Lunar Den Lights

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..

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..

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..

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..

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..

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..

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..