E680/681 Group Pre-sale

[mschell]

Just an FYI to folks that the E680/681 E1.31 pixel controller will be having a group buy presale starting next week.

While being discussed over on DIYC quite a bit, the group buy will actually be happening offsite due to size of the interest. Location to be announced when the buy starts.

If you want to know more about these controllers, you can go to SanDevices, which is the website of the board designer.

Plans are to have the group buy be open for about a week or so, since lead times on components and the PCBs are 2-3 weeks.

Expect delivery times to be later in March.

I'm running the buy, and would love to have some help with sorting components. We're expecting at least 150 E681's and 30-40 E680's.

If you're thinking about using pixels or smart modules in your display, this is a chance to get a controller that will manage your pixels much easier.

The E68x line uses E1.31 (DMX over Ethernet) and converts the signals to pixel protocol.

Thanks,

[Al in Raleigh]

Oh goody. Heads up Denny. I plan to get a as many as I can afford without Deb finding out. Then I plan on getting a few more that she does know about. Then I may get Walter to order a few for me.

Mark I might be able to help. Call me and lets discuss it. Either way I volunteer Walter.

Without sorting through the umpteen posts, has this board been spun a couple times?

[SWood]

I'll be glad when I grow up and learn what all these numbers and stuff means. It's all Greek to me!!!

[Al in Raleigh]

Nah man. Now this is Greek.

[Al in Raleigh]

Basically, I think that the e681 is a good choice. This board decodes ethernet to what the pixel nodes want to receive. There are more than a few pixel standards right now and this thing speaks the standards to most of them. I have ws2801 pixel nodes but that may change--or may not. The problem with pixels is they eat "DMX universes" like crazy. A DMX universe currently is a iDMX or DMX dongle hooked up to a USB port of the computer or in other words $150 a pop per universe. This board decodes the information that is sent from the computer via ethernet which cuts out the dongles all together. You put this dude outside near a prop that eats pixel nodes like a Walter Star. You run ethernet to it and it decodes it the data directly to the prop locally instead of a bunch of DMX dongles doing the same thing. That is what e1.31 actually does. This is going to revolutionize our next generation of display lights. This is the last step we needed. The software is supposed to catch up at Light-o-rama to include this. However, LSP and other lighting softwares already do. I hope that I haven't over-simplified this but I wanted everyone that doesn't understand the significance of this board to be aware.

[SWood]

I have ws2801 pixel nodes but that may change--or may not. The problem with pixels is they eat "DMX universes" like crazy. A DMX universe currently is a iDMX or DMX dongle hooked up to a USB port of the computer or in other words $150 a pop per universe. This board decodes the information that is sent from the computer via ethernet which cuts out the dongles all together. You put this dude outside near a prop that eats pixel nodes like a Walter Star. You run ethernet to it and it decodes it the data directly to the prop locally instead of a bunch of DMX dongles doing the same thing. That is what e1.31 actually does.

Now translate to english. LOL

Have you ever tried to use those color changing lights from Lowes I think they are called GE color effects or whatever. I seen somewhere where someone used a sandevice to control it. It's all over my head just thought i'd ask, I picked up 4 boxes of them on sale.

[kidcole]

I have a pile of questions ..

What kind of pricing are you expecting for your group buy for the E681 kits. The San devices site shows $120 each. Does that include the connectors ?

What kind of distance can I have between the E681 and my pixel strings? I am thinking about one E681 running 12 pixel strings on my front yard, but then I have two more pixel strings on my roof, inside a pair of CoroFlakes. Can I cable up from the E681 in the yard to the roof strings, or will I have to buy two E681s ?

What prices should I expect for pixel strings using the TLS3001 chip ? According to the SanDevices tutorial, the TLS3001 based strings are the best way to go (for superior dimming), supposedly at very little cost difference.

I am thinking about the large square pixels for a pair of Coro-Flakes on the roof (two strings of 45 or 50). Can I get those with the TLS3001 ? In the yard I would want 12 pixel strings of at least 50 bulbs (if not more). What bulb sizes are out there.

When can we meet for some engineering design discussions so I can plan power supplies, wiring and connectors.

Geez, I hope LOR keeps up with this. I will use a native DMX adapter also, for a bunch of the little 3-channel controllers.

Do you think these pixels are similar to the ones that they used on the CoroFlake video with the square modules inside ?

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/7...-a-string.html

Or maybe these ?

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/7...-a-string.html

[Al in Raleigh]

Now translate to english. LOL

Have you ever tried to use those color changing lights from Lowes I think they are called GE color effects or whatever. I seen somewhere where someone used a sandevice to control it. It's all over my head just thought i'd ask, I picked up 4 boxes of them on sale.

