2020 Vine Lights - Behind the Scenes - Part 1 (Controllers and Wiring)

[@shannoncole6425]

I have a falcon f48 and I've been trying to get something off the ground for a few years but I always start too late and then I'm too busy before Christmas to get something on the go. One thing that always amazes me is the weather. I live in eastern Canada and there's no way I could have any of that outside my house. The weather would destroy it. I have all my outdoor decoration tied down with 4 tent pegs and rope and even then I'm lucky if it's not ripped apart. I can't imagine just laying things on the lawn and it's good to go.

[@NiFamilyLights]

@shannoncole6425 yeah, it sounds like your weather up in Canada is much more severe than where I am. We get some wide ranging temperatures and occasional high wind storms. If we get any snow, it's usually not that much and typically is gone in a day or two. You'd probably have to start very early before the cold weather sets in and guy wire and provide extra support for everything to prevent them from blowing over, and set controller boxes up on stilts to keep them high off the ground.

[@TheSoundmanPete]

Awesome job. An incredible amount of work. Your love of your lights really shines thru. Thanks for the walk thru videos. Very impressive.

[@dman3166]

how do you use 1 rasberry pi and connect the 2 falcon controllers so they are running correctly?

[@NiFamilyLights]

@dman3166, the 1 Raspberry Pi is connected to the two Falcon controllers via a standard Ethernet switch, as the data from the Pi to the falcons is standard IP Ethernet data. The falcon’s have their own static IPs which are also defined in xlights.

[@mckeedesigns2426]

How many power supplies are wired into your control box for the mega tree? I saw 2 but could not tell if it were 4

[@NiFamilyLights]

There are four (4) 350W power supplies in the megatree control box. Here’s a video showing the build breakdown and all the internals. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5rNi3qIfrxkqq8

[@robbby4011]

Great layout. It is amazing.

[@botoepfer8588]

Steve, Thank you, I am just learning about thistechnology. I wish to learn more, can you tell me about any videos you have that I can follow along, I made a 5' Aluminium star for my wife, Some one saw it and orderd 40ea for there town. hence making mer an artist LOL anyway I need to learn more ! Thanks you!

[@NiFamilyLights]

Welcome to the lighting hobby! There’s always something to learn, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it. Congrats on making your own custom prop and finding people who are willing to purchase it from you. It’s nice to have a hobby that can provide some amount of offsetting financial reward. As for videos, I’ve got a lot on this channel, just click on the Ni Family Lights channel to see other videos.

[@botoepfer8588]

@@NiFamilyLights thanks I will will look a bit deeper

[@blackdave8525]

Hi what size fuse are you using from the power supply .

[@NiFamilyLights]

The ATC auto fuses I use are 20A or 25A. Fortunately, I have yet to blow one of those, knock on wood.

[@blackdave8525]

@@NiFamilyLights Thanks for letting me know

[@MotoMerica]

Steve, Great build. I'm new to the hobby and learning. When you counted out the mega tree runs and explain each up down uses one input on F16... you count 1, 3, 5, 7 etc. Although all of the F16 seem to be connected are you not using input 2, 4, 6 etc. on the mega tree? Thanks

[@NiFamilyLights]

MotoMerica, thanks and welcome to the hobby. When I was counting 1,3,5,7, etc, I was counting the strands on the megatree. The pixels run up strand 1 and back down strand 2. So output 1 goes to strand 1 and 2. Output 2 goes to strand 3 and 4, etc.

[@zski1]

Hello Steve. How many PSU’s do you have for the mega tree?

[@NiFamilyLights]

@zski1 There are four 350W 12V power supplies used the megatree. They aren’t overly taxed, so I could have used only 2. A build breakdown of that box is shown in this video. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5rNi3qIfrxkqq8

[@denn450]

hi steve great job like usaul just got a question in my 400 pixel mega tree and i put power inject and i use fuse line like yours i use 5 volts pixel what amp fuse i use i have 5amp in there now is that ok

[@NiFamilyLights]

Hi den bel, 5A fuses are correct. The 5A is based on the limitations of common pixel wiring.

[@page8735]

Hi Steve, thank you for this video! Could you please explain how you made the matrix in front of the windows? I like to make something like that in front of my garage door. Thx!

[@NiFamilyLights]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I’ve got it on my list to cover that topic. It may end up being a few videos to cover the various topics from designing the controller connection/power setup, set up in xLights, and physical building of the frame used.

[@douglashigley9556]

Hi Steve, your lights look amazing. I also new to this world of fun. I have no idea what I am doing. My question that I'm getting stuck on is this. When power is injecting, where does it start? Do you always come off of the power supply? Can you start from the end of other strips? Most of the other videos I have seen shows how to solder the power injection points bet never where it starts. Let me know your thoughts. Have a great day, and God bless.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Hi Douglas, thanks for the comment and welcome to the hobby. I recommend you watch my video called “how to - chain pixel props like a champ”. I show power injection between props as you asked. I also show power balancing (which I refer to as self-power injection).

