### Control boxes ![[P_20250910_130924.jpg]] Who sells these boxes besides Holdaycoro? How do I secure the power supply better? ex. I've seen some metal strips with holes in them, what is that called? Upgrading the power situation for safety: - Currently, running one power line out to groups of 3-5 panels - Upgrade to run separate power lines to groups of 1-2 panels Fuse boxes: just using the ones used for boats/vehicles Controller: Teensy 4.1 with Octo adapter for 8 data outputs. Custom code receives Artnet. https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_libs_OctoWS2811.html - Curious what LED controllers are similar but cheap - Dig-Octa, Dig-Quad etc. seem right but worried about stock - I've used HolidayCoro boards before - Curious where to start for something more professional but at a way lower price point than Advatek. - Help me understand the twisted-pair thing. - So the LED data coms on one line and wrapping it around GND reduces noise? - Are the LED data lines and SPI the same thing? - How is this different from the differential D+ / D- data thing that Reverbia is doing ex. https://www.advateklighting.com/products/t16x-s-mk3 Ethernet connectors / ports that are more weatherproof but not too expensive? - Currently using cheap couplers and just replacing them if things are janky ### Panels Panels look something like this: https://wiki.metalheart.org/Public/Bermuda/Panels/Building+the+Triangle+Panels - twinwall polycarbonate holding the LEDs, plus a wood frame. The wood frame has a chaseway for running power+Ethernet through one side. This is so I can daisy-chain up to 5 panels together. In practice though, the daisy-chaining means that if a panel doesn't work, the problem could be with any of the upstream panels. So now the panels have two failure points, 1) LEDs going bad and 2) issues with Ethernet wires or soldering that's now sealed in the panels. The daisy-chaining adds a lot of complexity as well ex. I've got 3 panel types (leafs branches trunks) and Y-cables involved now. Here's the assembly guide https://wiki.metalheart.org/Public/Bermuda/Operations/Build+Guide#Triangle+Panels So by eliminating daisy-chaining I can eliminate the branch and trunk type panels and the Y-cables. ## LEDs Using 12v S-shaped zigzag style: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/S-Shaped-Zigzag-BENDABLE-5V-12V_1600075537151.html?spm=a2756.order-detail-ta-ta-b.0.0.df55f19ckKirHk Each panel has 10m of LEDs (600 pixels), power injected at the end These are OK but I do get glitches, especially at the solder point where I solder 2 5m strips together. To reduce glitching I'm thinking about - Upgrade to strips with the backup data line - Move the control boxes 5 ft closer to the panels ## Custom PCB for each panel Basically want to: 1) receive power and Ethernet 2) output to a 4-pin JST connector for the panel 3) output the other twisted pairs of the Ethernet (to daisy-chain to the next panels) What's on the PCB: - 2 Ethernet inputs for 8 data lines - 2 Ethernet ouputs for outputting 7 data lines (shifting each piece of data down) - Power in (XT30 connector?) - 4-pin LED data out - Optional: LED indicators to show which of the data lines are receiving data This is probably a good "learning PCB design" type project but curious where I could go for design services to outsource this. ## Switching to an Aluminum frame If I don't need chaseways for wires, I don't need all the mass of the wood frames. Aluminum frames would make the panels thinner, lighter, easier to transport. ![[Pasted image 20250910120018.png]] ![[Pasted image 20250910120040.png]] Making this part that would slide onto the edges of the twinwall polycarbonate. Holes are for ball bungees to attach to the dome. The edges are slightly open as this will allow me to have the 4-pin JST connectors hanging out from the edge. Might need some more holes to add screws to secure the aluminum/plastic. Aluminum frame: - Need to fold/cut aluminum - these pieces will be 4' long and the chaseway depth is just 10mm. I don't think I can find the tools for this so might talk to some custom metal cutters like these guys https://www.ballardsheetmetal.com/