Falcon F16V3 Pixel Controller + Expansion Board Bud Box Build

[@kevinh849]

Also you have a new subscriber in me! Your videos are so helpful!!

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Thanks for subbing!

[@AnotherFeldon]

Great tip at the end! I would totally think the lights limit was just an error in building the box rather than the data being sent.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

your welcome

[@Florida-Ken]

Very well done!

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Thanks Sunny

[@ronm6585]

Nice! Thanks.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

You bet!

[@paulingalls2133]

nice job

[@CounterHolidayLights]

glad you liked it

[@SidebandSamurai]

@31:56 note that he has the wires switched between the left power input and the right power input. THIS IS ON PURPOSE. Pay attention to how these boards are wired up or the magic smoke will be released.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

good eye on that no one wants the magic smoke..

[@manuelklar9191]

Nice job I used a couple of your tips

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Glad you found some good tidbits. just here to help

[@SidebandSamurai]

@5:40 its a good note here to say 10 Gauge wire is used ... because you have less voltage drop with thicker wire than with thinner wire. Also the smaller the number the larger diameter the wire. Yes you can use 14 gauge wire even 16 gage wire. Again, the smaller diameter the wire the larger the voltage drop. THIS is why Falcon recommends 10 Gage wire.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

you are correct the manual says 10 which is why i used it

[@jandrews755]

Very helpfull video thankyou. Quick question how many ws2811 could you run off this box

[@CounterHolidayLights]

this set up with 4 power suplies can run and power about 5k in lights running at 30% power. if you just want to know what the max light per board with power injecting. the falcons can handle 1024 pixels per port.

[@uphillbattle5827]

Would this work for a MegaTree made of 32 strips of 100 lights per strip (200 per port)?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

absolutely we use this with our new Mattos 3200 light tree. we have a vid on the tree and you can see it in our behind the scenes video last year

[@codecage9333]

The crimping tool kit you mention from Amazon comes with AWG 28-7 ferrules. Does the same crimping tool work with the AWG 20 ferrules you used?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Yes it does

[@codecage9333]

@@CounterHolidayLights Thanks!

[@ducebigalow8834]

Hi again. I have the 2 pws connected with 1 cable and I'm wondering if I can run power/ground to each side of the falcon? I see you have 2 pws for one side and another 2 for the other side. Thanks again.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Yes, absolutely

[@ducebigalow8834]

@@CounterHolidayLights great thank you!

[@kevinh849]

This is super helpful!! Curious on your thoughts here: This is my first year. I have about 5000 total pixels I ordered. Trying to build my box(es). Should I build two boxes? I was thinking about building two smaller ones and connect half my lights on one side of the yard and then have another box on the other side of the yard to power a mage tree and other props on that side. Or should I just run all my props from one box and bring the connections over to it??

[@CounterHolidayLights]

in our behind the scenes 2020 video we show our F48 which we build receiver boxes for and had 5 of them spread out though out our display worked out nicely. this year we are using a f48 with 4 receiver boxes and the F16 with expansion board for our mega tree and yard props. I would do the two boxes the longer your cords from the box to the prop can cause data issues.

[@anthonyaldana9796]

Two boxes require 2 pixel controller boards?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

each box would need a board if you are running lights from them either a main board or expansion board

[@ducebigalow8834]

I just connected 2 additional pigtails for new props and on one only 1 pixel lights up and on the other 4 pixels light up. What could this mean?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

with out knowing all of factors it would be hard to tell. you might want to jump on the xlights zoom room for help

[@ducebigalow8834]

Very nicely done! Do you not need to worry about running anything through a fuses?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

the board is fused for each line going out. you could do one between the PS and the board. while not required any extra safety can prevent a possible issue.

[@ducebigalow8834]

@@CounterHolidayLights that is what now. But don't you have to be careful with the amount of pixels on one port if you don't go through fuse box. Isn't the fuses on the controller only a 5A.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

@@ducebigalow8834 that is why there is a 5 amp fuse there so it will blow before you pull to much power ( but it is 5amps per channel 40 amps all together ) you will never get to High as power loss over the length of lights will stop the lights from working. here is a great site that has a power consumption tool spikerlights.com/calcpower.aspx

[@ducebigalow8834]

@@CounterHolidayLights considering rebuilding my box this year with one of these bud boxes but know or recommend anyone in Canada that sells these boxes or something similar? If were able to find a different box would these JD templates still work? Back to my fuses question, the most pixels I have on one port currently is around 350. If I went without a fuse box will this still be ok? It would save space on the template (fuse and grounding bar). I am using 12v and have some power injection going on as well. Thanks again for your help.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

No you do not need a fuse with t hat many light but if you power injecting there should be a fuse on your power injection line from what other have posted about. I have zero power injection in my show have runs of over 300 light is some places.

[@richardcdldriver]

What is the biggest power supply you can put in there

[@CounterHolidayLights]

space in this box leaves little room left. with the 4 350 in there you could probobley get in 2 1400 watters

[@pjr1006]

The fan hole is 2 1/2” hole saw What is the size for the p25 and p9

[@CounterHolidayLights]

the P25 i use a 1.25 inch and then have to step bit it a touch and the P9 is all with a step bit

[@chrissbwe]

I'm building my first megatree this year. It's also my first year with pixel lights. Would this work for a 2000 pixels on a megatree?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

And then some. I’m doing 12 volt pixels and my tree will be 3200 pixels 32 strands of 100. 180 degrees. I’ll be dong 200 pixels per port so the tree will only use half my ports.

[@chrissbwe]

@@CounterHolidayLights That's my end goal. I'm doing 2000 12v pixels with 100/strand. My goal is exactly what you are setting up. Thanks. This helps organize my shopping list and will help with budget planning.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

@@chrissbwe if you any other questions or need some planing help just let me know

[@ShadowHillsFarm]

@@CounterHolidayLights Will you just be going to 1-inch spacing instead of 2? Or keeping the spacing and going taller.

[@IslandOfNyland]

@@CounterHolidayLights this is great! Am I correct in assuming the other ports could also run about 200 each for 6400 total?

[@Sayitwithlights]

Do you have an excel sheet with the shipping list you showed at the beginning of the video? If you do could you create a link to it?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Sorry we don't we just made if for the video

[@richardcdldriver]

How will this work for a house Outlook

[@CounterHolidayLights]

sorry don't understand this question

[@stevenondercin624]

What is the tool kit you are using?

[@CounterHolidayLights]

amzn.to/3ozyfjA it is an ifixit kit

[@NomadUK3]

Fallout fan? I have the same t-shirt.

[@CounterHolidayLights]

Since the first release. war. war never changes

[@li2buenafe]

any specific size of Standoffs.??

[@CounterHolidayLights]

1 1/2 inch the size can very depending on how short you cut the long screws down.

[@li2buenafe]

@@CounterHolidayLights Tenx..

[@dflatimer]

Too bad Jdeation is gone...

[@CounterHolidayLights]

I agree with that