🎄Mini Tree Problem & Matrix Repair (2020)🎄

[@brandonbaker1093]

I'm about to put together my first boscoyo mini tree. I stared at it for almost 5 minutes debating which direction it folds. I decided to go to the source of truth (Canispater channel) and you didn't disappoint 😂. As always appreciate your wisdom!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

LOL! Wisdom = many people telling me I’m doing it wrong. 😂

[@leesahcage3297]

I did mine on the outside also, I couldn't find a video on the correct way. Thanks for this video so now I know.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha! I think several of us learned a lesson.

[@jfeger77]

I have had these trees for three years and just assumed slits on the outside! Now I’ll think about it every time I see them!! :). For what it’s worth, I like outside because it allows a little more flexibility/ flat-ish to store without damaging the (over flexing) the joint

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha. Sorry if that is going to bother you now. I had a couple of people comment on the last video, otherwise I would have gone with outside. 😂

[@brianmcvay5455]

Love the opening!!! And not that you'll see the slit during your show...you will know and it eat at you everyday! Good choice doing it with the slits in.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

LOL! I wouldn't have changed it if Kate and a couple of others hadn't said anything. It does look a little nicer, but you are correct - won't see it at night.

[@landonnelson8171]

Hey Jeff, just want to say thank you for the amazing videos and information you give us.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks! Glad you like them!

[@RLeeErmy]

(7:30 "New Project!") Oh my, your wife must love it when you do that. Thanks Jeff for another great video!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha. She doesn't mind as long as I get my chores done. 😂

[@ericgolpe]

FWIW, I did mine the way you did. I debated before I put it together and thought the outside slits looked better for me. :)

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha! Definitely one of those Mac vs Windows kind of things. Totally cool either way tho. No one will be able to tell the difference at night.

[@SidebandSamurai]

Did you set up the bit bucket to catch any bits that might dribble out of the unconnected ethernet cable. You don't want a huge mess of bits all over the driveway that you have to clean up.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I put a cap on the end to keep them from spilling out. 😂

[@timdouglas3859]

Hey Jeff first time testing my modes Toniteight be a dumb question but the three strands I just tested only half the nodes are lighting bad nodes or am I missing something here thanks lol

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Maybe the controller is set to 50 by default?

[@frostycarbon270]

Do you just model these as megatrees in slights with the appropriate number of strands/strings/nodes?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Yes. I always start in xlights.

[@jameswaits8870]

Nice catch-up video jeff as far a the trees go I never liked Schlitz so I will go with the on the left.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂 Probably the way it's supposed to be.

[@haroldphelps385]

Sorry such a late question but just added 400 pixel matrix for the first time was all traditional lights before in light a rama ,I have proper license for my 2 inch spaced matrix I also have photo shop I Ned to know if I can get a good image on that size matrix or if I'm shooting too high for my first pixel year?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

If you look at my videos that matrix has 1024 pixels to give you an idea at 3 inch spacing. It probably won’t be a detailed image with 400 pixels but patterns are fine.

[@haroldphelps385]

Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly, I really couldn't figure out why the images were so bad,thanks again.

[@kevinh5983]

Absolutely must be inside, but I'm too much of a perfectionist. You're too funny Jeff.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂

[@lauramcdougal3952]

Does that mesh work with square pixels, or just bullet pixels?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Both. I use square when it's against a wall.

[@TheHookUp]

Surprised you don't have a TS80 or TS100 iron for portable soldering. I love my TS80.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha. I'm sure I could use one occasionally. Fortunately, these kinds of repairs are infrequent.

[@j.g.6521]

I had to delete my old version of xlights. With so many versions which one works best. Also I downloaded a couple different ones and the boscoyo models weren’t available, “vendor not found “. Any ideas on a cause. Thanks!!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I always get the latest version from xlights.org. I'm not going to be much help with actual xLights problems as I am just a user. You might try logging onto the xlights zoom room to see if anyone there knows what's up or if the latest version fixes the problem.

[@hydefamilylightshow]

How would you hang your matrix’s in between two 6x6 posts on a house? Thanks Jeff.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I usually mount my matrices to a piece of EMT then deal with hanging that. Might be a little easier.

[@hydefamilylightshow]

@@CanispaterChristmas How do you secure the net to the top of the emt?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

It has little holes just big enough for wire ties. Hang it like a shower curtain.