[@noelbernardino4228]

where did you get your mega tree base or kit ? thx

[@NiFamilyLights]

The kit I purchased is no longer available from the vendor. If I were to purchase a kit now, I'd go with the Mattos Design Sasquatch Megatree Kit. I'm not sponsored by them, I just see their product as the best on the market currently.

[@ermiasestifanos]

You mention you live around DC area, is that possible to meet one day and go over how the system or is that possible to make video in detail how to build mega tree and angels stuff?

[@NiFamilyLights]

Ermias, you should join the MAALG (Mid-Atlantic Animated Lighting Group) forum on Facebook. You will be connected with other people in the area who are in the hobby. It’s a great way to connect with myself and others to ask questions and get help from local folks. That said, a video on planning a megatree is on the list. If you search my videos, you’ll find one on building the megatree, although the company I used to purchase the tree components current isn’t selling those products. Mattos Designs does sell megatree frame parts that are the same if not stronger than the frame I’ve built.

[@chrisburkhalter7361]

I’m curious on how you are running 2 of the falcon F16 together I’m new to the Christmas light game trying to figure out as much information as possible there isn’t a lot of clear information on controllers without going to 100 different forms

[@NiFamilyLights]

Chris, each F16 has its own static IP address. The Raspberry Pi show player needs to be on the same network as both F16 controllers. I have the Pi and both F16s configured with static IP addresses. The Raspberry Pi sends the appropriate data streams to the F16 based on what is configured in the xLights software. In xLights, the first tab is the "Controllers" tab. For this show, I defined 2 controllers. It includes the static IP address, the type of controller, and the number of channels (pixels). Hope this helps.

[@chrisburkhalter7361]

@@NiFamilyLights This really helps a lot thank you

[@BryanMichaelll]

how does two 350 power supplies power that many pixel nodes.16 Output AlphaPix Classic E1.31 Controller on holiday Coro says it can do up to 5540 pixels. If each node has 3 pixels then that's 1846 nodes correct. Also, if say I use 100 node strands then let's say 18 strains. 100 nodes say 55 watts. so at 18 strains, that's 990 watts so even with two power banks how can this controller run what it states. I may even be wrong on all this.

[@NiFamilyLights]

For your first comment, let's get the terminology straight. Pixels and nodes are used interchangeably. Each pixel or node has 3 LEDs. Each LED is referred to as a channel. So, each pixel/node has 3 channels. Back to the 5,540 pixels/nodes, that would equate to 16,620 channels in xLights. Ultimately, when a controller says it can handle xx number of pixels, it has already taken into account that each pixel has 3 LEDs/channels. For your example, with 5,540 pixels/nodes, if each pixel/node uses 0.55W on full white (all 3 LEDs on at 100%), then the 5,540 pixels would use 3,047W of power. Yes, that is a lot. However, running pixels at 100% output brightness is blinding and most people run them at 30% or so. Taking 30% of 3,047W is still 914.1W, well over the capacity of 2 power supplies. So, to maximize the use of the Alphapix, you will need 4 power supplies. Two of them would directly power the pixels through the Alphapix and two more would be used for power injection, giving you a capacity of up to 1,400W (350x4). Hope that helps.

[@prkid424]

DC Metro Area.... Where is this display at? I’m in the DC Metro Area

[@NiFamilyLights]

The Vine Lights show is just south of Tysons Corner at 2501 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA. It's typically 8 songs running about 30 minutes long on a loop from 5pm-10pm every night through 12/31.

[@bossjtv5621]

hi sir how to buy your lights?

[@NiFamilyLights]

Sorry, I don't sell any products.

[@bossjtv5621]

@@NiFamilyLights why sir?

[@berencam]

Is the star running on one of the expansions off the megatree controller?

[@NiFamilyLights]

Corey, the star could be run from one of the 2 remaining receiver outputs. However, I have mine chained from the end of the last megatree strip with power injection to the star. I’m using two power distro outputs to power the star. One is used right after the last megatree string, sending data and power to the star. A second power distro output is sent up to the star to power balance half the star. If you look closely, you’ll see two cables running up the pole.

[@botoepfer8588]

Oh BTW too am in the washington metro area

[@LordHog]

Is all the power coming from one or more AC 15amp outlets?

[@NiFamilyLights]

Power is coming from two AC 15amp outlets.

[@larrywilliams893]

Where did you get your wire for the outputs from the F16

[@NiFamilyLights]

The wire are pigtails from one of the pixel vendors, DIYLedExpress.com.

[@gerardocolin5099]

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