it. I'm in the process of replacing the small power supply with a larger current capacity power supply. Anybody else comment on how you test your pixels? --Greg---



Offline Steve Gase

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Re: What do you use to test your pixels?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2015, 06:04:02 PM »
I use the uSC connected to either 12v or 5v power.  connect 3wires to the pixels and you are good.  a magnetic switch is used to enter test mode, or you can solder a wire across the switch and always have test mode enabled.

these babies are about $8 and can do 5v or 12v, can run test mode in isolation, run DMX or Pixelnet.

I should explain:  the uSC is the micro string controller, available on the FalconChristmas.com forum.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2015, 06:08:31 PM by Steve Gase »
http://WinterLightShow.com  |  110K channels, 50K lights  |  Nutcracker, Falcon, DLA, HolidayCoro

Offline jnealand

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Re: What do you use to test your pixels?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2015, 07:15:34 PM »
I use an SSC or uSC as well, but I also have a device from Ray, the TH2010-x that works well once I got it figured out.  I am all 12v
Jim Nealand
Kennesaw, GA

Offline flyinverted

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Re: What do you use to test your pixels?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2015, 11:33:21 PM »
I saw one of these in use at a lighting meetup last weekend in Sacramento.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-RGB-3key-Controller-for-5050-WS2811-Dream-Color-LED-light-Strip-Module-12V-/281503921747?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418af0f653

Ray sells these too for under 3.00 each. I've been told you can get them for about 1.00 in qty's of 20 or more.

I will be ordering a few for quick string tests.

Steve Giron
Maricopa County, AZ
xLights user with a boat-load of channels.

Do not ask to know all the answers, but ask to understand the question.

Offline Lights On Fifth

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Re: What do you use to test your pixels?
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2015, 07:40:41 AM »
I am way behind still use xlights to test the strings  :'(
Don Gillespie
Medicine Hat Ab.