[@markdickson9921]

Hey Jeff thanks for another great video. I definitely like the seams on the inside (you won't see them at night). I noticed you solder joints as I do but use electrical tape, ever had any water issues? This will be my first year here in Gruene Texas, just looking for the easiest most secure way to replace pixels if I need to. I currently solder and shrink wrap every connection, I try and do it the proper way. What are your thoughts on the scotch locks?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks! I prefer using heat shrink on everything, but wrapped the power injection wiring in this case. The only trouble I've ever had with water was when one of the connectors was fully submerged in a puddle of water. Electrical tape is fine. Heat shrink is better. I've heard Scotch locks can loosen over time and I don't use them. The easiest way is probably the solder-filled shrink tubes, but I haven't used them yet.

[@ericgolpe]

@@CanispaterChristmas I have used the solder-filled stuff quite a bit of late, but still prefer soldering. AMZN has some new shrink wrap (double walled) with adhesive goo that makes a water-tight seal. I treated myself to some of that and a new handheld heat gun for Prime Day. That TS-80 looks like a next treat. Thanks @Mark Dickson for the suggestion there.

[@Advogator11]

First time using these trees myself, and went with the large. Wanted to ask is it better to splice in the additional lights for the star to make one string of 115, or did you keep the star of 20 separate?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I just made it all one string. Had to add some wire at the bottom of the tree anyway so the string was already cut.

[@chadthedrummer7]

Hey Jeff, as always great video. Love it! Hey, where can one find the mini trees in GREEN? I thought about asking Boscoyo. But it seems you got them "elsewhere"? Thanks as always!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Those are from Boscoyo. I don't think they come in Green. You may just have to paint them (before putting pixels in them).

[@chadthedrummer7]

@@CanispaterChristmas I was gonna do that. Thank you sir. How about that Texas snowmagedeon? Lasted an hour here in Prosper. But didn’t stick like at your place.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

@@chadthedrummer7 It won't be here long. 70s by Thursday. I think we were on the Southern edge, much more a few miles North. We lost power mid-afternoon for a while so the lights were off for a while. 😂

[@mynameisneb]

Would the pixels for mini trees need any splicing depending on node spacing?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I had to add some for the larger trees at the bottom, but the signal still gets through fine.

[@OCLVIG]

I would have thought slits to the outside of the trees would be less structurally stressing at the joints.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Yeah, that's what the slits are for. Looks better with them inside, but a lot of people did them "wrong." 😂

[@mikeerbe8784]

Hey Jeff, my first mini tree I did I put the slits outside, then I realized how it looked. I ended up painting mine with a Kelly green glitter paint from Home Depot. Gives a little pop during the day. Btw did you wire top in or bottom in??

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Cool! Someone else mentioned painting theirs green. I wired it from the bottom. It really doesn't matter how you do it as long as it's modelled correctly, but I think the default is from the bottom.

[@dave_6391]

Hi Jeff. Question that maybe you could suggest to some of your sponsors if you have any. What about a starter kit for Pixels. I started with the analog this year, but I want to go to Pixel but would love to get a starter kit that I can integrate with my analog. Can you suggest this to your sponsor/supporters that can set this up?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Hi Dave, It's tough to do something like that since every display is different and people have different preferences. I have a beginner playlist (kzbin.info/aero/PLFyrAfJ-kKd4ZfPdXWIt8v_bav61mW_KW) that covers the basics if you haven't gone through that already.

[@xcraftman52]

Hello, I love your videos!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks! I hope they're helpful.

[@baughhumbuglights8860]

My mini trees are all folded incorrectly too...lol...guess I have a little bit of fixing to do after this season. :D

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Only if it bothers you. 😂

[@nateandsuzi7971]

Keep up the good work

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks!

[@edwardslights]

oh crap!!!!! i have my 5 done with them on the outside -- guess they are staying that way!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Potato/potaato. 😂

[@sketchyjack880]

I did the same thing! After all 6 were done.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

LOL!

[@wsbull78]

You do this sitting down in 1/8th the time I can do it standing up and calling in reinforcements!

