UPDATE (January 2021):Unfortunately something went wrong and the printer almost caught fire. I'm not sure if it was a firmware or thermistor failure, or bad connection to the thermistor- but the hot end erupted into a cloud of smoke one afternoon. Fortunately I was in the room and the smoke alarm I had mounted to..
D1 Mini Controller Boxes
Update (January 2021):I'm no-longer using these as they ultimately failed. I don't believe there is anything inherently "wrong" with controllers like this, and many people do use them successfully for shows of varying sizes. For me, as noted in later blog posts, WIFI seems to have been the Achilles Heal of these. Unless you have..
Firmware and Controller Update
Note: This is an ARCHIVE document and some of the information has changed as my projects evolved. Some specifics: I now use 3D printed boxes, sealed with silicone, for the controllers. I don't fasten the PSUs inside the ammo boxes anymore. I use cable glands for all cables now. Epoxy and/or silicone just isn't secure..
Changes/New Controllers
After some experimentation with my combined PSU/Control box plan, and after taking a serious look at the cost of PSUs and pixels, I decided to make a few changes... First- it just isn't practical to have a separate PSU for every string of pixels. It would just be too expensive since high-wattage PSUs are significantly..
Controller Box (V.1) Build Images
Actually I've gone through a few different beta builds, but this is my current plan. I'm also sharing some other tips that have helped me...First, here is a current schematic of what I am doing for 12v pixels:Each string will have one PSU (Power Supply) and D1 controller board in a weathertight box, which I..
Programming the D1 Mini (Clone) on Mac
Background: The D1 Mini is a very popular hobby circuit with WiFi and an ESP8266 controller. They are used in robotics and environmental monitoring projects, as well as for holiday light displays! They are (almost) a drop-in replacement for ESPixelStick (and variants like the PIxelPop) developed by dedicated holiday light hobbyists. The nice thing is..
Arduino Controller
I'm posting this just for reference, since I ultimately decided not to use Arduino controllers due to cost, size, and memory limitations. They are nice to start with though as they are fully-assembled and easy to find/buy, and if you can work with one of them- you can work with the other DIY controller boards..
Pixels!
I mentioned before that I got a lot of information and inspiration from doityourselfchristmas.com and diychristmas.com. You will also find links there to countless other forums and discussions. You will find a LOT of debate about things like pixel counts and power, 5v vs. 12v, and the capabilities of various control systems. What follows is..
Beginnings…
Back when I was a small child, my family, along with most others in my neighborhood, put out lights for Chrismas. Back then- it was big C9 or C7 bulbs, painstakingly fastened to the eaves of the house with nails.Later on- the dreaded "if one goes out- they all go out!" mini-lights appeared. They were..