RGB Pixel Power Calculator Overview

[@derekgates2096]

Very well done! I assume these are resister pixels, would the cals work for regulated pixels?

[@paulpringle6441]

Thanks for the article and the calculator. I've read through them both. Perfect, thank you!

[@CaptCrewSock]

At 4:16 I see on your calculator there are 5 rows of amp load on wire. do you add all these numbers together? What I like to do is use one 12 awg wire and branch off that one wire, this is where I get my question do I add up all the total for my fuse and power injection.

[@robertabanks]

@jspiker77 Would you be willing the share your source code for the calculator? I'm at .NET developer by day. I'd like to make some enhancements to it and give back.

[@AndyAndromedaArt]

Do you have a version thats not in Freedom Units?

[@robertcox1150]

Hi there, I love your calculator, it is awesome to help determine the minimum power injection needed. I'm wondering if it is possible to add a line that shows the power being drawn by the data port. For example, on a 300 pixel prop, using 5V pixels at 100%, the total draw is 18 amps. If I inject every 100 pixels (100, 200 and 300) the calculator shows all 18 amps on the injection wires. If I assume at the first 50 pixels are powered by the controller, and I link the power and ground from before pixel 1 to pixel 300 (the 3rd PI is comming from the controller port), I actually have roughly 6 amps on the controller port, and only 12 amps on the injection wire. Is it possible to add to the calculator the option to link the pixel cable to itself and to show the amperage on each wire? I also like to use the same wire from the power supply to multiple points in the prop. In the example above, I would have the power and ground from the data port split at pixel 1 over to pixel 300, and I would run a PI cable with a "Y" to pixels 100 and 200 rather than running a seperate wire to pixel 100 and another to pixel 200. Is it possible to be able to identify in the calculator which cable is being used at the injection point - say "A", "B", "C" or 1, 2, 3 so that the amperage on that wire is tallied each time it is being used? Finally, a question about total maps drawn - In my example above, if the total load is 18 amps, why is it the 5 amp fuse on the controller does not blow if I do not add any power injection? I understand there is substantial voltage drop but the load is still on the wire is it not? Thanks for your help and all of your time on this project Bob

[@robertabanks]

In an effort to power inject from the same power supply (the one with the controller), would it be advisable to split +5V & GND off pigtail at "start" and run to the end?

[@jspiker77]

If it is coming from the same power supply there is no need to split it. The following article shows different setups and examples on how it implement it. spikerlights.com/pwrinjection.aspx

[@robertabanks]

@@jspiker77 Thanks for the article and the calculator. I've read through them both. I don't mean split into 2 separate 5V rails. I mean create a 5V "y" and a GND "y" and send the one side over to end of the last prop (for example, 2 mini-trees with stars).

[@robertabanks]

Similar to your "Option A" but instead of going back to the PS via a separate 5V and GND, branch off the existing 5V and GND.

[@jspiker77]

@@robertabanks Yes, here is a video doing something similar. The main consideration is that the total load on the wire is within it's rated capacity. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4ayn6ahr5ecqLs

[@robertabanks]

@@jspiker77 Perfect, thank you! I just watched the vid last night and I thought that's what you were doing but I wasn't 100% sure.