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Haha. Speeding up the video helped. 😂

[@MatthewMello]

Yup, I did the same with my 2 trees...fix them next year.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

👍

[@geoffhoweth]

GREAT video Jeff I don't care what your slits look like 😂😂

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks! I can always count on you! 😂

[@JasonEKeane]

Are you not concerned with voltage induction or data interference with power and ethernet running in parallel like that?

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I suppose theoretically/best practice/commercial installation, yes, but I have been running it like that for years without problems. I may reach a point where I start approaching limits of one or the other, run into problems and have to make adjustments, but it hasn't happened yet. For example, if it starts stuttering when the display goes all white (max current draw), that will get me outside troubleshooting. 😀

[@monty671]

The slit-out trees kind of look like Dalek from Dr. Who. Maybe a new and special construction idea.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

No, Dalek was slits-in too. 😂

[@champakleanderkharshiing5100]

Jeff u r great

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Thanks!

[@raimundomartinez2024]

Hi i live you channel i live on USA BUT I COME FRONT Dominican Repúblic i have big light led but i wanna star w pixel light i lake proyect especial for the por kids but i need you of some isue i found on the way tk

[@CanispaterChristmas]

No entiendo tu pregunta. Prueba a utilizar translate.google.com

[@michaelgabbard4761]

In the dark, no one will be able to tell from the street which way the trees are folded.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂You're right, but it's an OCD hobby. You'd be surprised how many are bothered by this.

[@KiwiPhil.]

all of my mini trees are "backwards" as well

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂

[@LoganFranklin]

mine too...smh

[@CanispaterChristmas]

@@LoganFranklin 😂

[@robertpage9759]

I.have never seen someone wire new pixels together so fast 😳 😭 🤣 Also I have a question for you i got some cat 6a from work (free) and I've had some trouble finding a color code for the rj45 ends I've seen several different videos and there wire looks a bit different then what I have, I have comscope cat6a cs44 and even another description cs44p blu c6a 4/23 u/utp cpk My problem is that every video I see has wires with orange and white or brown and white stripes mine are all solid colors no strips but of the correct colors I've even looked on comscopes site with no luck U being from a networking background maybe know somebody that knows somebody that knows something about it 🤔 😏 lol thanks Jeff

[@CanispaterChristmas]

I use this code (cablesupply.com/rj45-ethernet-wiring-color-guides/), but I don't know that it matters too much as long as both ends are wired the same. What colors do you have?

[@robertpage9759]

@@CanispaterChristmas i gotcha i didn't know that so assuming I wire both plugs the same should be ok? I have 4 sets of wires so 8 total wires they are green and white brown white blue and white orange and white

[@robertpage9759]

You.know some times its the little things after actually reading this im assuming that the solid white wires would be used as the stripted wires

[@usnr1994]

@@robertpage9759 I would agree with Jeff that as long as both ends of the cable are wired the same it really doesn't matter, Yes there is convention, but in the end it is just that. And yes the white ones are the striped wires. They are probably twisted in pairs with the colored ones, so you do want to keep them together. They may actually have stripes if you look close once they are untwisted. You can see an example of this here: learntechit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cat6-cable.png I would also try not to unsheathe or untwist any more than necessary as i limits noise and crosstalk.

[@robertgallant6422]

@@CanispaterChristmas The color code used for standard RJ45 does matter when pushing the bandwidth limits and max lengths other wise should makes no difference. With pixels having only one signal wire traveling in only one direction, probably won't make a difference. I would keep Data & Ground (-) together on one pair. If you want to make them like all network cables use T-568B, not A.

[@frostbitef32]

The cut slits go on the inside??!?? 😳... And now it's time to push pixels... again.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Or just leave them unless it will bother you too much. 😂

[@frostbitef32]

@@CanispaterChristmas I have the 360 degree version with cut slits. Turns out the trees holds their shape a lot better when you do it the “right” way.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@wjf213]

Backwards trees.....I bet you put your underwear on inside out too. lol Seriously, I didn't know or see any REAL difference, but I guess it does help keep water out of the hollow section of the coro when you think about it. Keep up the great work.

[@CanispaterChristmas]

There's an outside too? 😂Slits on the inside also keeps it from whistling in the wind.

[@djgrahamevans]

Inside, because you know, it's correct! :D

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂

[@champakleanderkharshiing5100]

Both

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂

[@74armonde]

Wait... what?!?! I have to rebuild my trees?....

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂

[@katelights]

:D

[@CanispaterChristmas]

😂