Nope, but it wouldn't surprise me. The Lowe's lights should be pixel nodes and there currently are just so many pixel drivers available. I doubt the lights are based on an ASIC.

I have a pile of questions ..

...

What kind of distance can I have between the E681 and my pixel strings? I am thinking about one E681 running 12 pixel strings on my front yard, but then I have two more pixel strings on my roof, inside a pair of CoroFlakes. Can I cable up from the E681 in the yard to the roof strings, or will I have to buy two E681s ?
Probably not without a "repeater" node every 18 feet or so. I would put another e681 on the roof. The pixel node's usually have a slow clock without a hefty line driver, as a result the distance is limited to impedance of the wire and a couple other factors. If it did work in warm weather, environmental conditions likely would play into the timing.

...

I am thinking about the large square pixels for a pair of Coro-Flakes on the roof (two strings of 45 or 50). Can I get those with the TLS3001 ? In the yard I would want 12 pixel strings of at least 50 bulbs (if not more). What bulb sizes are out there.

When can we meet for some engineering design discussions so I can plan power supplies, wiring and connectors.
Yes. We should get together soon. We still have to talk about TASL meeting dates. Maybe a conference call is in order.

Geez, I hope LOR keeps up with this. I will use a native DMX adapter also, for a bunch of the little 3-channel controllers.

[kidcole]

Yes, lets try to get a planning call organized. IBM is in full rage mode with my new product launching in a month or so. Working 24 hours a day does not keep up. Also coaching soccer one and two nights a week .. this coming week I have soccer Monday and Thursday. I could probably do a conf call Wednesday night if we didn't do it too late. 8pm is OK.

[Al in Raleigh]

Message notice has been sent. The steering committee and Mark were just sent invites.

I really want to jump on this e681 group buy.

[thedementedelf]

Shannon,
I could stand on your shoulders and it would still be over my head!

[mpurser]

heck im learing how to swim

[SWood]

Shannon,
I could stand on your shoulders and it would still be over my head!

LOL I Hear Ya!

[duke]

Nah man. Now this is Greek.

Al I am going to book you as a stand up comic at the next convention for entertainment.

[Al in Raleigh]

Pixel nodes look like . Each node has an IC circuit that usually drives 3 LEDs--red, green, and blue. Red, green, and blue are the building blocks for most colors. There are several different types of IC drivers,i.e.LPD6803,D705,WS2801,WS2811,TM180x,TLS3 001,etc. The ICs are in series to each other and the data is passed to each IC sequentially. The first IC strips off the information it needs then passes the remainder to the next IC that does the same. The fun comes in due to the different ICs requiring different data reception/transmission requirements. Going from DMX, ethernet, or whatever requires a translator. I demoed a translator at the convention that I bought for about $15 which can translate up to a maximum of 170 or less pixel nodes that are sequentially connected. The e681 has several outputs (16 if I remember correctly) to drive different pixel nodes which has not been easily available until now. You can configure the pixel type output using software. But the e681 has an advantage in that it converts ethernet to pixel node driver. The advantage of ethernet is that it is a robust communication hardware in both communication speed and transmission speed. You would hook up your wired router from your home to the e681 using standard cat5 cable which is the same wire that you use for LOR equipment. You set an address for the e681 that is unique and LSP, Maddrix, or sometime soon S3 will talk to the e681 directly. Before we had to translate from ethernet to dmx then to pixel driver which was pricey due to the dmx to pixel node translator. Now the e681 goes from ethernet directly to pixel node driver. The cost savings and aggravation savings are
substantial.

Pixel nodes cost about 50 cents to 85 cents each in small quantities. I will use about 250 on this year's Walter Star. It ain't cheap but it enables me to have multiple colors without having to have multiple light strings and the extra work in installation and broken bulb maintenance. This seems quite high doesn't it. If you step back and look, I have 4 LOR lines going to the star. A PC controller costs about $200 or about $12.50 per output or $50 total. You then need 4 drop cords that cost about $10 total in cost (I'm not going to include the cost of the 2 supply drop cords for each controller). I have 7 each c9 strings on my star now that cost about $50 total. To light my Walter Star cost about ($50 controller + $10 drop cords + $50 in light strings= $110. This cost doesn't include the stuff to attach the strings to the star and a couple other small things.

In pixel nodes, I will have around 250 pixel nodes at 80 cents each which total about $200. I will have 1 power supply at $20. I will have about $8.25 per channel and I will need 2 channels totally $16.50. 1 drop cord at $10 is necessary for the power supply. So it will cost $200 pixels + 20 power supply + $16.50 electronics + $10 drop cord =$246.50 for the Walter Star in LED pixels.

So, the cost is more but the advantages are numerous namely longer life expectancy, virtually no maintenance expense or hassle, more rugged, and several different colors. I didn't check the math but I think it is correct.
Al